After numerous postponements, the clash between undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez and IBF No.1 contender George Kambosos has taken another mad twist.
Promoters Triller have apparently petitioned the IBF to have Kambosos removed from his mandatory ranking to allow Lopez to defend against the next available contender, according to Michael Woods of Nyfights.com.
Triller had set a September 30 deadline for Australian Kambosos to agree to another date and venue change (the fourth in total), moving the bout from the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden on October 4 to a new location on October 16, most likely the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Lopez agreed to the date move, but Kambosos did not, seeking legal recourse after a frustrating journey that has seen the fight continually shifted including a fight week postponement in June when the champion tested positive for Covid-19.
“We passed on Kambosos. Full steam ahead!” Triller’s Ryan Kavanaugh told Michael Woods when pressed for an update.
Triller wants to be refunded its deposit money for February’s winning IBF purse bid before a new purse bid involving Lopez and an available contender. The streaming network may or may not bid on the new fight.
In a letter to the IBF, Triller wrote:“Triller has a full event planned for October 16 with musical acts. Triller has the venue locked and a show that will wow the masses. Triller will be holding the event on October 16 with or without Kambosos. It has a very excited undercard bout, very exciting music acts and a show that will certainly make headlines. We assure you and the world Triller will have this event on October 16 with or without Kambosos, Lopez, or the IBF.”
The IBF have yet to make a ruling but it is still possible that Lopez-Kambosos moves to the second highest purse bid from Matchroom and is staged by Eddie Hearn’s organisation instead.