In a move that should come as a surprise to nobody, WBO Interim Middleweight champion Avtandil Khurtsidze was formally stripped of his title on Thursday by the WBO after he was arrested and formally charged by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for Conspiracy under RICO (18 U.S.C. § 846), a charge that could lead to a sentence of 20-years in federal prison. Khurtsidze was forced to drop out of his July 8th showdown with WBO Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders due to his arrest.
The WBO issued an order to show cause on June 8th, requiring Khurtsidze to of why the Committee should not recommend to give his reason to the WBO Executive Committee as to why his title should not be vacated. According the press release and resolution posted by the WBO on their website there was no response.
