KELVIN Young’s manager Keith Mayo has lobbied the International Boxing Organisation after the governing body ordered the fighter to vacate his super-middleweight inter-continental title.

The Penhill pugilist saw his dreams of a world championship shot go up in smoke last month following his shock eighth round stoppage loss in a non-title contest to Kiril Psonko.

However, when the IBO released their rankings for December they no longer listed Young as their inter-continental champion in the 12 stone division despite the belt not being on the line or the fight being a super-middleweight contest.

The Advertiser can reveal that following the Psonko loss the IBO has ordered the Swindon boxer to relinquish the crown he won last December with a thrilling points success over Alexey Ribchev.

However, despite the governing body saying that any loss requires a title to be vacated, the 27-year-old’s manager, Mayo, is hoping that they can get him reinstated.

“This is a big blow,” Mayo said. “We got a letter from the IBO saying that Kelvin is no longer the inter-continental champion.

“We don’t think this is right. The fight wasn’t at super-middleweight nor was it for the title.

“I’ve now asked the British representative (John McDonald) to look into this – we are trying to get Kelvin reinstated.”

Yet the IBO president Ed Levine has told the Swindon Advertiser that Young’s camp should have been aware what a defeat would mean for his inter-continental champion status.

Levine said: “Unfortunately Kelvin Young is no longer the IBO inter-continental super-middleweight champion.

“The title was vacated due to his recent loss in a non-title fight. Our championship rules provide that any loss requires that the title be vacated.”