The IBF title in the middleweight division has become vacant

Jermell Charlo has vacated the IBF (International Boxing Federation) title in the super welterweight division, as reported by Boxing Scene.

The WBC (World Boxing Council) and WBA (World Boxing Association) champion in the super welterweight division chose not to defend the IBF belt. He was supposed to defend the title against a mandatory challenger, Bakhram Murtazaliev, from Russia (21-0, 15 KOs). Now, it is likely that he will contend for the vacant title against Jack Culcay (33-4, 14 KOs), who is ranked second.

Murtazaliev has held mandatory challenger status since November 2019 and secured a victory over Roberto Valenzuela in December 2022. Culcay's most recent bout was in July, where he knocked out Juan Adrian Monson.

This marks the second time Charlo has vacated a title; he previously did so with the WBO (World Boxing Organization) belt after not defending it against Tim Tszyu, losing his status as the undisputed world champion.

Jermell Charlo is an American professional boxer competing in the super welterweight division. He is the current world champion according to WBC, WBA Super, IBF, and The Ring. He has previously held the WBO title and was the undisputed world champion in 2022-2023.