Top Rank Loses 2nd Purse Bid:
Steve “the Canadian Kid” Molitor (33-1-0 12 KO) will not box at the Bell Centre on March 19th as previously expected, due to an IBF technicality. Top Rank had won the November 30th Purse Bid to present the Molitor vs. Takalani Ndlovu (31-6-0, 18 KO) bout, and decided to work together with InterBox to place the fight on InterBox’s March 19th 2011 Showtime boxing card. However, according to IBF Rule 10.F.1, the winning bidder had the obligation to promote the bout within 90 days of the opening of the bids. The March 19th date surpassed this period by a little over 2 weeks. This opened the door for Ndlovu’s promoter to complain to the IBF.
“It is not rare for the IBF to allow the staging of a fight past the 90 day window. This has happened quite a few times, including to us, for the Bute vs. Andrade rematch. We always found a way to work it out. This time, however, I was told that Ndlovu did not want to come to Canada again so the IBF wanted to do the right thing and schedule another bid” states Groupe Sportscene President Mr. Jean Bedard.
This disaccord opened the door to the staging of a new bid which was won Ndlovu`s promoter, Branco Sports Productions, earlier today. Their $320,000 bid beat out Top Rank’s bid of $227,500 by over $90,000.
“To me, it is surprising that Branco found a way to double his bid since November 30th. That is a lot of money to come up with in a month and a half. I am disappointed we could not bring this fight to Montreal, but at the same time I am glad for Steve Molitor. He deserves a big payday and he is a terrific fighter on the road” concludes Bedard.
Steve Molitor has fought Ndlovu twice already, both times in Canada, with Molitor winning both bouts (TKO and by decision). According to IBF rules, the Champion Molitor will be entitled to 75% of the total bid.
InterBox and Top Rank are already working on a replacement bout for the March 19th boxing Gala.
