By Scott Shaffer

A panel of three arbitrators has affirmed the IBF's decision to strip Kelvin Davis of the sanctioning body's title in the 200-pound division.  Boxingtalk has not yet seen the full decision, but after a hearing in Las Vegas approximately ten days ago, referee Sammy Viruet and boxing judges Valerie Dorsett and Ernie Sharif upheld the removal of Davis' title after he filed for bankruptcy but remained willing to face mandatory contender O'Neill Bell.  Despite his bankruptcy filing, Davis had to come up with $10,000 to get the IBF to reconsider its ruling.  According to Davis' attorney Mark Schopper, the panel "suggested" that IBF #2 Dale Brown and Bell consent to let Davis fight for the vacant title. All three arbitrators can receive assignments as a referee or judge to world championship fights from the IBF, so there is at least a question as to how comfortable any of the three might have been reversing the IBF's prior decision to strip Davis.  MORE TO COME...