Thursday 1 February 2018 15:03, UK
Tyson Fury has been stripped of THE RING Magazine’s heavyweight championship.
Fury had been set a deadline of January 31 to confirm an opponent for his return to the ring, after an absence of more than two years, but he failed to do so.
As a result, he has been stripped of the title that the American publication awards to the fighter that it recognises as the "lineal" champion. Fury originally won THE RING belt when he beat Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, also claiming the IBF, WBA 'super' and WBO titles.
"We deeply regret separating from the lineal championship," a statement from THE RING read.
Fury has since cancelled a rematch against Klitschko, battled mental health issues, accepted a back-dated ban from UK Anti-Doping and reapplied for his boxing licence, which was taken away by the British Boxing Board of Control.
Fury is free to pursue his next fight and has linked up with a new trainer, Ben Davison, with whom he bonded over a mutual gameplan to dethrone Anthony Joshua.
"We both know what needs to be done to beat the other so-called top heavyweight out there," Davison told Sky Sports last month.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn added: "It's not a fight that's made over social media, it's a fight that's made in the boardroom.
"It's tricky to make, because it's a voluntary defence for Anthony Joshua, but yes it's a voluntary defence against a contender in Tyson Fury that is a former champion, does have a huge amount of value in the fight as well.
"We're ready to make that fight, but when you're in fights like Joshua against Joseph Parker, there is no point talking about Tyson Fury and overlooking him [Parker]."
THE RING have confirmed that their heavyweight title, now vacant, will not be on the line when Anthony Joshua meets Joseph Parker in a unification fight on March 31, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Five champions are currently recognised by THE RING - middleweight Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, junior-welterweight Terence Crawford, lightweight Jorge Linares, bantamweight Shinsuke Yamanaka and junior-flyweight Ryoichi Taguchi.
Watch the Anthony Joshua vs Joseph Parker world heavyweight title unification fight, from Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on March 31, live and exclusive on Sky Sports Box Office.
