World Title Final Eliminator joy for Jono Carroll

Jono Carroll may be just one fight away from a world title tilt.

It has emerged today that the Dublin super featherweight is next in line for an IBF final eliminator.

Carroll [16(3)-0] is currently ranked #5 with the IBF but is actually the third-highest rated fighter with the organisation as both the #1 and #2 slots are vacant.

With champion Tevin Farmer [26(5)-4(2)-1] defending his belt in a voluntary versus Belfast’s James Tennyson, a mandatory must be designated for the next title fight. And so, the two highest-place fighters with the IBF – #3 Guillume Frenois and #4 Devis Boschiero – were ordered to fight in what would be a final eliminator.

However, Italian veteran Boschiero has this afternoon been confirmed to have pulled out of this mandated fight. In line with IBF policy, the final eliminator slot is to be passed down the rankings, and Carroll is to be the first fighter offered.

26-year-old Carroll has recently been involved in online back-and-forths with Farmer and will, no doubt, be keen on the fight with former European champion Frenois [46(12)-1(0)].

Purse bids will be ordered for this match-up although an agreement between the Frenchman’s team and Carroll’s backers may be reached beforehand.

The red IBF belt is held by Philadelphia southpaw Farmer who won it with a dominant outpointing of Aussie veteran Billy Dib in Sydney last month.

While a Carroll fight was hinted by Farmer, ‘The American Dream’ defends his title for the first time versus European and Commonwealth champ Tennyson [22(18)-2(2)] at the TD Garden in Boston on Saturday October 20th, live on DAZN and Sky Sports.

While it is a big ask, wins for Carroll and Tennyson could then give rise to the first ever all-Irish world title fight in the new year.

‘King Kong’ won the IBF European belt last Summer, outpointing Johnny Quigley, and then entered the organisation’s Top 15 with an eye-catching stoppage win over Humberto De Santiago which saw him claim the IBF Inter-Continental belt.

With the division in flux, Carroll has slowly risen up the ladder and consolidated his position and claim with a rematch stoppage win over Declan Geraghty.

The Finglas-born, Dunshaughlin-raised, Marbella-based fighter is currently in the beginnings of camp in the south of Spain with trainer Albert Airapatian

35-year-old southpaw Frenois is a former French, EU, and European champion. His sole loss came the last time he fought outside France – five years ago when he was outpointed by Boschiero in Italy.

While Frenois has good backing, it is understood that moves are being made to ensure that Carroll will be in the home corner – perhaps on the Josh Warrington v Carl Frampton undercard in England this Winter.