According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Gennady Golovkin has been stripped of his IBF title for failing to beat mandatory challenger Sergey Derevyanchenko.
“It comes as a complete shock that the IBF would make a ruling far beyond what the Derevyanchenko side was asking for,” Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler told ESPN. “They weren’t asking for him to be stripped. They were asking to have their shot at the IBF title next, but they never asked for him to be stripped. In light of this ruling, I think the IBF has completely mistreated GGG. It is the worst treatment they have ever shown any unified champion in their history.
“Gennady is disappointed in the ruling.”
“After reviewing the written submissions and hearing the oral arguments of counsel for the parties on May 22, 2018, the panel, composed of three IBF members, all of whom are practicing attorneys, made its recommendations to the [IBF] president, Daryl Peoples, and to the championships committee in accordance with Rule 12.F.,” the IBF ruling said. “The president and the championships committee approved the condition that Golovkin agree to fight the IBF middleweight mandatory opponent by August 3, 2018, in order to avoid the penalty of losing his title under Rule 5.H.”
The IBF ruling further said, “Since Golovkin has not agreed in writing to fight the IBF mandatory opponent by August 3, 2018, a required condition for the grant of the exception, the request for an exception to Rule 5.H. must now be denied. … The penalty for Golovkin having participated in an unsanctioned contest within his weight class under Rule 5.H. is that his IBF middleweight title will be declared vacant.”
“I’ve always respected the IBF for following their rules,” Lou DiBella said. “They made a completely legitimate ruling beforehand, and they did not strip GGG before his fight with Martirosyan, but he wasn’t going to honor the requirement that he fight Derevyanchenko next. They never came to us to try to make the fight. It was clear they weren’t going to try to make the fight, not with the possibility of the Canelo rematch, which looks dead now anyway. So I commend them for doing the right thing.
“I also want to give appropriate kudos to Alex Dombroff, who did a terrific job representing Derevyanchenko. He seriously did an outstanding job and he can be proud of the work he did. Kudos to the young guy who had a career-enhancing moment. He worked really hard.”
DiBella, long a big Golovkin fan, said there are no hard feelings on their side.
“I said this to GGG in person at the hearing — that he’s a great champion and I respect how he’s handled himself, and this does not detract from my respect for him.
“But you can’t have it all ways. I told him I’d be rooting for him if the Canelo fight happens.”
