Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury Stripped of IBF Belt Less Than Two Weeks After Win

New heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was stripped of the IBF belt title Tuesday for declining to make his mandatory defense, which is due, against Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov.  Fury won the belt less than a two weeks ago after defeating Wladimir Klitschko.

Lindsey Tucker, championships chairman at the IBF, told BBC Sport: “It’s true he’s been stripped of his IBF belt.”

He added: “Our challenger was Vyacheslav Glazkov, but instead Fury’s gone and signed a rematch clause with Wladimir Klitschko.”

Fury, who is unbeaten in 25 professional contests, retains the WBA and WBO versions of the heavyweight title, while the WBC belt is held by American Deontay Wilder.

The 31-year-old Glazkov, also a Ukrainian, has won 21 of his 22 professional fights.

Even if Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) could get out of the rematch with Klitschko (64-4, 54 KOs), he might not want to. Fury will earn many millions more fighting Klitschko again than he would facing the relatively unknown Glazkov.

Fury was the subject of a police investigation on Tuesday following the outspoken boxer’s comments about homosexuality that have been heavily criticized in Britain.

Greater Manchester Police said they have received a report of a “hate crime” regarding Fury’s comments, which were published in a newspaper interview before his victory over Wladimir Klitschko in a heavyweight title fight on Nov. 28.

author avatar
MyMMANews
MyMMANews.com - We cover everything from MMA, BJJ, Bare Knuckle, Wrestling, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Judo News, Opinions, Videos, Radio Shows, Photos and more.