WITH David Adeleye set to swerve his rematch with Jeamie Tshikeva in favour of a clash against Filip Hrgovic, it was always likely that he would forego his British title. Now it has been confirmed that Adeleye has vacated the Lonsdale Belt, with two domestic heavyweight rivals poised to fight for the vacant strap.
On the Joyce-Hrgovic undercard in Manchester, Adeleye, 14-1 (13 KOs), and Tshikeva, 8-2 (5 KOs), went toe-to-toe in a scrap for the vacant British heavyweight title, following Fabio Wardley’s decision to vacate the belt earlier this year.
In a controversial encounter, Adeleye dropped ‘TKV’ with a vicious left hook after referee Ron Kearney twice instructed the pair to break. Tshikeva then was unable to recover and dropped for a second and final time whilst ahead on the scorecards.
Due to the fashion in which Adeleye won the belt, the BBBofC ordered an immediate rematch between him and Tshikeva, but ‘Big D’ has instead opted to proceed with a step up to the world level to take on Croatia’s Hrgovic.
Now, one month before that fight in Riyadh, on the Itauma-Whyte undercard, Adeleye has decided to relinquish the coveted British crown.
On the BBBofC website, the Board revealed that Tshikeva has been ordered to face Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke, 9-1-1 (7 KOs), in a bout to determine a new British champion.
“MALE BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
“HEAVYWEIGHT (Vacant)
JEAMIE TSHIKEVA v FRAZER CLARKE
“Following David Adeleye relinquishing the Championship, the Stewards of the Board decided to put out the above contest to Purse bids in short terms to be submitted in accordance with the Terms and Conditions to the Board’s Head Office by 12:00 noon on Wednesday, 13th August 2025, the contest to take place by the end of December 2025.”
It is expected that Conor Benn will headline a card in London this September, either in a rematch with Chris Eubank Jr. or against another rival, and this would appear to be the most likely destination for Tshikeva-Clarke at present.
