Peter Fury, the uncle and trainer of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hit out at the actions of the IBF after they insisted that Fury must face his mandatory challenger or be stripped of the belt.
On Saturday night, Fury caused one of the biggest upsets in recent memory by dethroning long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf, but the Ukrainian has quickly invoked a rematch clause which means that the pair will meet again in 2016.
However, the IBF has called for Fury to face mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov in his next fight, despite Fury being contractually obligated to fight Klitschko for a second time.
With the rematch against Klitschko taking priority, Fury is likely to vacate the IBF title, but his trainer has hit out at the decision of the governing body.
Fury told Sky Sports News: "It's shocking news. I don't think the IBF know what's happening. When we did the Klitschko deal, they wanted a rematch clause, which is common practice when you're dealing in major world title fights. He's exercising that clause so there's nothing we can do to satisfy the IBF. Tyson has to fight Klitschko. If Klitschko had retired, we could have slipped straight in and dealt with the mandatory but it says in the contract we can't have a voluntary so we're in between a rock and a hard place.
"I think it's totally unfair and unprofessional from the IBF, because Tyson was crowned champion only on Saturday. With all this carry on, they're giving us no time. They should be happy he holds the belt and is fighting again in the biggest fight out there. The winner would then take the IBF mandatory.
"I can assure you it hasn't come to light as far as we're concerned until after the fight. If the Klitschko camp knew it, they should have divulged that information but I don't know if they did. We didn't know anything about it and we don't want to give up the belts. How can we face Klitschko and Glazkov at the same time? It's ridiculous."
If stripped of the IBF strap, Fury will be left in possession of the WBA and WBO belts, which will be on the line against Klitschko.
Darren Plant
