British world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been given 10 days to show why he should not be stripped of his WBO belt.
The World Boxing Organisation issued the deadline on Tuesday (NZT) in a notice to Fury ordering him to demonstrate why his title "should not be vacated due to inactivity, breach of contract and performance enhancing drugs and stimulants."
The announcement further bolsters Kiwi heavyweight's Joseph Parker's chances of being granted a shot at a likely vacated belt when he takes on Andy Ruiz in Auckland later this year.
Parker's promoter Dean Lonergan admitted Monday that they had little interest in potential shot at an interim WBA belt, a title Fury also holds, preferring to focus their sights on becoming the undisputed king of the WBO.
"We're either fighting for the heavyweight title, or we're not," said Lonergan
"I don't see this interim stuff as being of a great deal of value."
Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko as IBF, WBA and WBO world champion by beating the Ukrainian on points last November in Germany, but has since cancelled the rematch twice for medical reasons.
Fury also faces a hearing into a charge for an alleged doping violation.
He was stripped of the IBF title because he refused to fight against a mandatory challenger, but currently still holds the WBO and the WBA titles.
DPA/Newshub.