Broner-Selby off, Broner-Redkach and Selby-Fortuna in the works

Selby-Fortuna will serve as a WBC eliminator

Good news: the ridiculous planned matchup between Adrien Broner and Lee Selby has fallen apart in favor of two far more reasonable bouts. Mike Coppinger reports that a fight between Broner and Ukrainian brawler Ivan Redkach is “in the works for fall,” while a WBC eliminator between Selby and Javier Fortuna is “in the process of being finalized” for September.

Redkach (23-4-1, 18 KO) revived his career last month with a surprise knockout of Devon Alexander in San Jacinto, flooring his favored foe three times and handing him the first stoppage loss of his career. He’d previously suffered loses to Dejan Zlaticanin, Tevin Farmer, Argenis Mendez, and John Molina Jr. that appeared to condemn him to the ranks of the also-ran.

Broner (33-4-1, 24 KO) will still be a heavy favorite despite being 0-2-1 in the last two years. Redkach’s chin has betrayed him too many times before, and he’s not a true welterweight to begin with. Ought to be fun while it lasts, at least.

WBC #5 Fortuna (34-2-1, 23 KO) has been the odd man out of the WBC’s proposed tournament; Devin Haney and Zaur Abdullaev are headed towards a showdown later this year, while Fortuna’s planned opponent, Teofimo Lopez, is off hunting the IBF belt. He recently picked up his first win in three fights, defeating Sharif Bogere after a narrow decision loss to Robert Easter Jr. and bizarre no contest against Adrian Granados.

Selby (27-2, 9 KO) made his 135-pound debut in February with a competitive decision over Omar Douglas. The longtime featherweight champ had struggled with the 126-pound limit ahead of his loss to Josh Warrington and presents an interesting challenge for the talented-but-mercurial “Abejon.”