Newly crowned world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is quickly learning that having three of the four major title belts comes with responsibility.
Each belt originates from a different sanctioning body and ownership of those belts comes with mandatory defense obligations.
Fury did not get much time to breathe before receiving his first assignment.
The IBF ordered its new champion Monday to face Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov (21-0, 13 KO’s). The camps were given 30 days to make a deal, or a purse bid would be ordered. On Tuesday, Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, who represents Glazkov, informed the IBF they were reluctant to participate in negotiations with Fury promoter Mick Hennessy and requested an immediate purse bid, which is permitted under IBF rules.
Duva also requested a purse bid for a light-heavyweight showdown between WBC champion Adonis Stevenson and IBF/WBA/WBO champion Sergey Kovalev.
The WBC-mandated purse bid would have taken place last April in Mexico City, but Duva backed out.
The IBF sent a letter to all its registered promoters announcing a purse bid to take place at noon ET Dec. 11 at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey. The promoter who puts up the highest bid, wins promotional rights for the fight, as long as a minimum of $200,000 is put forth, as reported by ESPN’s Dan Rafael.
However, the bid is 99.99 percent likely to be canceled.
Wladimir Klitschko, who held the title from April 2006-November 2015 and defended his title 18 times consecutively, the third-longest reign in heavyweight history, opted to make use of his contractual option for a rematch against Fury, overriding an organization’s mandatory order.
Fury will likely be forced to vacate the IBF strap. As a result, Glazkov, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and a 2007 World Amateur Championships silver medalist, will get his shot at the belt against undefeated contender Charles Marin (22-0-1, 20 KO’s).
On Wednesday, Rafael tweeted that he had just spoken to Hennessy [presumably over the phone].
“Just spoke to Fury promoter, Mick Hennessy. Said Fury will throw IBF belt in trash if Glazkov mandatory is forced,” Rafael said.
As aforementioned, it appears likely Fury will have to hand over the title regardless, hopefully in immaculate condition that is.
– Ryan O’Hara @OHaraSports
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