Quote Originally Posted by Jimboogie
Quote Originally Posted by bilbo
Actually this news has made me really like the IBF. At least they care about mandatory defenses and will force their champions, no matter how big a name to make them.
Of course as fight fans we'd all prefer Hatton to meet Castillo than either N'Dou or Rabah but props to the IBF, they look set to enforce the right of the winner of these two fighters to get their mandatory shot.

Maybe the WBC could learn from them...................
Good Point, just a shame that "mandatory's" are riddiculous.

On another note... IBF sure do give a lot of love to the aussies (Peden, Mundine, Those two Rabba n shabba...)
The thing is we might not like who the mandatory opponents are but if they got that status by winning fights and earning the mandatory shot then we cannot complain.

I would not mind at all if Hatton's next fight was against N'dou or Rabbah providing it was his mandatory defense.

For me for the sport to be truly honest and professional, the status of a fighter as a mandatory opponent has to be based entirely on that person having earnt the spot by working his way into the top 10 rankings and then winning an eliminator match.

When an opponent can be overlooked because someone with more glamour, is more crowd pleasing, or who will make the organisation more money comes along the sport ceases to have integrity.

Any sport should have to abide by rules and regulations that are consistent and fair to everyone.

If Hatton wants to relinquish the title in order to fight Castillo now then that is fine, it's his choice, but I'm personally glad the IBF will enforce the rights of either N'dou or Rabbah as the mandatory opponent to get their title shot.