Have any of you guys heard of the recent strippingof the British Weltereight title from Scotlands Kevin McIntyre? The reason given for the stripping was that he recently pulled out from his title defense against Kell Brock for the second time after a recurring back injury which prevented him from fighting Brock in the first place. However, McIntyre had defended his title against Kevin Anderson on February 29th, only four months ago; he produced two medical certificates to validate his injury claim; and McIntyre was told that he has to face Brock by the end of June, which he claims he can still make. There are loads of examples of such happenings being dealt with much more leniently. Carl Johanesson was recently given a two week extension after pulling out against Kevin Mitchell. Tony Dodson has never defended the title that he claimed in June 2006. Yet the grounds for stripping McIntyre's title was that the board wanted to "get the title moving". As well as this, McIntyre was informed that his case would be heard on June 11th, but then an emergency meeting was called forward to June 6th at little notice, wherein the title was decared vaccant. The emergency was such that Sports Network had made an application for Brook to fight Barrie Jones on June 14th for the 'vacant' Welterweight title. Yet, one has to consider, how can you make an application for a vacant title before the title has been vacated??? McIntyre has been told that he will get prime consideration to challenge the Brock-Jones winner, as well as Tony Doherty and Craig Willson. This seems little consolation for the stripping of a title which is rightfully his. Source: Boxing News Emily
Maybe they could have introduced an interim title for Brock to fight for against the next top contender, while McIntyre recovered from his injury? Then again, there is the age old saying that a champion should be ready to defend his title at all times. Maybe the first time letting him pull out of the fight was enough, and the governing body thought second time round was taking the biscuit?
