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Undefeated two-time light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson informed the International Boxing Federation (IBF) that he has vacated its title, effective immediately.
Promoter Gary Shaw personally delivered the letter to the IBF at its annual convention which is being held in Panama City, Panama.
“The IBF rejected our request for an exception to making an immediate title defense against mandatory challenger Tavoris Cloud and inasmuch as no major television network was willing to buy the fight, the IBF left us little choice,” said Shaw.
“I respect the IBF’s decision but the fight they were forcing us to do was commercially unviable. On behalf of Chad, we thank the IBF for the opportunity to fight for its title and to defend it. It’s an honor Chad will always cherish. Now it’s on to bigger and better. Chad looks forward to defending his International Boxing Organization title against the cream of the crop and unencumbered.”
Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs), from New Haven, Conn., serving his second term as light heavyweight champion, successfully defended the IBF and IBO titles on May 9 in a rematch against former world champion Antonio Tarver, whom he dethroned last October. Dawson won his first world title in 2007, dethroning undefeated defending WBC champion Tomasz Adamek.
He successfully defended the WBC title three times, including a victory over former world champion Glen Johnson, before vacating that title to challenge Tarver.
