Carl Frampton must make the next defense of his IBF super bantamweight title against Japan’s Shingo Wake as stipulated before the Belfast man defeated Scott Quigg.
At the time, Quigg was boosted to WBA ‘super’ champion amidst a WBA obligation to face Guillermo Rigondeaux.
At the same time, Frampton was allowed to participate in the unification with the understanding that Wake would follow.
As WBN has clarified on several occasions before and after Frampton v Quigg, the victor had to choose which belt to keep.
Either would come with a mandatory defense against Rigondeaux or Wake.
Carl Frampton deadline
The WBA has already given Frampton a deadline to agree on the Rigondeaux contest. But more tellingly, the IBF has informed WBN that they won’t be issuing any purse bid requests just yet.
“The IBF approved Frampton vs. Quigg with the condition that the winner must fight IBF mandatory challenger Shingo Wake,” IBF Chairman Lindsey Tucker pointed out to WBN on Thursday before adding: “We have not called for a purse bid.”
Quizzed on the finer details of Frampton accepting the Wake defense over Rigo, Tucker told WBN that he couldn’t divulge any further detail.
This may well mean the two teams are holding initial talks for the bout.
If no agreement is forthcoming with Wake, a move up to 126 pounds would be a further option for Frampton.
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