Unbeaten heavyweight contender Vyacheslav Glazkov (21-0-1, 13ko), has passed on a January fight with WBC champion Deontay Wilder, instead choosing to focus on a shot at the soon-to-be-vacant IBF title, should the sanctioning body go ahead with their threat to strip new champion, Tyson Fury as expected.
Fury was mandatory challenger to the WBO/WBA portions of Klitschko’s titles, and having upset the formerly dominant Ukrainian to take them, he is contractually bound to an immediate rematch, though the IBF, whose title he also picked up, are determined to enforce their mandatory [Glazkov] next, in accordance with their own rules and thus presenting Team Fury with a rather unwanted quandary – break contract with Klitschko or be stripped.
Given this, the Brit’s team have threatened to trash the title at a public press conference on principle and in protest at what they see as an unfair set of circumstances, given they claim they were unaware of the IBF situation going into the Klitschko fight.
Glazkov’s promoter Kathy Duva has been angered by the contractual minutiae surrounding the potential fight with Wilder, which gives promoter Lou DiBella – on behalf of advisor Al Haymon – options over future Glazkov fights and earnings should he defeat the American champion.
After much haggling, it seems Duva has been presented with a deal they are now happy with, though given Wilder’s defence is set for Jan. 16, they feel it hasn’t left them ample time to prepare and will instead pursue the IBF route.
At this point, we have endured two months of foot dragging and deal changing from the other [Wilder] side. Now, with the fight only six weeks away, Lou suddenly comes up with a deal that I would have gladly signed two weeks ago,” Duva told ESPN.com.
“Why would we send our fighter into such an important bout without adequate time to prepare both physically and mentally, when we have another option for Glazkov to fight for and win the IBF heavyweight title?”
Should Fury indeed be stripped, then Glazkov would potentially face American #4 Charles Martin, who is set to box Dominic Breazeale on Dec. 12. At #5 is Germany’s Erkan Teper, who defends his EBU strap a week later against Robert Helenius.
Glazkov last boxed in August when he knocked out journeyman, Kertson Manswell in Russia. The confidence boosting victory followed on from March’s controversial USABA title win over former 200 lb world champion, Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham.
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