ESPN Boxing

With a significant fight already scheduled against recognized junior welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton, Paulie Malignaggi was forced to vacate his alphabet version of the 140-pound crown this week.

Because Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs), who will earn a seven-figure payday to face Hatton on Nov. 22 (HBO) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, opted for the Hatton showdown he declined to make an IBF-mandated defense against suspect No. 1 contender Herman Ngoudjo, a man Malignaggi already beat by unanimous decision in a January defense.

Malignaggi and promoter Lou DiBella did not even bother to request an exception from the IBF, which charges a non-refundable $20,000 fee to ask for an exception, which is not guaranteed. Also, Malignaggi and Hatton would have had to sign an agreement promising that the winner of their fight would next face Ngoudjo.

"The reality is that Hatton is not fighting Ngoudjo next and we are not fighting him next," DiBella told ESPN.com. "We could have gotten an exception if Hatton and Paulie both promised to fight Ngoudjo next. But we weren't. Paulie just fought him and beat him. The idea that we just fought the guy and now he's our mandatory is preposterous. Does that make any sense?

"Paulie feels bad about having to give up the title and would like to eventually get it back, but he's getting a huge economic opportunity with Ricky Hatton. If he beats Ricky Hatton there will be giant fights ahead of him and Herman Ngoudjo won't be one of them."

With Malignaggi vacating, Canada's Ngoudjo (17-2, 9 KOs) will face Florida-based Colombian former titleholder Juan Urango (20-1-1, 16 KOs) for the belt.

Ngoudjo promoter Yvon Michel and Urango promoter Leon Margules of Seminole Warriors Boxing have until Oct. 18 to strike a deal, otherwise a purse bid will be ordered.

"I think we'll make a deal," Margules said. "Yvon and I are friends. We'll get it done. It's just a question of what television we can get for the fight."

"'Urango is a very dangerous hitter, and it's going to be a real challenge, but my days of being a contender are over, and it's time for me to take the next step," Ngoudjo said.

Said Michel, "We were willing to be patient and step aside to let Malignaggi defend his belt against Hatton, but we would have to be guaranteed an immediate fight against the winner. We never received that guarantee, so we pushed the IBF to call a purse bid, which forced Malignaggi to vacate his title."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com