Erickson Lubin gets hometown bout vs Ardreal Holmes in title eliminator

To gain his IBF junior middleweight title shot, Erickson Lubin will be afforded the luxury of fighting in front of his hometown crowd.

ProBox TV CEO Garry Jonas told BoxingScene on Wednesday that after winning the $225,000 purse bid for Lubin’s date with Michigan’s Ardreal Holmes, he has secured a May 10 date at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida – Lubin’s hometown.

The bout agreement is signed, said Jonas, who also owns BoxingScene.

The winner becomes mandatory contender to IBF titleholder Bakhram Murtazaliev.

Former title challenger Lubin, 26-2 (18 KOs), will return from a pair of 2023 victories over Luis Arias and Jesus Ramos, which followed his 2022 stoppage loss to unified 154-pound champion Sebastian Fundora.

In 2017, Lubin fought for the WBC 154lbs belt and was knocked out in the first round by eventual undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.

A southpaw – like Lubin – Holmes, 17-0 (6 KOs), has been more active than Lubin, winning three fights in Michigan in 2024, most recently claiming a 10-round unanimous decision over Edwine Humaine Jnr on December 12.

Murtazaliev recently told BoxingScene he is back in the gym following his October title defense, a knockout of former titleholder Tim Tszyu.

Jonas said the May 10 card will feature some of the best active fighters ever raised near Orlando, including co-main event participant Darrelle Valsaint, a 22-year-old middleweight off to a 12-0 start with 10 knockouts, along with Puerto Rico’s light-heavyweight Najee Lopez, 13-0 (10 KOs).