Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing have lost purse bids for the IBF final eliminator between Karen Chukhadzhian and Paddy Donovan.
Sometimes mandatory challengers have to be extremely patient to get their chance.
But with the IBF, they seem to enforce mandatories on a more frequent basis.
This purse bid was in the welterweight division.
147lbs is one of the most lucrative divisions in the sport currently.
Superstars like Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney hold key pieces of welterweight gold.
The IBF welterweight world champion is Lewis Crocker (22-0, 11ko’s), who is signed to Matchroom Boxing.
Purse bids were also ordered for his first defence, and subsequently Crocker will defend his title against Liam Paro (27-1, 16ko’s) in Australia.
His next mandatory will be decided in the near future, and it might be a very familiar face.
First reported by Jake Donovan:
“Latvia based EMX Sports won rights to the Karen Chukhadzhian-Paddy Donovan IBF welterweight title eliminator”.
“Winner will become mandatory to Lewis Crocker-Liam Paro winner”.
“Donovan will get favorable end of 65/35 split”.
Matchroom Boxing are believed to have been outbidded by $111,000.
Famously, Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan (14-2, 11ko’s) fought twice in 2025.
The first fight was dominated by Donovan, but in controversial circumstances, Donovan was disqualified for hitting after the bell.
A rematch was then ordered by the IBF, and at Windsor Park, Crocker made adjustments and dropped Donovan twice on his way to a split decision victory.
With many believing Donovan was unlucky to not have his hand raised on both occasions, a potential trilogy in 2026 would be massive for Irish boxing.
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