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IBF Yanks Crown From Canelo, Promoter ODLH Responds
Another day in boxing, another shoe dropping in the world of sanctioning body politics. Today, the IBF said that no longer will their belt go around the waist of Canelo Alvarez.
That middleweight strap was to have been contested, with Canelo defending against the IBF No.1 middleweight, Sergey Derevyanchenko.
The Russian born fighter, who holds a 13-1 mark, beat Jack Culcay in is last start. Before that, he fought competently but lost a decision to Danny Jacobs. That one was for the IBF belt, deemed vacant by the IBF because then champ Gennady Golovkin didn't comply with their wishes. The bout versus Culcay was deemed an IBF title shot eliminator.
Canelo snagged the ‘BF belt off Jacobs, when they scrapped May 4th, and the red-head triumphed via decision.
The Derevyanchenko and Canelo people had been talking about making that match, but terms couldn't be reached. Now, it looks like Derevyanchenko will battle Gennady Golovkin for this time.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya sent out a release:
STATEMENT FROM OSCAR DE LA HOYA REGARDING THE IBF'S DECISION TO STRIP MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION CANELO ALVAREZ
LOS ANGELES, CA. (Aug. 1, 2019): Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy, has issued the following statement in response to the International Boxing Federation's decision to strip middleweight world champion, Canelo Alvarez.
“We are extremely disappointed at the IBF for forcing the world's best fighter to relinquish his world title. We have been in serious negotiations with Sergiy Derevyanchenko's promoter. We offered his team an unprecedented amount of money for a fighter of his limited stature and limited popularity, but the truth is that I'm now certain they never had any intention of making a deal. But instead they wanted to force us to relinquish Canelo's belt. This is an insult to boxing and more importantly an insult to the boxing fans of the world. This decision validates already existing concerns about the credibility of the IBF championship. Canelo inherited a mandatory challenger by defeating Daniel Jacobs, the man who beat Derevyanchenko, so to strip him of his title without giving him enough time to make the best fight possible is truly what is wrong with boxing, and I plan to aggressively consider all legal actions possible.”
Lou Dibella promotes Derevanchenko, who is advised by Keith Connolly.
Dibella went back at Oscar, on Twitter:
