Bika-Brinkley is cancelled

[ryan711]

Bloody hell :(

The IBF Super Middleweight Elimination bout between #2 contender Jesse Brinkley (35-5, 22 KOs) and #4 rated Sakio Bika (28-3-2, 19 KOs) will not take place on May 28th in Quebec. InterBox received a letter from the IBF early Tuesday morning stating that Brinkley was not able to train for the last few weeks due to what seems to be a bad flu, and has only been cleared recently by his doctor to commence training.

The announcement fuels speculation that one or the other, Brinkley or Bika, will become the opponent for Lucian Bute when the IBF super-middleweight champion returns home to Romania to fight later this summer in July. Bute who is without an opponent for his homecoming is expected by many to fight both fighters instead of waiting for the elimination fight to be rescheduled. Bute has already posted a win over Sakio Bika in an IBF title elimination fight in 2007, and while the Australian based boxer has rattled off six straight wins since that time, isn’t thought of to be a big draw if the two squared off again in Quebec. Interbox had hoped the Romanian fight for Bute would appeal to HBO and Bika is on most people’s top-ten list at 168 pounds.

[Brute]

Bika is a worthy opponent for Bute. He has not lost a fight since losing to Bute on points in 2007 and has improved since then.

Graziano got a second shot at Zale after being KOed by him and won, so why shouldn't Sakio get the shot?

[Hounddawg]

Bika is a worthy opponent for Bute. He has not lost a fight since losing to Bute on points in 2007 and has improved since then.

Graziano got a second shot at Zale after being KOed by him and won, so why shouldn't Sakio get the shot?

I'm sure Graziano had fought someone within 2 years.....that last spectacle Bika was in was not a fight.

Bika gets schooled, and i'm of the Bika train, he's in his prime and not fighting, can't support a guy who doesn't support himself, good couple of wins against fringe fighters a few years back means shitt today.

This honestly is heart breaking for fans!

[Asterix]

I had put money on Bika winning this. It's a shame. The odds were brilliant.

[Brute]

Bika is a worthy opponent for Bute. He has not lost a fight since losing to Bute on points in 2007 and has improved since then.

Graziano got a second shot at Zale after being KOed by him and won, so why shouldn't Sakio get the shot?

I'm sure Graziano had fought someone within 2 years.....that last spectacle Bika was in was not a fight.

Bika gets schooled, and i'm of the Bika train, he's in his prime and not fighting, can't support a guy who doesn't support himself, good couple of wins against fringe fighters a few years back means shitt today.

This honestly is heart breaking for fans!

Bit hard when nobody wants to fight you.

By the way, Tony Zale had a break of four years between losing to Billy Conn and resuming his career because of the war.

[amwsnw]

Bika should get the shot a Bute. This was to be an eliminator and Bika has done nothing to stop the Brinkley fight happening. I appreciate Brinkley was unwell but that shot not impede Bika on his quest for a world title shot. Give him a shot and if need be Brinkley can fight the winner (rematch clause pending).

[Marlin]

Sounds fair to me amwsnw

[Tinnie]

^ Thats how it should go down, its a pity that boxing & fair are rarely compatible. Got a horrible feeling Bika is once again gonna get screwed over by the circumstances.

Either way Sakio needed the Brinkly fight, its been too long between drinks, he needed another ranked opponent before stepping in with Bute again.

Best wishes go out to Bika. Hopefully he gets Bute, he's waited a long time for a deserved top level fight and should come in ready to leave it all in the ring.

[Soundkamp]

i feel sorry for the bloke every single fight falls through for him

[buster007]

he should just go back to the usa. at least he'd find some fringe fighters to keep him busy.

[Brute]

What is going on with the IBO? Michael Bolling is fighting somebody in South Africa for the "vacant" IBO super middleweight title. What problem do they have with Bika?

[toppity]

well what has the world come to.............this from fightnews.com

"A Purse Bid was held in the IBF Office yesterday for the IBF Super Middleweight Eliminator (#1 position) between Sakio Bika and Jean Paul Mendy. The winning bidder was Golden Boy Promotions with a bid of $30,000. Golden Boy Promotions was the only bidder."

Bika should have been one of the most marketable non-title holders after the contender series and his fight with Codrington. That was 4 fights ago for Bika. Now he is taking a meagher split from a fight that generated no interest...well nearly no interest. It just goes to show that you have to stay active, no matter what form that takes.

[Marlin]

wow, just wow.

[razor7]

I believe he's back in Sydney training with Dave Birchell. Got to feel really sorry for Bika.

[Hounddawg]

What is going on with the IBO? Michael Bolling is fighting somebody in South Africa for the "vacant" IBO super middleweight title. What problem do they have with Bika?

I don't think they've got a problem with Bika, Bika just doesn't fight anyone whether it's him or his promoter or not, the sanctioning bodies need to make money, and Bika has been living off that $750000 pay day from the contender for 2 and a half years.

Bolling might not be Bika yet but he's exciting,active and willing to fight anyone, a great ambassador for the IBO.

[perfect jet]

What is going on with the IBO? Michael Bolling is fighting somebody in South Africa for the "vacant" IBO super middleweight title. What problem do they have with Bika?

I don't think they've got a problem with Bika, Bika just doesn't fight anyone whether it's him or his promoter or not, the sanctioning bodies need to make money, and Bika has been living off that $750000 pay day from the contender for 2 and a half years.

Bolling might not be Bika yet but he's exciting,active and willing to fight anyone, a great ambassador for the IBO.

Sure, what better guy to parade as your world champion than a kid who has had 12 fights and was fighting 6 rounders a few fights ago.

[Hounddawg]

I see your point, because there were so many options to keep Bika as there champ with Bika fighting everyone?????????

it doesn't seem that bad when you consider with over 90% of fighters at a particular Gym with lobsided losing records getting shot after shot at regional titles, no one really kicks up a stink....maybe i should start pointing that out.

Bolling will be a decent champ.