Boxing Fans Eagerly Await Featherweight Eliminator in Johannesburg
July 9, 2023 – The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has authorized a highly anticipated featherweight eliminator bout, set to take place on July 13 in Johannesburg, South Africa. This captivating matchup will feature second-ranked Lerato Dlamini (20-2, 11 KOs) of South Africa, who will enjoy the hometown advantage, as he faces off against third-ranked Arnold Khegai (21-1-1, 13 KOs), a Los Angeles-based Ukrainian.
According to previous reports, the promotional rights for this bout were secured by TGB Promotions, who submitted a winning purse bid of $71,000. As a result, the South African fighter Dlamini will earn $53,250, while the Top Rank-promoted Khegai will take home $17,750.
The winner of this highly anticipated matchup will not only position themselves to challenge IBF featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez (30-2, 17 KOs) of Mexico, but they could also potentially be elevated to champion should Lopez decide to move up a weight class.
While the current earnings for Dlamini and Khegai may seem modest, the featherweight division has gained increased significance in the boxing world. This is due in part to the ongoing speculation that the unbeaten four-division champion Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) of Japan is considering a move up in weight. Inoue, who is currently the undisputed junior featherweight champion, is also widely regarded as the sport’s pound-for-pound king.
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