Josh Taylor has officially relinquished the IBF super-lightweight title.
The former undisputed champion in the 140-pound division now holds just the WBO belt.
Taylor was last in the ring against Jack Catterall back in February at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow when he kept hold of his status after being on the right end of a contentious decision.
The Scot (19-0, 13 KOs)had already given up the WBA Super and WBC titles.
The IBF recently ordered Taylor to defend his super-lightweight crown against Jeremias Ponce, a former opponent of Lewis Ritson, who rose to prominence as a lightweight, going through the whole domestic division like a dose of salts before coming unstuck against Francesco Patera for the European title.
Purse bids for the fight between Taylor and Ponce have been set for August 23 and it seems the Scot will now be left with just the WBO bauble if he is to go through with the Jack Catterall rematch next.
Boxing Social reported earlier this month that ‘The Tartan Tornado’ had relieved himself of the red, white and gold trinket, but that has now been confirmed by the sanctioning body as being the case.
The aforementioned Ponce will now face number two in the rankings, Subriel Matias, for the belt, with rumours swirling that they have an October date in mind for the clash.
Taylor still holds the Ring Magazine title and had previously flirted, after the first fight against Catterall, with the idea of heading up in weight to welterweight to take on the likes of Terence Crawford, the WBO champion, or unified IBF, WBA Super and WBC king Errol Spence Jr.
However, it now looks as though the 31-year-old, from Prestonpans in Edinburgh, will take on Chorley man Catterall – who recently signed a promotional pact with Boxxer to fight on Sky Sports – for a second time.
Boxing Social understands the return clash between Taylor and Catterall will happen on November 26, with the location the only sticking point. At present, the aforementioned Glasgow venue, the OVO Hydro, looks to be the favourite venue to host the duel, but the AO Arena in Manchester is also under consideration.