Newly crowned heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury could lose one of his title belts if he decides to face Wladimir Klitschko in a rematch in his next fight.
Fury won the International Boxing Federation (IBF), International Boxing Organization (IBO), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight titles via a unanimous decision victory against Klitschko on Saturday.
Klitschko decided to exercise his rematch clause and Fury has already agreed to face the former champion for the second time. However, there could one less title at stake in the rematch -- the IBF heavyweight title.
IBF chairman Lindsey Tucker reiterated that Fury should defend the IBF title against mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov first before facing Klitschko. Tucker said that the mandatory title defense is the priority, not the rematch with Klitschko.
"To be clear, Tyson Fury must fight Vyacheslav Glazkov next. If they agree terms before December 11 we cancel the purse bid," Tucker told World Boxing News. "If it goes to a purse bid, the winning bidder has 90 days to do the fight. Regarding the Klitschko rematch taking precedence, it's just the opposite as the mandatory takes priority of the rematch."
Peter Fury, trainer and uncle of Tyson, blasted IBF for their statement about the mandatory title defense. He said that if IBF will insist that Tyson Fury should face Glazkov first, then they could eventually trash the IBF heavyweight belt as a sign of protest.
"I don't think the IBF know what's happening," Peter Fury told Sky Sports. "When we did the Klitschko deal, they wanted a rematch clause, which is common practice when you're dealing in major world title fights. He's exercising that clause so there's nothing we can do to satisfy the IBF. Tyson has to fight Klitschko."
Peter Fury clarified that they are not avoiding Glazkov. In fact they are willing to go up against the mandatory challenger. But fighting him before giving Klitschko a rematch could trigger a legal battle between promoters and managers of both fighters because the former champions holds a rematch clause.
"We've said what should happen and we're happy to defend it and take the mandatory but don't hold us to ransom," Peter Fury added. "There's no way we can take the fight before Klitschko - he's first in line. We're happy to show the IBF the contract and if they can see a way out of it then we'll face Glazkov first. But we know there isn't."
