Tyson Fury has been stripped of his IBF world heavyweight title after refusing a mandatory defence, according to the BBC.
The British fighter, 27, beat Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf on November 29 to win the WBA, WBO and IBF world titles.
But he has quickly lost the latter after signing up for a rematch with Klitschko rather than a bout against the IBF’s mandatory challenger.
“Our challenger was Vyacheslav Glazkov, but instead Fury’s gone and signed a rematch clause with Wladimir Klitschko.”
Klitschko took up the rematch available under a clause in the contract for their original fight, won by Fury in a unanimous points decision.
That left fellow Ukrainian Glazkov out in the cold and Fury facing the loss of one of his three belts.
In another development, boxing promoter, Kellie Maloney, 62, has urged World boxing authorities to sanction Fury over his controversial comments about women and homosexuality.
She said Fury is not a very good role model and also risks being shunned by major sponsors.
The promoter told BBC Breakfast that Fury’s achievement in the ring was “fantastic” but his comments outside it “leave a lot to be desired”.
She added: “I think his comments will harm him to get endorsements. I don’t think you will see the likes of adidas, Nike or any of the blue chip companies wanting to endorse Tyson Fury. I think he has made a terrible mistake and his management team should have realised this because they know what he is like.”
*Originally reported by Mail Online