By Carlos Boogs

IBF featherweight world champion Lee Selby wanted a much bigger opponent, but he is now set to fight his mandatory challenger next.

Selby was scheduled to make his mandatory defense against Jonathan Victor Barros on January 28th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The bout was part of the undercard to the Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz rematch.

Prior to the weigh-in, Barros was pulled from the fight after the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to grant him a license. Barros failed their medical tests after coming up positive for Hepatitis C.

Barros took additional tests in Las Vegas and they came up negative for Hepatitis C.

Selby finally returned to the ring on March 4th, and stopped Andoni Gago inside nine rounds at the O2 Arena in London as part of the David Haye vs. Tony Bellew undercard.

That fight was Selby's last under his promotional agreement with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport.

Selby is still working closely with powerful adviser Al Haymon, who had Tom Brown of TGB Promotions to represent his interests at the purse bid..

TGB, on behalf of Selby (24-1, 9 KOs), submitted the winning bid of $601,000, while KO International Promotions, for Barros (41-4-1, 22 KOs), put in a bid of $600,000. The split is 75-25 in favor of the champion.

Both fighters have to submit signed contracts in 15 days and Brown has 90 days to stage the fight, on or before July 13. The date and location is unknown at the moment.

The 32-year-old Barros ranked first by the IBF, won the mandatory right to face Selby after coming away victorious in a final eliminator which took place in Tokyo on October 3, by majority decision, over local fighter Satoshi Hosono.

Barros was a featherweight champion under the WBA when he defeated Pan-American Irving Berry by TKO in the seventh round on December 4, 2010 in Mendoza. Then retained the title in the Luna Park in October of 2011, and then lost it on points when he faced Panamanian Celestino Caballero.