IBF Orders Keneth Llover vs Katsuma Akitsugi For A Bantamweight Title Eliminator

With the top two spots currently vacant in the IBF bantamweight rankings, the sanctioning body from New Jersey has told FightsATW that a title eliminator has been ordered.

In a message received by FightsATW, the IBF wrote, “Keneth Llover and Katsuma Akitsugi have been ordered to negotiate. They have until 3/7.”

The undefeated Filipino Keneth Llover (17-0, 12 KOs) is currently ranked #3 in the IBF and fought four times last year, with his December victory placing him in position for this eliminator. The undefeated Japanese Katsuma Akitsugi (14-0, 4 KOs) wasn’t as active as Llover, with only two fights, which landed him at #6 with the same sanctioning organization. With the IBF’s deadline approaching, it will be interesting to see if a deal can be made or if subsequent actions will be ordered.

The current IBF champion Jose Salas (17-0, 11 KOs) won the vacant title in December when he defeated Landile Ngxeke via a seventh-round TKO. Salas currently doesn’t have a voluntary defense scheduled, but when he does, the winner will face the victor of the title eliminator, whether it’s between Llover and Akitsugi or another pair of fighters.

FightsATW will keep monitoring this story as it unfolds.

Abraham Gonzalez

Abraham Gonzalez is the founder of FightsATW. His journalistic work has been published and used across several platforms to include online, network TV and promotional companies. He is an American Public University alumnus and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). Abraham was the Managing Editor for NYFights, Big Fight Weekend, contributed to FanSidedMMA and ProBoxTV.

See author's posts