The unbeaten Canadian contender notified the IBF before the sanctioning body’s 72-hour negotiation deadline expired, formally turning down an eliminator fight against Albert Bell. The decision removes Bahdi from the IBF’s immediate title path. His focus now shifts toward a separate route that could lead to a vacant WBA title fight in the coming months.
Bahdi turns away from IBF eliminator to pursue alternate title path
Bahdi, who has built a record of 20 wins with 15 stoppages, has gained momentum over the past year while positioning himself among the division’s rising contenders. His recent activity has strengthened his standing with sanctioning bodies, and his team appears confident that a WBA title opportunity represents a faster and more valuable path than entering an eliminator that would still leave him waiting for a championship fight.
The IBF will now proceed with its eliminator process without Bahdi. Argentina’s Alan Abel Chavez is among the next available contenders, while Bell remains in position to face another opponent for mandatory challenger status. Bahdi’s exit simplifies the IBF’s immediate plans and reshapes his own trajectory toward a different governing body.
Attention now turns to the WBA’s title picture, which has remained unsettled since Gervonta Davis was designated champion in recess following legal issues and inactivity. That designation left the belt without an active champion, opening the door for top-ranked contenders to pursue a fight for the vacant title. Floyd Schofield, a highly rated lightweight contender, is among the fighters connected to that opportunity as discussions around a potential title bout continue.
Bahdi last fought in August, when he dropped Roger Gutierrez and secured a unanimous decision victory in a WBA eliminator that elevated his standing within that organization. That performance helped place him near the top of the WBA rankings and reinforced his eligibility for a title opportunity.
Declining an eliminator always carries risk, because it removes the guaranteed route to mandatory status. Bahdi’s team is betting that his current position and momentum will lead directly to a title fight without waiting behind another sanctioning body process.
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