On July 21st, the IBF ordered its junior middleweight champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and its #1 contender Erickson Lubin to begin negotiations for a mandatory defense. On August 5th, Julian Levitt on behalf Lubin's promoter, Probox Promotions, advised that they would like to proceed directly to a purse bid, which is permitted under IBF rules. As a result, the IBF has scheduled a purse bid for Tuesday, August 19th. Murtazaliev is 23-0 and won the vacant title last year against Jack Culcay after Jermell Charlo vacated. Mustazliev has made one defense so far, against former champ Tim Tszyu.