Lindolfo Delgado vs. Arthur Biyarslanov | Vacant IBF Title - October 31, 2026

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IBF ORDERS DELGADO-BIYARSLANOV FOR 140-POUND TITLE,

A new IBF champion will soon be crowned at 140 pounds, while one fighter at 168 pounds will move closer to that same goal.

The sanctioning body has officially ordered Lindolfo Delgado, its No. 1 junior welterweight contender, to take on Arthur Biyarslanov, ranked No. 5, for the vacant strap.

Delgado has waited patiently for his shot at gold. The 31-year-old was originally ordered to fight Richardson Hitchins. However, the 2016 Olympian opted to move up to welterweight, relinquishing his title in the process.

Unfortunately for Delgado, he was forced to play the waiting game. He was eventually ordered to fight former two-division champion Teofimo Lopez, but the talented 28-year-old declined as he’s also moving up in weight. Keyshawn Davis, ranked No. 4, is leaning toward heading over to the 147-pound division as well.

A fight against Oscar Duarte, ranked No. 3 in the IBF, was never on the table, as the two are stablemates and share the same trainer, Robert Garcia.

Delgado, a 2016 Olympian, hasn’t fought since winning a split decision win over Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela last November. Biyarslanov, though, has been more active. The 31-year-old already has a 2026 victory under his belt as he stopped Jimmerr Espinosa in April.

The IBF have also made a move at super middleweight.

Diego Pacheco, ranked No. 6 by The Ring and No. 5 in the IBF, has been ordered to face No. 4-ranked contender, Troy Williamson.

Just last year, Williamson’s career was going in the wrong direction. The 34-year-old had lost four of his last five. However, back-to-back stoppage victories over Mark Dickinson and Callum Simpson got him back on track.

Pacheco, while undefeated, has been on the receiving end of some criticism. The California native turned down an IBF eliminator against Christian Mbilli in 2024. He also turned a second chance to fight Mbilli, this time for the WBC interim title. The same pattern continued as he was ordered to fight Hamzah Sheeraz for the vacant WBO super middleweight strap but declined.

He was last seen in December, 2025, eking out a close points victory over Kevin Sadjo. The winner of Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) vs. Williamson (22-4-1, 16 KOs) would become the mandatory challenger to IBF champion, Osleys Oglesias.

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IBF Orders Lindolfo Delgado-Movladdin Biyarslanov fight for super lightweight title

Unbeaten Lindolfo Delgado of Mexico has received his order to proceed toward a bout for his first world title, Top Rank Vice President Carl Moretti confirmed to BS Wednesday.

The IBF, in a letter first reported by The Ring Magazine, has informed Delgado 24-0 (16KOs) to begin negotiations with No. 5-ranked contender Movladdin Biyarslanov 21-0 (17KOs).

The fighters have until June 26 to strike a deal, Moretti confirmed, before the bout will be open to purse bids from other promoters.

No. 4-ranked former WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis informed the IBF he was not interested in fighting for the belt left vacant by new Zuffa Boxing welterweight Richardson Hitchins.

Davis 15-0 (10KOs) fought a 140lbs bout earlier this month versus Nahir Albright and won by unanimous decision, but his initial weigh-in figure was over the limit and Davis said, in addition to the weight comfort, there are more lucrative and competitive fights to pursue at welterweight.

The 147lbs champions include Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Rolly Romero.

Before Davis’ move, former two-division champion Teofimo Lopez also rejected the offer to fight for the IBF 140lbs belt in favor of a move to welterweight.

Delgado, trained by back-to-back trainer of the year Robert Garcia, last fought in November in Mexico, defeating Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela by split decision.

Biyarslanov, a Russian-born Canadian promoted by Eye of the Tiger, last fought April 9 in Montreal, defeating Mexico’s Jimerr Espinosa by seventh-round TKO.

[Evander]

Been awhile since I checked in on them, last time I did Lindolfo looked stronger.
Biyarslanov is a lot of arms and legs, spidery type of boxer.
Lindolofo boxing ability is basic, not many ideas.
It could be close depending if one is up for it and the other isn't.

[2479111]

I think this could be a really interesting matchup. Delgado seems to have the technical ability, but Biyarslanov’s activity and power make him a dangerous opponent. If Delgado can control the distance and avoid getting dragged into exchanges, I’d give him a good chance. Definitely not an easy fight to call!
NoomiClone

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Didn’t realise this fight was confirmed for the Riyadh undercard.

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NEWS: Per source, Lindolfo Delgado, trainer Robert Garcia & the team remain in the US & don't have travel booked for his vacant IBF 140 title fight vs. Artur Biyarslanov next Saturday on #CaneloMbilli card in Riyadh. Biyarslanov is already there. Will the fight happen? I was told "probably not." #boxing

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No idea if this one’s going ahead.

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Arthur Biyarslanov arrives, doubts over Lindolfo Delgado traveling to Saudi Arabia

The scheduled IBF junior welterweight title fight between Lindolfo Delgado and Arthur Biyarslanov has been thrown into doubt amid ongoing security concerns in Saudi Arabia.

The pair are due to contest the vacant title on the October 31 “Mexico vs. The World” card in Riyadh, headlined by Christian Mbilli's first defence of his WBC super middleweight title against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. An official told BS that Biyarslanov has arrived in Riyadh alongside promotional stablemate Mbilli, although the pair were forced to take an alternative route to reach the Saudi capital.

There remains uncertainty, however, over whether Delgado will make the trip. Delgado's trainer, Robert Garcia, who was travelling home from San Antonio, Texas, following his fighter Albert Gonzalez's victory, declined to comment on his fighter's travel plans.

Saudi Arabia has been subjected to repeated Houthi missile and drone strikes over the past month, including an attack on Riyadh's airport that reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300. Some terminals reopened on Sunday, just days before the event.

Organisers SELA and Turki Alalshikh have faced criticism for pressing ahead with the card despite concerns over the safety of fighters, their teams and spectators.

BS understands, however, that daily life in Riyadh has begun returning to normal, with residents back on the streets. Saudi Pro League club Al Riyadh's home fixture against Al-Taawoun also went ahead as scheduled on Saturday.

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NEWS: Per source involved in #CaneloMbilli & as it relates to Lindofo Delgado not traveling for his scheduled 140 title fight, which is now off: Delgado's passport had either expired or was about to expire & the Saudis (like other places do also) would not issue a visa if it's expired (obviously) or inside 6 months of expiring. He renewed the passport last week & the visa was then being processed by the Saudis. It was set to be issued this past Sunday & that is when he opted out. #boxing

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Report: Lindolfo Delgado fight withdrawal complicated by passport issues

The reasons offered for Lindolfo Delgado pulling out of his scheduled Saturday bout against Arthur Biyarslanov may have had been tied to more than just safety after a Tuesday report cited a source claiming issues around Delgado's passport.

Boxing reporter Dan Rafael posted to his X account information that suggested Delgado might have been blocked from traveling whether or not he and his team had concerns about the risk of traveling to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Delgado-Biyarslanov had been set to appear on the Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli undercard.

Dan Rafael
@DanRafael1

Wrote Rafael: "Per source involved in #CaneloMbilli & as it relates to Lindofo Delgado not traveling for his scheduled 140 title fight, which is now off: Delgado's passport had either expired or was about to expire & the Saudis (like other places do also) would not issue a visa if it's expired (obviously) or inside 6 months of expiring. He renewed the passport last week & the visa was then being processed by the Saudis. It was set to be issued this past Sunday & that is when he opted out."

On Monday's episode of ProBoxTV’s “BoxingS cene Today,” Delgado trainer Robert Garcia made an appearance and declared the fight off due to the risk associated with current conflict in the area, particularly for U.S. citizens.


Thirteen people were killed in bombings earlier this month at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and numerous other sports-related events have already been canceled or postponed due to unrest and concerns of more violence. The debate about whether or not the show should go on has divided the boxing industry.

“Why would we risk ourselves going over there without being safe?" Garcia asked on "BS Today" on Monday. "Flying to a different country [Bahrain] and driving 5-6 hours to get to a different location? It’s looking for trouble.”

It's unclear from Rafael's report whether Delgado ultimately would have been cleared to travel in time for fight week, but Garcia's additional comments suggested further complications that could have led to the decision for Delgado to withdraw.

“To get [accustomed to the travel] and cut weight for a world title fight, it’s unbelievable, impossible, ridiculous,” Garcia said.