Vasyl Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) has been given until October 8 by the IBF to return to the ring to fight the winner of the IBF interim lightweight title fight between Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) and Zaur Abdullayev (20-1, 12 KOs).
If by that time the Ukrainian does not fulfill the requirements of the International Boxing Federation, he will be stripped of the championship title in the category up to 61 kilograms. Lomachenko has not competed since last May and recently announced that he is healing a back injury.
On November 14 last year, Lomachenko received a 60-day medical clearance from the IBF to recover, but the Ukrainian's team subsequently filed paperwork from his doctor stating that he would be unable to compete at the time the extension expired, which is today, January 11. Lomachenko requested an extension of his medical clearance on January 2.
The date of the Muratallah-Abdullayev fight has not yet been officially confirmed. The fight is likely to take place at the Top Rank event, which will be held in the United States in the first half of the year.
