World rated middleweight contender Kinglsey Ikeke has pulled out of his August 4 bout with hard hitting Epifanio Mendoza in order to ensure that he's available when the IBF middleweight title becomes vacant in the coming days. Although Jermain Taylor has paid sanctioning fees to the IBF, the IBF is demanding more and could strip him if he doesn't make a mandatory defense against Sam Soliman.  Taylor has a contractual rematch clause with Bernard Hopkins and if he is in fact stripped by the IBF, Soliman will take on Kingsley Ikeke for the vacant version of the title that Bernard Hopkins held for more than a decade. Soliman has another obstacle in his path, though. He will be in action Thursday, facing Fernando Zuniga in a bout to be shown on Fox Sports. Boxingtalk will continue to keep you updated, until then, REMEMBER WHERE YOU HEARD IT FIRST! (8:35 PM ET)