Floyd Mayweather has beenstripped of the welterweight world title he won after his points victory over Manny Pacquaio in May for failing to adhere by the rules, the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) announced on Monday.
Mayweather (48-0) failed to remit the sum of $200,000 (£128,000) sanctioning fee to the WBO by the 3 July deadline, as well as vacate the junior middleweight title he also held.
He had, after his victory over Pacquaio, said he planned to relinquish the title.
Fellow American Timothy Bradley will now retain full ownership of the belt. The WBO created a vacant interim welterweight belt for the fight between Bradley and Jessie Vargas on 12 September.
“The WBO World Championship Committee is allowed no other alternative but to cease to recognize Mr Floyd Mayweather Jr as the WBO welterweight champion of the world and vacate his title,” said a statement on wboboxing.com.
Mayweather has until 20 July to appeal against the decision. The 38-year-old, who still holds the WBA and WBC belts is expected to return to the ring in Las Vegas on 12 September against a soon-to-be-confirmed opponent.
