By Allan Fox: #1 WBO Alex Leapai I30-4-3, 24 KO’s) is reportedly on the verge of saying no to a big “7-figure” offer to fight IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KO’s) in order to send the fight into a purse bid. Leapai, 34, wants to get the fight to take place in his native Australia, and if it goes to purse bid then he has a good chance of making that happen.
Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov reportedly could top whatever offer that Klitshko’s management comes up with. If Klitschko’s management loses the purse bid then the fight will almost surely take place in Australia in front of a huge pro-Leapai crowd of Australian boxing fans.
By Eric Thomas: The World Boxing Organization gave IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KO’s) a huge gift last Wednesday by making 34-year-old #8 Alex Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KO’s) his WBO his mandatory challenger for his WBO title rather than an arguably better heavyweight with a chance to beat him. The WBO ordered that the two sides have 30 days to negotiate the fight with a minimum bid of $1 million.
By Eric Thomas: The World Boxing Organization has made #8 WBO Alex Leapai (30-4-3, 24 KO’s) the mandatory challenger for IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (61-3, 51 KO’s). The WBO made voted to make the 34-year-old Leapai the WBO mandatory for Wladimir based on Leapai’s 10 round unanimous decision win over the previously unbeaten Russian Denis Boytsov last month on November 23rd in Bamberg, Germany.