Joshua Buatsi And Jean Pascal Agree To Enter Title Eliminator Talks

According to the reports of BoxingScene.com, the representatives of Joshua Buatsi (16-0, 13 KOs) and Jean Pascal (36-6-1, 20KOs) have accepted the IBF invitation to enter talks for the sanctioned final eliminator.

Both parties have until August 1 at 5pm to respond with with their intentions to proceed with the fight. After this, the IBF will assign a free negotiation period to deal with the terms. The winner of this eliminator will become the IBF mandatory challenger against lineal and unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev (18-0, 18 KOs).

Both the parties will have time until August 11 to avoid a purse bid hearing. If it goes to the purse bid, Buatsi will be handed 60% of the winning bid as he is the high ranked challenger. The remaining 40% will go in the direction of Pascal due to the lower rank.

Currently, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (44-0, 30 KOs) is the top-ranked contender with the WBA and is in talks for a chance to compete against WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol (20-0, 11KOs). It must be noted that Buatsi was initially in line to lock horns against Bivol before WBA stepped up to order its mandatory title fight.