The World Boxing Council (WBC) announced on Thursday that boxer Oscar Rivas has lost his world welterweight belt due to an eye injury.

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Groupe protege Yvon Michel (GYM) was due to fight Efe Ajagba next January 14 in Verona, New York, but a retinal detachment suffered during a practice round forced him to give up the fight.

The WBC has thus stripped the Colombian of his belt, which will be up for grabs soon. Rivas (28-1-0, 19 KOs) had been champion of his weight class since October 2021, but was still unable to make a title defense.

The ESPN network reported in December that the 29-year-old pugilist was not yet thinking about retirement despite his recurring eye problems.