The IBF has stripped Tyson Fury of his world heavyweight title on account of his failure to defend the belt against the mandatory challenger, Vyacheslav Glazkov, instead choosing a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, whom the Briton beat on 28 November.
“It’s true he’s been stripped of his IBF belt,” the IBF’s championships chairman, Lindsey Tucker, told the BBC. “Our challenger was Vyacheslav Glazkov but instead Fury’s gone and signed a rematch clause with Wladimir Klitschko.”
There was a clause in the contract for last month’s fight in Dusseldorf that gave Klitschko the right to a rematch if he was defeated and last week he confirmed he wanted the opportunity to win the belts back.
Fury retains the WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles, while the WBC belt is held by the American Deontay Wilder. No date or venue has been set for Fury’s defence against Klitschko but the decision is likely to increase the chance of Anthony Joshua, who fights Dillian Whyte this Saturday, becoming a No1 contender next year.
