WBC World heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury be stripped of his title due to not defending it since December of 2022?
Fury, the unbeaten, 34-0-1, last defended his title, stopping Derek ‘War’ Chisora, then 33-12, in ten rounds on December 3, 2022.
Chisora had lost three in a row before defeating Bulgaria’s Kubrat ‘The Cobra’ Pulev, 29-2, by split decision, earning the title shot.
Chisora was the WBO Inter-Continental champion, losing to Cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in a non-title bout and then back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker prior to his win over Pulev.
Heavyweight champions are required to defend their title once a year, which Fury hasn’t. He had a non-title fight coming off the canvas in the third round, winning a split decision over former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, who was making his pro debut in October of 2023.
I scored it 7-3 in rounds for Fury, with Ngannou taking the third 10-8 round with knockdown, eighth and ninth rounds.
This reminded me of when unbeaten world welterweight champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. won his 50th fight, defeating MMA champion Conor McGregor, who was making his debut in a non-title bout.
Mayweather carried McGregor by only landing three punches a round for nine rounds before opening up on him and stopping him in the tenth round. McGregor and Mayweather both retired from boxing after that mismatch.
WBA, WBC, and WBO Welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, 40-0 with 31 stoppages, is required to defend his title twice a year, yet in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 he only defended his titles once, and deserved losing the IBF title to interim champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, 31-0 with 28 stoppages.
In 2023, Crawford stopped WBA, WBC, and IBF champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence, Jr., 28-1 with 22 stoppages in July of 2023 in nine rounds, only losing the first round. Why a rematch? Spence having auto accidents isn’t fit to qualify for another title fight physically or mentally.