On June 5th, the IBF ordered an elimination bout in the junior middleweight division between Erickson Lubin and former two-belt champion Tim Tszyu (pictured). The 154 pounders were instructed to begin negotiations for a bout that would determine the IBF's #1 contender position. No agreement was reached between the two boxers, and on July 16th, Tszyu's representative, Matt Rose requested an immediate purse bid, an option that is permitted under IBF rules. Today, the IBF  scheduled the purse bid for Tuesday, July 30th at 12 noon. The IBF champion in the division is currently Bakhram Murtazaliev, who won the vacant title in April after Jermell Charlo moved up in weight. Tszyu (24-1) has not fought since losing his WBO and WBC titles in March, a hard-luck outing that saw him on the verge of winning before suffering a bad cut that severly diminished his vision in a fight vs. Sebastian Fundora. Tszyu lost that fight via split decision. Lubin (26-2) has been been somewhat inactive since losing to Fundora in early 2022, but has won twice since then, including a strong performance against previously undefeated Jesus Ramos in September. 

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