Top Rank wins purse bid for Artur Beterbiev vs. Enrico Koelling

The IBF title eliminator between Artur Beterbiev and Enrico Koelling, supposedly canceled last week amid Beterbiev’s ongoing spat with Yvon Michel, is back on after Top Rank easily topped Team Sauerland in a purse bid earlier today. Top Rank reportedly intends to place it on the undercard of Jessie Magdaleno vs. Cesar Juarez on October 31st as part of an ESPN broadcast.

Michel did not place a bid.

Beterbiev (11-0, 11 KO) has fought just twice in the last two years, most recently obliterating the very tough Isidro Ranoni Prieto in December. He blames this inactivity on Michel and claims that this fight was first canceled as retaliation for his efforts to leave GYM.

Koelling’s (23-1, 6 KO) only claim to fame is a pair of decisions over Ryno Liebenberg, the latter of which came in February. He is, barring one of the greatest underdog stories in the history of the sport, completely and utterly boned.

Whatever happens, we can only hope we get to see Beterbiev in action more often afterwards.