By Matt Stein: Unbeaten heavyweight contender Denis Boytsov (27-0, 22 KO’s) won’t be taking part in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) four fighter tournament to pick the mandatory challenger for IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. Boytsov, 24, was one of the hoped contenders that would be taking part in the tourney and he would have had an excellent chance of winning the tournament, which included fighters like Alexander Dimtrenko, Jean Marc Mormeck, and Jonathon Banks. Eddie Chambers, who took part in the previous IBF heavyweight tournament two years ago, is likely to step in for Boytsov to get another shot at Klitschko. Chambers was dominated by Klitschko in a 12th round TKO loss in March 2010. Chambers was badly knocked out and hasn’t fought since then.
Boytsov, ranked #3 WBC, #3 WBA, #4 IBF, #4 WBO, says “I’m very honored and my heart bleeds that I can’t take this challenge. I’m totally disappointed, since I’m a fighter. However, the reason isn’t that I have no desire to compete in such a tournament, but that the doctors still haven’t given me the green light for a 12-round fight. Coming off a hand operation, a tune-up fight will likely take place later this year as a test. If all goes positively, I’ll be ready for everything. My promoter is preparing the suitable medical documents for the IBF so that they can 100% understand the reason I can’t participate.”
Boytsov goes on to say that if the IBF tournament had been in 2011, he would have joined it. He wants to have a tune-up fight and hopes to still fight before the end of the year against a still to be determined opponent. Boytsov’s progress in his career has been slow. Despite having been a pro for six years, Boytsov still is facing 2nd tier opposition and has yet to fight his first 1st tier fighter after all these years. In comparison, at the same point in his career, Wladimir Klitschko was already the WBO heavyweight champion and had defended the title several times already.
Boytsov’s handlers need to speed up the progress on his development once his hand heals. They can’t keep the training wheels on him forever. The IBF tournament would have been a perfect opportunity for Boytsov to prove himself against fighters like Dimitrenko, Banks and Mormeck, all of which he would likely beat and then get a big payday against Wladimir Klitschko.
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