IBF Sanctions Holyfield, Foreman Fight
The heavyweight title fight between champion Evander Holyfield and George Foreman will be sanctioned by the International Boxing Federation.
President Robert W. Lee said today the organization’s 12-member executive board unanimously approved the sanctioning. The IBF had ruled earlier that the winner of the Holyfield-James (Buster) Douglas fight, in which Holyfield scored a third-round knockout Oct. 25, would have to make a first defense against former champion Mike Tyson.
The World Boxing Assn. also has changed its stance, announcing on Wednesday that it would sanction the Holyfield-Foreman fight scheduled for April 19 at Atlantic City.
Of the three major boxing governing bodies, only the World Boxing Council is still insisting that Holyfield make his first defense against Tyson or be stripped of championship recognition.
The IBF granted its approval on the condition that the winner must fight the top-ranked Tyson or whoever is the No. 1 contender at the time by next Oct. 25.
“We have directed that negotiations for that fight commence by May 1, 1991, and be concluded by June 1, 1991,” Lee said in statement.
Tyson is scheduled to fight Alex Stewart Dec. 8 at Atlantic City.
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