Gennady Golovkin Stripped of IBF World Title

Gennady Golovkin Stripped of IBF World Title

Kazakh boxer Gennady Golovkin has been stripped of his IBF title for failing to agree to face a mandatory challenger.

Golovkin, aka GGG, 36, was asked to fight Sergiy Derevyanchenko by 3 August but a deal has not been reached.

The unbeaten fighter failed to submit a written promise of a bout with Derevyanchenko on time, meaning he loses the belt he had held since October 2015 under Rule 5H of the IBF rules.

He won the title in a sensational victory over Canadian David Lemieux in 2015, and the IBF will now identify “two leading contenders” to fight for its belt.

In a lengthy statement, the IBF said Golovkin had asked in April not to fight Derevyanchenko as he had already agreed a bout with Vanes Martirosyan for 5 May.

Golovkin, the WBA and WBC world middleweight champion was fighting Martirosyan as a result of a rematch with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez being postponed when the Mexican failed a drugs test.

The IBF agreed to Golovkin’s request on the proviso he would agree to a bout with Derevyanchenko by 3 August.

The organisation said: “After a lengthy review and period of deliberation, the International Boxing Federation has vacated the IBF Middleweight title held by Gennady Golovkin.

“The IBF had to enforce the penalty under Rule 5H for Golovkin having participated in an unsanctioned contest within his weight class and declare the IBF Middleweight title vacant.

“The IBF will identify the two leading available contenders and order them to negotiate to fight for the vacant title.”