Unified super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor has written to the World Boxing Association (WBA) explaining why he has vacated their title.
Earlier in the week there appeared to be confusion over whether the 31-year-old had been stripped or if he had given the belt up.
In the letter, Taylor writes: “I have been a proud WBA champion since 2019 when I defeated Regis Prograis. Unfortunately, due to my upcoming wedding and honeymoon this summer I am unable to fulfil my mandatory obligations and defend against Alberto Puello in a timely fashion.
“I do not want to deal a fellow fighter fulfilling his own career dreams and for that reason I must respectfully vacate. I wish the best to the fighters who will contest the vacant title and look forward to being a WBA champion again in the future.”
The disclosure of the reasons on social media led the Scot to reply to the WBA tweet saying, “And there you go. Vacated, not stripped. Have a nice weekend.”
Taylor’s promoters Top Rank are now working on the three-belt champion defending his WBC title against mandatory challenger Jose Zepeda in his next fight.
The WBA are believed to have proposed an idea where each of their top six contenders at 140lbs, including Puello, get 15 minutes to explain why they should fight for the now vacant title.