By Vadim Pushkin

According to the International Boxing Federation, they were advised by IBF junior welterweight champion Julius Indongo (22-0, 11 KOs) that he suffered a wrist injury in his last fight.

Indongo owes a mandatory defense against undefeated Sergey Lipinets (12-0, 10 KOs).

Last week, Alex Vaysfeld, manager of Lipinets, revealed that his sources are telling him that Indongo is likely going to vacate his IBF world title.

"We just received a notice that Inongo injured his wrist," an IBF press officer advised Basil Kovov.

The sanctioning body has already issued an order which directs Indongo to fight Lipinets next.

There is no official word on how serious the wrist injury is, or how much extra time it gives Indongo before engaging in negotiations for a fight with Lipinets.

Two weeks ago in Glasgow, Indongo unified the IBO, IBF, WBA belts after dominating Rick Burns over twelve rounds of action.

Indongo first crashed on the scene last December in Russia, when he pulled off a dramatic upset with a first round knockout of undefeated Eduard Troyanovsky to capture the IBF, IBO belts.

As part of his contract to fight Burns, British promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport has an option on Indongo's next fight.

Hearn confirmed last week that he's speaking with multiple promoters for Indongo's next fight. Indongo does not appear focused on making a mandatory defense against Lipinets.

Vayseld was told that Indongo is going to vacate - which in turn would set a fight between Lipinets and Maurice Hooker for the vacant belt - and that fight would likely land on the June 17th undercard to the light heavyweight rematch between Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev. Both Ward and Hooker are promoted by Roc Nation Sports.

Hooker (22-0-3, 16 KOs) went to a controversial split draw with former champion Darleys Perez last November in Las Vegas. That fight took place on the undercard to the first Ward-Kovalev bout. He returned to the ring in February, by winning a stay-busy decision over Cristibol Cruz in Mexico.

"According to my information, Indongo is going to drop this belt. And then Lipinets will fight with the next candidate, which is most likely going be Maurice Hooker. If that's going to be the case, then the fight will take place on the Kovalev -Ward event," Vaysfeld said to Igor Lazorin.