Eliminator delayed, Mike-Mike to headline on ESPN2

Unbeaten (21-0) Hartford junior featherweight Mike Oliver has been rated the IBF’s #2 challenger for the past year (for much of that time the #1 spot was vacant), but Mike-Mike’s title plans hit another bump in the road when promoter Rich Cappiello was unable to come to terms with third-rated Julio Zarate for a scheduled May 7, 2008 title eliminator in Boston. Oliver-Zarate now appears headed to purse bid and the Mexican has been replaced by Miami-based Colombian Reynaldo Lopez in the main event of Cappiello’s ESPN2 card next month at the Roxy. The development is the latest in a continuing series of frustrations for the John Scully-trained Oliver. In July of last year, he fought and won what was also billed as an IBF title eliminator by outpointing Cruz Carbajal in Boston, but lost his place in the queue when he engaged in a November fight against Al Seeger for the IBO title. Although Oliver won that fight, it apparently cost him his mandatory position. Lopez is, like Oliver, a southpaw, and brings a 28-5 record to the bout in Boston. He is 34 years old, and coming off consecutive losses to a pair of present world titlists, Daniel Ponce de Leon (118 lbs.) and Cristian Mijares (115).