If talks don’t progress, the fight will go to purse bids on May 27. The winner of their bout will be mandatory challenger to Josh Kelly, the IBF junior middleweight champion.

It’s been a pothole-filled road to reach this point. Initially, Adams was scheduled to face Caoimhin Agyarko, the No. 4 contender, on April 11 in Las Vegas. Those plans, however, were scrapped after Adams (26-4, 16 KOs) collapsed in his hotel room the morning of their weigh-ins and was later hospitalized.

With Adams temporarily out of the picture, the sanctioning body ordered Agyarko (18-0, 7 KOs) vs. Murtazaliev (23-1, 17 KOs). However, Agyarko informed them that he was unavailable and in stepped Adams.

The 36-year-old will look to build off his upset rematch win over Serhii Bohachuk last September. He figures to be an underdog yet again against Murtazaliev.

The Russian, ranked No. 7 by The Ring, lost his IBF crown to Kelly on January 31. The 33-year-old was hoping for an immediate rematch with the Sunderland native, but his request was denied.

Whoever emerges victorious from Murtazaliev vs. Adams, however, will likely play the waiting game. Eddie Hearn, Kelly’s promoter, said earlier this year he would look to match his man with Sebastian Fundora for a summertime unification.

Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) is The Ring’s No. 2-ranked junior middleweight and WBC champion.