After four months in which WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been torn between retirement and continuing his career inside the ring, the WBC has now asked Fury to confirm his status by August 26 with a letter.
Fury fulfilled his mandatory fight when he faced and defeated compatriot Dillian Whyte in April with a six-round technical knockout, so an immediate clarification on his retirement was not necessary and that left speculation to grow.
While there was talk that he would wait for the outcome of the Anthony Joshua vs. Olexandr Usyk rematch, an exhibition fight with UFC champion Francis Ngannou had also been mentioned along with a possible return to WWE.
However, four days ago - on his 34th birthday - Fury said he would stay away from the sport and vacated The Ring magazine belt.
"Tyson Fury has until the 26th of this month to communicate to the WBC his final decision on whether or not he vacates the title in writing. There is no rush to define the WBC full status. We're asking for it in writing so it's a non-meditated matter," the WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told DAZN.
Sulaiman was also quick to dismiss any chances of the WBC title being up for grabs in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
"We're not opportunists, the easy thing to do was that (offer the vacant title to Usyk vs Joshua 2). To jump in and jump on a fight that was already done, with everything already set up. But that's not right, not ethical, not appropriate. Fury deserves his moment of greatness," he concluded.