Cameroonian-born Frenchman N’Dam, 30, previously reigned with the World Boxing Organisation for just a few months in 2012 until spectacularly dethroned by Peter Quillin in an exciting bout in New York and now gets the another chance as the IBF’s mandatory challenger.
Lemieux was further down the rankings list with the body, although Billy Joe Saunders turned down the opportunity to fight for Jermain Taylor’s old belt once the American was stripped, handing the 26 year-old Canadian his maiden world title chance.
IBF Chairman Lindsey Tucker confirmed that the two had accepted their respective invites to contest the red belt and will now have until next month to finalise the details of their clash which is likely to take place in the United States.
“Both N’Dam and Lemieux have agreed to fight for the vacant middleweight mitle. They have 30 days to negotiate. If they can’t reach an agreement in 30 days, we will call for a purse bid,” Tucker told World Boxing News.
European ruler Saunders spurned the advances of the IBF in order to stay in line to face the winner of the WBO title bout between Irishman Andy Lee and undefeated Peter Quillin which is set to take place this coming April.
