Josh Taylor is now free to rematch Jack Catterall after giving up his second world title.
Taylor successfully defended his undisputed crown in February with a controversial points win over British rival Jack Catterall. He then gave up his WBA belt to avoid his mandatory challenger but looked set to hold on to his WBC strap and face No.1 challenger Jose Zepeda.
But Taylor has now informed the sanctioning body that he will be giving up his belt which means Zepeda will now take on Jose Ramirez. Taylor is now free to rematch Catterall with two of his belts on the line.
Earlier this week, Taylor claimed his rival is coming across as desperate in his efforts to secure a second shot. "He's coming across a little bit desperate," Taylor told Sky Sports. "I can understand where he comes from, he felt like he won the fight, I'd be disappointed as well but I wouldn't be moaning and groaning the way he's going on and on, it's just ridiculous.
"I can understand how he's feeling, he felt like he won the fight, I felt like I did just enough to win the fight so it was a close fight, it could have gone either way, the judges gave it to me. The way he's acted since and the way he's coming across on social media makes me want to shut him up. It's one of the main reasons I stayed at 140 so I could get that fight.
"We're doing everything we can in our power to make this fight happen alongside the Zepeda fight as well," said Taylor. "If not after the Zepeda fight then next. This time around the motivation is there which I never had the last time, the motivation is there because of everything that has happened since the fight.
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"Hopefully the sooner the better for me. The only reason I'm staying at the weight is to fight Catterall. Obviously Zepeda is a huge fight as well, that's the one that looks like it's happening next. If that's happening next I'll be focusing on him straight away, giving him all my attention and focus and forgetting about Catterall at the minute.
"The real reason I'm staying at this weight is to get that fight, but if it doesn't happen it's on their side, we're doing everything on our side to make sure it happens."
