I agree that Boystov wouldn't take the fight but I'm not so sure about Harris. He doesn't have a lot of big fight options out there and if he pulled off an upset of Thompson then he hits the lottery with a Wlad payday. The IBF could adjust their rankings but Harris won't get docked for inactivity, Harris stopped Rossy only a month or two ago. By looking at their rankings Welliver and Rodriguez aren't in their top 15 so I'd be surprised if they shot all the way into the top 5 w/o doing anything to warrant it. Mitchell is in the same boat but I don't think he'd take the fight. I think you'd be more likely to see someone like Banks or Meehan get the shot but I guess anything is possible with the sanctioning bodies. I think if the fight can be rescheduled in a reasonably quick time it will, if not Thompson might just go straight to Wlad. I don't know when Wlad has to face his IBF mandatory and that might play into it.
There is no bigger Helenius fan on this site than me. I've been calling him the heir to the throne since his destruction of Scotty Gammer and Bydenko, and when he destroyed Brewster, my predictions were legitimized. BUT........why should he risk the title....UNDEFEATED......UNDISPUTED.....HWCOTW just so he can get paid before his 28th Bday. Thats just stupid. Yeah, he's the 3rd best HW right now, but either Klitschko erases that 0 and tarnishes his legacy. That's a fight I dont want to see. Helenius could be very good for HW boxing should he go on to KO Dimitrenko, several more former champs, then take the WBC from Vitali(after his retirement) the WBA(kiddie belt) then defend it until Wlad reitres, then fight for undisputed. We haven't had an undefeated undisputed HWC for some time, and avoiding the K2 for 3-5 yrs will NOT tarnish this 17fight pros legacy in the least. I mean there have been many challengers for the title with less experience and a far worse resume, but Helenius has a unique opportunity here as Wlad is turning 36, and Vitali has less than 4 fights left IMO. Either Thompson gets his rematch with Wlad, or he fights a lesser proven HW in an staged eliminator. How many farcical eliminators has Austin fought in. Well, I wouldn't be disappointed if Seth Mitchell, Welliver, or Rodriguez(who are ALL available) got the eliminator shot.