Tyson Fury stripped of IBF world heavyweight title after Wladimir Klitschko rematch agreed

Fury will honour a rematch clause with the man he beat to win the world title but the IBF have removed him as champion

Tyson Fury has been stripped of the IBF world heavyweight title (Getty Images)

Tyson Fury has been stripped of the IBF world heavyweight title he won less than a fortnight ago by beating Wladimir Klitschko, it has been confirmed.

Fury has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons since his victory in Düsseldorf on 28 November, with his inclusion in the BBC's Sport Personality of the Year shortlist sparking a petition to have him removed following reported sexist and homophobic comments.

However, his triumph in the ring has been widely praised, with the Briton becoming the first man to beat Klitschko in over 10 years and claim his IBF, WBA and WBO world titles.

Yet his reign as world champion with the IBF is already over after Fury vowed to honour his rematch clause with Klitscko, rather than face the IBF's mandatory challenger, Vyacheslav Glazko of the Ukraine.

Lindsey Tucker, championships chairman at the IBF, told the BBC: "It's true he's [Fury} been stripped of his IBF belt."He added: "Our challenger was Vyacheslav Glazkov, but instead Fury's gone and signed a rematch clause with Wladimir Klitschko."

27-year-old Fury had until 11 December to negotiate a deal with Glazko, but the IBF chose to strip him of the title due to his clear indication that he will face Klitschko next year, possibly at Wembley Stadium.

Glazko will now face No 4 ranked Charles Martin for the vacant IBF title.

Fury remains the WBA and WBO world champion, while American Deontay Wilder holds the WBC version and could be a future opponent for Fury in the not so distant future.

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police are investigating an allegation of hate crime against Fury after he made comments on a BBC radio show.

Calls have come in for Fury to be removed or replaced from the Sport Personality of the Year award after he compared homosexuality and abortion to paedophilia. Fury has also been criticised for claiming a "women's best place is on her back" and made sexist comments about Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill and former UFC champion Ronda Rousey.