Gustavo Lemos is no longer in the lightweight title picture.
IBF officials have confirmed to BoxingScene.com that the unbeaten Argentinean lightweight is no longer the mandatory challenger. The most recent ratings update saw Lemos removed altogether from the IBF Top 15 after he blew weight and was forced out of a planned August 18 stay-busy bout in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The number-one spot is now left vacant, as is customary with the IBF whose rules normally require a fighter win a final title eliminator to command the mandatory position.
Former lineal and unified titlist George Kambosos Jr. (21-2, 10KOs) is ranked number two, per his majority decision win over England’s Maxi Hughes in their July 22 semifinal title eliminator. The number-three spot is held by two-time Olympic Gold medalist and former three-division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-3, 11KOs).
Devin Haney (30-0, 15KOs) is the reigning lineal and unified WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight champion. He fully unified the division with a dominant win over Australia’s Kambosos last June 5 in Melbourne, where he returned last October 15 to repeat the feat.
In his most recent defense, Haney edged Lomachenko in their terrific May 20 meeting at MGM Grand Garden Arena in his Las Vegas hometown. He was since downgraded to WBC ‘Champion in Recess’ for failure to honor a WBC mandatory title defense versus Shakur Stevenson (20-0, 10KOs), who is in need of an opponent for a planned vacant title fight later this fall.
It is widely believed that Haney will eventually fully abdicate the lightweight throne, pending the outcome of his targeted challenge of WBC junior welterweight titlist Regis Progais. His move up in weight to face the two-time 140-pound titleholder is eyed for December. A win by Haney will prompt the WBA, IBF and WBO will expect Haney to make a decision at which he weight he will compete for his next bout.
Regardless of how it transpires, the timing could not have been worse for Lemos, who earned his old number-one ranking after a sixth-round knockout of former featherweight titlist Lee Selby last March 26 at Estadio Luna Park. The win was his last fight to date.
The current 18-month inactive stretch included an arrest last July for resisting arrest after police responded to a pre-dawn outdoor disturbance which involved the unbeaten boxer in his Tres Arroyos hometown.
His failed effort to make his way back into the ring in August came at a cost on numerous levels. He missed out on payday, a chance to shake ring rust and is now officially deemed unfit to compete at lightweight, at least in the eyes of the IBF.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox