It appears that the team of Jessie Vargas (28-2-2, 10 KOs) has no interest in him facing unbeaten Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (15-0, 9 KOs) of Uzbekistan. The IBF gave Vargas a deadline to accept to face Abdukakhorov in a welterweight final eliminator, but that deadline has come and gone. Heavy-handed former world title challenger Keita Obara (20-3-1, 18 KOs) of Japan has now been selected by the IBF as the next available contender. Abdukakhorov’s manager Vikram Swapragasam and the IBF have confirmed that the two sides have begun communications. 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).