It doesn’t really matter how rich and famous you are when it comes to boxing. Even the cream of the crop can have their hard-earned world titles stripped from them. Most boxers who have been stripped of their championship belts find it’s because they’ve failed to adhere to the rules of the particular governing body, such as refusing to defend their crown against the organization’s mandatory challenger.
This list consists of the 10 middleweight champions who have been stripped of their titles for one reason or another by one of the top four governing bodies; the WBA, WBC, IBF or WBO. In some instances a champion may have been stripped by more than one of the organizations.
10. Bert Schenk
Even hardcore boxing fans may have a tough time recognizing the name Bert Shenk of Germany. Schenk turned pro back in 1996 and fought mainly in Germany until 2005 with an impressive record of 36-2 with 23 Kos. He didn’t exactly fight the elite of the 160 lb division and in January, 1999 in his 22nd pro bout he found himself up against Freeman Barr for the vacant WBO Middleweight Title. The championship was vacant after former champ Otis Grant relinquished it to take on light heavyweight champ Roy Jones Jr. Shenk managed to stop Barr in the fourth round to take the tile and then defended it four months later. However, Shenk’s reign lasted just 10 months as the WBO stripped the title from him for failing to defend it against Jason Matthews due to injury. Matthews was given the title, but lost it to Armand Krajnc. The southpaw Shenk was then given another shot at the title in October of 2000 when he was healthy, but was knocked out by Krajnc.
http://polpix.sueddeutsche.com/polopoly_fs/1.1291387.1355409210!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/900×600/image.jpg?method=resize Source: Süddeutsche.de