Tyson Fury has been stripped of his IBF world heavyweight title.
The Brit beat long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko with a stunning display in Dusseldorf last month.
In doing so, he took Klitschko's four belts - but the Ukranian confirmed last weekthat he had opted to exercise his right to a rematch.
And the IBF have now removed Fury as their champion after he failed to fight his mandatory challenger.
Fury had been urged to fight Vyacheslav Glazkov, with calls for purse bids made just two days after the original bout.
But after Klitschko announced he would return, it was confirmed that Fury would lose the crown with Glazkov fighting for the vacant title against Chris Martin.
He holds the WBO, WBA and IBO titles but the heavyweight division is now fractured with Deontay Wilder the WBC champion.
However, the decision could benefit Anthony Joshua - who may now be fighting for a world title within the next year.
Joshua, who faces Dillian Whyte on Saturday, could force himself into a mandatory position - setting up a potential unification clash with Fury.
Outside the ring, Fury has become embroiled in a sexism and homophobia storm.
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday before his bout with Klitschko, he likened homosexuality and abortion to paedophilia and has since claimed fellow SPOTY nominee Jessica Ennis-Hill "looked quite fit in a dress".
Around 5,000 people have signed a petition for Fury to be removed from the shortlist but the Brit hit back at the weekend and said his critics can 'suck his b***s".
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