Braehmer officially stripped of title by the WBO; Cleverly the new champion

The World Boxing Organisation has confirmed that Juergen Braehmer has been stripped of his light-heavyweight belt and that Nathan Cleverly is their new champion.

"There was an emergency board meeting last night to discuss the Braehmer situation and it was decided that he should be stripped of his title," the WBO's European chairman Istvan Kovac told news agency Reuters earlier today.

"We had an email from Braehmer a few days ago saying he had a cut but this is the third time he has pulled out of a title defence at short notice.

"He has had some personal problems in the past and I hope he can come back and fight again.

"But Nathan Cleverly is now the world champion and rightfully so because none of this was his fault."