Sergey Lipinets vs Kudratillo Abdukakhorov set for May 16 PBC card

Badlefthook.com

An ordered interim IBF welterweight title fight between PBC’s Sergey Lipinets and Top Rank’s Kudratillo Abdukakhorov has been ironed out, and will headline a Premier Boxing Champions card on May 16, according to ESPN.

The full IBF title is held by Errol Spence Jr, who is also the WBC titlist at 147 pounds. Spence is currently sidelined with injuries suffered in a single-car accident last fall, and doesn’t have a return date set yet.

Lipinets-Abdukakhorov will take place in either Las Vegas or the Los Angeles area, reportedly.

The 30-year-old Lipinets (16-1, 12 KO) is a former IBF titleholder at 140, beating Akihiro Kondo for the vacant belt in Nov. 2017. He lost it in his first defense against Mikey Garcia in Mar. 2018, and has gone 3-0 since then, moving up to welterweight. He notably beat Lamont Peterson in March of last year.

Abdukakhorov (17-0, 9 KO), a 26-year-old fighter from Uzbekistan, picked up wins in 2019 over Keita Obara and Luis Collazo, both by decision.