ESPN reports the committee voted to take action on Monday (06Jul15) after Mayweather failed to properly vacate the titles and also never paid the $200,000 (£133,000) sanctioning fee to the WBO for his Manny Pacquiao bout in May (15).

A WBO spokesman tells ESPN's Dan Rafael, "It is against sanctioning organisation rules for boxers to hold world titles in multiple weight classes. The WBC (World Boxing Council) and WBA (World Boxing Association) have been breaking their own rules by allowing Mayweather to hold their titles, but the WBO has declined to break its rules for Mayweather and it has told him he must make a decision.

"Also, Mayweather, who originally did not plan to accept the WBO title involved in the May 2 bout with Pacquiao, had a change of heart. Yet, he has not yet paid the sanctioning fee, according to the WBO."

As a result of the decision, Timothy Bradley is the most obvious choice to get hold of Mayweather's belt after beating Jessie Vargas on 27 June (15).