Mayweather stripped of world title for not following rule


Floyd Mayweather Jr. has lost his WBO welterweight belt for not following the boxing world's rules.

Mayweather won the welterweight world title in May when he beat Manny Pacquiao in a 147-pound unification fight. The boxing match broke all money records for boxing, including tickets, sponsorships and pay-per-view subscriptions, ESPN reported.

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Mayweather missed a deadline last week to pay a $200,000 sanction fee to the World Boxing Organization for the "fight of the century."

He earned at least $180 million for the match.

He also didn't vacate his other titles with the World Boxing Association and the World Boxing Council as required. Mayweather is the junior middleweight champ in both of those organizations.

CNN reported that WBO rules require boxers to hold titles in only one weight division.

He was given an extension to comply, but didn't pay or drop the titles. The WBO passed a resolution Monday to no longer recognize Mayweather as its welterweight champion.

According to ESPN, the WBA and the WBC have similar rules against holding titles in multiple weight classes, but have not moved to strip their titles from Mayweather.

Mayweather has won 11 world titles in five weight classes during his 19-year career.

His next fight is scheduled for Sept. 12. No opponent has been announced. Mayweather has said that he plans to retire after that fight, ESPN reported.

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