Arena Box Promotions, which promotes the WBC’s No. 3 junior middleweight contender Ermal Hadribeaj (22-0-1, 8 KOs), submitted the winning bid to play host to his 154-pound eliminator against Bakary Samake (19-0, 11 KOs), ranked No. 10 by The Ring and No. 1 in the WBC.

During the bidding process, Samake Promotions did its best to give him home-field advantage. However, Arena Box handed over $339,817, which was $58,017 more than the $281,800 offer from Samake. It isn’t clear when the fight will be put together.

Samake, 22 and WBC junior middleweight silver beltholder, has shown promise and aggression. The Frenchman is riding a three-fight knockout streak, though it has come against low-level opposition.

Hadribeaj, 10 years older at 32, is looking for a signature win of his own. When last seen, the Albanian native grabbed a routine points win over little-known Placido Ramirez in November.

Unfortunately for the winner, facing Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs), The Ring’s No. 1 154-pounder, next is unlikely.

According to promoter Eddie Hearn, IBF champion Josh Kelly is in negotiations with Fundora for a unification bout that could take place this summer.