With the annual IBF convention set to take place in the coming weeks, Roc Nation Sports announced a light heavyweight title eliminator will be on a special card during the festivities.
Meng Fanlong will take on Adam Deines at the IBF convention, taking place in Macau, China on June 1. The winner would become the mandatory challenger to the IBF light heavyweight title currently being held by Artur Beterbiev.
Fanlong, a Chinese boxer who has emerged as a dark horse contender in the division, has won all 14 pro bouts and has held the IBF Intercontinental title. The 31-year-old contender is coming off a fifth-round TKO win over Frank Buglioni last November on a Matchroom Boxing card in Monaco. Fanlong is also ranked No. 7 by the IBF and No. 12 by the WBA and WBO in their respective rankings.
Deines, ranked No. 5 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBA, has held a number of belts throughout his career including the WBC International Silver and IBF Intercontinental light heavyweight titles. Deines has won his last 10 fights and is coming off a third-round knockout win over Hungarian boxer Zoltan Sera on March 2.
Beterbiev has held the title since late 2017, but has only made two defenses of his belt. The first one took place in October 2018 when he knocked out Callum Johnson on a Matchroom Boxing USA card in Chicago. Beterbiev's last title defense took place on May 4 when he stopped Radivoje Kalajdzic in the fifth round.
