Unbeaten Uzbek welterweight Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (15-0, 9 KOs) and heavy-handed former world title challenger Keita Obara (20-3-1, 18 KOs) of Japan will square off January 5th in Malaysia in an IBF eliminator. Abdukakhorov was ordered to fight former two-division world champion Jessie Vargas (28-2-2, 10 KOs), but when Vargas declined Obara was the next available contender in line. The winner of the bout will be placed as number #1 ranked contender and mandatory to current unbeaten world champion Errol Spence (24-0, 21 KOs).