By Scott Gilfoid: #8 IBF contender Tony Bellew (25-2-1, 16 KOs) just saw his pathway to a world title shot in December cleared with the news that IBF cruiserweight champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez (29-1, 14 KOs) has been officially stripped of his IBF by the International Boxing Federation title for failing to defend the title for the past 13 months.
Hernandez has had injury problems that has kept him from defending his IBF title. It was reportedly last week that the IBF was making the move to strip the 30-year-old Hernandez of his title, and now it is official, according to fightnews.com.