Although the 28-year-old quickly accepted on his end earlier this week, it appears the Canadian puncher has sights set on a bigger and more lucrative option.

As first reported by BoxingScene on Saturday, Bahdi's team contacted the IBF and notified them of their intentions shortly before the allotted 72-hour deadline.

Bahdi (20-0, 15 KOs) is a surging MVP-backed contender and one who could parlay his recent success into a vacant WBA title shot against Golden Boy's Floyd Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) in April if rumors come to fruition.

Reigning titlist Gervonta Davis was downgraded to 'champion in recess' last month given his legal issues, exacerbated by a warrant and subsequent arrest in Miami on January 29. Next month marks a full year since his last outing, a contentious 12-round majority draw with Lamont Roach - then multiple failed attempts at a rematch.

Schofield, The Ring's No. 7-rated lightweight, breezed past former 130-pound champion Tevin Farmer in a round on his last appearance June 28.

That show was a co-promotion between Golden Boy and Most Valuable Promotions, headlined by Jake Paul's decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, and the pair would likely do business again to agree a deal between two of The Ring's top-10 rated lightweights.

Bahdi returned two months later, flooring Roger Gutierrez en route to a 12-round decision win in their WBA title eliminator and has sat in the WBA's No. 2 spot since August.

Argentina's Alan Abel Chavez (20-0, 17 KOs) would be next in line for an IBF eliminator against Bell, while former IBF junior lightweight champion Joe Cordina (19-1, 9 KOs) may pursue another route as newly-minted WBO beltholder Abdullah Mason's mandatory challenger.