By Steve Kim

Just recently David Lemieux won the vacant IBF middleweight title by out-pointing the game Hassan N'Dam on June 20th in Montreal. On Monday the IBF sent out a letter to it's two highest available contenders, Eamonn O'Kane (14-1-1, 5KOs) and Tuereano Johnson (18-1-1, 13KOs), offering them a fight for the number one position in their 160-pound rankings.

O'Kane is ranked seventh by the IBF, while Johnson is ranked eighth.

The likes of Billy Joe Saunders and Sergio Mora, who are ranked third and sixth respectively, currently have other fights lined up. Fifth rated Sam Soliman lost to Dominick Wade on Friday night.

Word is that Gary Shaw will accept the match-up with O'Kane on Johnson's behalf.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.