HOLLYWOOD, FL, May 26 – Like the immortal Babe Ruth knocked home run after home run out of the park, the new “Sultan of Swat”, Sultan Ibragimov, is knocking out opponent after opponent in his quest for the Heavyweight Championship.

But finally, the unbeaten native of Rostov-na-Donu, Russia will get his chance to move closer to that dream as it was announced that a purse bid will take place on June 3rd, 2006 at noon during the IBF convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This bid will determine the day and site for the IBF elimination bout between Ibragimov (19-0, 16 KOs) and former World Champion John ‘The Quietman’ Ruiz. The winner will get a shot at newly crowned IBF Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko..

“I would like to thank the IBF for this opportunity to fight for the number one contender’s position, and I would also like to thank my team of Warriors Boxing, Boris Grinberg, and Sampson Lewkowicz for their tireless efforts to put me in this position,” said Ibragimov. “Now it’s time for me to make the most of this opportunity, and I will succeed by knocking out John Ruiz and then Wladimir Klitschko to win the World Title.”