SEBASTIAN Fundora's decision to swerve his WBO mandatory challenger Xander Zayas, instead honouring the rematch clause exercised by former titleholder Tim Tszyu, has prompted the sanctioning body to strip him of their world championship.

Fundora (22-1-1, 14 KOs) may have been able to retain unified status and been granted an exception to rematch the Australian, had he gone about this decision-making the right way after negotiations with No. 1 contender Zayas stalled.

The 6ft 6in southpaw ended a year-long layoff with a fourth-round stoppage win over Chordale Booker on March 29 and wanted to stay active, knowing Zayas lay in wait. This move has appeared to blindside the WBO and they've acted swiftly in response.

As reported by The Ring's Mike Coppinger on Tuesday, July 19 in Las Vegas is an option for Fundora-Tszyu 2 and the WBO sought clarification from the 27-year-old upon hearing he'd moved in a different direction - defending the WBC title - while looking to vacate the WBO strap before today's live purse bid.

"It is hereby resolved that... Fundora is hereby stripped his WBO Jr. Middleweight champion status, effective immediately," WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas declared.

There was no clarification on whether Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs) and Charles Conwell's recent conqueror Jorge Garcia Perez (33-4, 26 KOs) would be called to negotiate terms for a vacant title as the top two-ranked contenders, though that's thought to be the plan.

"Mr. Sebastian Fundora has knowingly failed to comply with a valid, binding, and enforceable obligation as mandated by this Committee, which was imposed as a condition for the retention of his title and reaffirmed in multiple resolutions.

"Mr. Fundora failed to request or obtain prior written authorization from the WBO to engage in the bout publicly announced for July 2025 against Mr. Tszyu, and no justification has been presented for failure to comply with the mandatory defence order."

Salas continued, saying the sanctioning body is 'compelled to act decisively' and now down to one world title, The Towering Inferno has just lost some leverage ahead of a busy summer schedule.