Christian M'billi-Assomo Hallier vs. Kévin Lele Sadjo

Paris in May. IBF super middleweight final eliminator.

Currently the IBF has M'Billi and Sadjo ranked #3 and #4 respectively, with only Vladimir Shishkin ahead of them at #2 and the mandatory spot vacant. Sadjo's promoter outbid M'Billi's by more than a hundred thousand dollars (Y12 anteing up $878k to just $776 from Eye Of The Tiger).

Both stand 5'8". Both are Cameroonian-Frenchman, born in their homeland's capital of Yaoundé before migrating to L'Hexagone in their childhoods (M'Billi retains French citizenship but trains & resides in Québec, attaining dual citizenship with Canada in 2023). Both are undefeated powerhouses with twenty-odd victories and kayo ratios over eighty percent.

Should be a good one.

 

The spoils for the winner: William "El Indomable" Scull Yero.

Surprised that Shishkin remains so high in the January edition of the rankings after losing to Scull in October. I don't see why M'Billi vs. Sadjo isn't just a de jure number one versus number two.

 

That would boost the Crawford date in September as being for the undisputed crown. Sort of takes all the wind from the sails of this fight, though, if M'Billi or Sadjo know they're becoming mandatory only to sit on the sidelines until like mid-2026. (assuming Canelo beats Scull, and knowing his penchant for competing biannually on Cinco De Mayo and Mexican Independence Day)

 

Be that as it may (and I've been singing the praises and title shot worthiness of Shishkin longer than 99% of the forum has even known his name, so if anybody's gutted for him it's me), customarily when the official result is that you technically lose you drop in the rankings.

 

Man, if I'm Kévin or Christian right now I am praying that Canelo doesn't pick Scull for May...or does but gets injured in camp or something.

Imagine becoming mandatory to a pushover feather-fist Cuban as the sole obstacle remaining between you and world championship status only to have it turn into Canelo.

 

Sadjo, by the way, was reinstated by as EBU super middleweight champion last month after having relinquished the title in December. Not clear yet if that will be in the kitty along with this being an IBF eliminator.