Tyson Fury Has Boxing Licence Suspended After Vacating His WBO and WBA World Heavyweight Titles
Tyson Fury has vacated WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles
Gipsy King stands down hoping he will be given chance to win belts back
Fury was set to be stripped of word titles after the admission of drug use
Fury's promoter Mick Hennessy said the decision was 'heartbreaking'
Vacated belts set to lead to Anthony Joshua fight with Wladimir Klitschko
Daily Mail UK, 13 October 2016
The British Boxing Board of Control have suspended Tyson Fury's boxing licence after he voluntarily vacated his WBO and WBA world titles on Wednesday night.
In a statement released by General Secretary Robert W Smith, the BBBofC said:
'The British Boxing Board of Control confirms that Mr Fury's boxer's licence is suspended pending further investigation into anti-doping and medical issues.'
The troubled boxer recently withdrew from a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko for the second time after being declared 'medically unfit' and courted more controversy a fortnight ago after it was reported he had tested positive for cocaine.
Tyson Fury has vacated his WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles with immediate effect
Fury rocked the boxing world by defeating Wladimir Klitschko last November in Duesseldorf
Fury acknowledges that he must focus on his medical treatment and recovery at this time
The announcement of Fury's vacation is likely to expedite confirmation of a fight between Klitschko and Anthony Joshua for the newly-vacant titles. Promoter Eddie Hearn has previously said a Joshua-Klitschko fight would only become a real possibility if there is another belt on the line.
The British Boxing Board of Control were set to discuss removing Fury's license on Wednesday, which would have seen him stripped of the belts, but the boxer has beaten them to the punch by vacating them voluntarily.
The 28-year-old said in a statement:
'I won the titles in the ring and I believe that they should be lost in the ring, but I'm unable to defend at this time and I have taken the hard and emotional decision to now officially vacate my treasured world titles and wish the next in-line contenders all the very best as I now enter another big challenge in my life which I know, like against Klitschko, I will conquer.'
Fury upset the odds by beating the Ukrainian Klitschko in November 2015, also claiming the IBO belt, but he has yet to honour a rematch, twice pulling out.
Fury added:
'I feel that it is only fair and right and for the good of boxing to keep the titles active and allow the other contenders to fight for the vacant belts that I proudly won and held as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world when I defeated the long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Anthony Joshua hopes the vacant belts will heighten talks over a fight with Wladimir Klitschko
Fury says he vacated the belts in order to keep them active but he intends to win them back
The Gipsy King has not fought since last November and he admitted to taking cocaine
Fury recently told Rolling Stone magazine that he had been taking cocaine to help with depression and he will now seek medical care.
Mick Hennessy, Tyson's promoter from the start of his professional career, said:
'Tyson will still be the linear World Heavyweight Champion in everyones' eyes. He beat the most dominant champion in the modern era of boxing on an amazing night in Germany to earn that accolade and that will never change.
'Whilst it's heartbreaking to see Tyson vacate the world titles that he worked so long and hard for all his life, what's paramount now is that he receives the medical treatment along with the love of his family and friends and the support of the boxing world to make a full recovery.'
Joshua is now likely to finally face Klitschko for one of the belts Fury has vacated in December
Fury posed with his belts at his home on Wednesday one final time before handing them over
Negotiations are ongoing between Klitschko and Joshua, with promoter Eddie Hearn hoping to get the fight on in December.
The news had been expected on the day when he faced being stripped of his licence at a meeting of the British Boxing Board of Control, with the WBO and WBA having previously said Fury could lose his titles because of inactivity.
Peter Fury, Tyson's uncle and trainer, added:
'Tyson will be back stronger from this and I will make sure, no matter what we have to deal with, Tyson not only comes back but will reclaim what's rightfully his. I'm very proud of my nephew's achievements.'
Quote:
TYSON FURY VS WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO TIMELINE
November 28, 2015: Fury beats Klitschko by unanimous decision in Dusseldorf to win the WBA Super, WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles.
December 8, 2015: Fury is stripped of the IBF title after just 10 days due to Klitschko's rematch clause in the original contract, which meant the Gipsy King could not face mandatory IBF challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov.
April 8, 2016: After months of negotiations, the rematch is finally set for Manchester Arena on July 9.
June 24, 2016: With a little over two weeks to go before the rematch, Fury pulls out after suffering an ankle injury in training.
July 7, 2016: Fury announced that the rescheduled fight will now take place on October 29 at Manchester UK Arena.
Sept 7, 2016: The October rematch is officially confirmed.
Sept 12, 2016: Fury misses the final press conference ahead of the fight after claiming his car broke down.
Sept 23, 2016: The fight is postponed for a second time, with Fury deemed 'medically unfit' to fight.
Sep 30, 2016: It emerges that Fury was notified on September 22 that his random urine sample had tested positive for cocaine.
Oct 13, 2O16: Fury relinquishes WBA and WBO world heavyweight title belts
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Tyson Fury Loses Licence After Drug Use/Vacating WBO/WBA World Heavyweight Titles
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