By Elliot Foster

James DeGale has been granted a medical exemption and will not fight until the summer.

The IBF super-middleweight champion, who drew with now-former WBC champion Badou Jack in January to keep hold of his crown in a Barclays Center unification showdown, had been set to face his mandatory next.

But the International Boxing Federation’s Championships Chairman Lindsey Tucker told RING on Friday that 31-year-old ‘Chunky’ (23-1-1, 14 KOs) would be excused from coming up against Jose Uzcategui (26-1, 22 KOs) after having an operation on a deviated septum and recovering from shoulder and ear injuries.

The IBF is contemplating whether to allow number one-rated Uzcategui and number three-rated Andre Dirrell (25-2, 16 KOs) to fight for an interim belt.

However, both fighters –– judging by social media and a previous piece by Boxing Scene’s Ben Jacobs –– seem to be under the impression that a fight between them, were it to come to fruition, would be a final eliminator for the right to face DeGale.

Further details will be revealed in due course.

IN OTHER NEWS: By Per Ake Persson:

Italian super welterweight Orlando Fioridigilio (27-1) retained the IBF Intercontinental title last night in Siena when he won a technical decision over hard punching Frenchman Howard Cospolyte (15-6-2). After an accidental head clash the fight was stopped in the ninth and they went to the scorecards and Fiordiglio was ahead 77-75 on all cards.

Fiordigilio´s sole loss came against current EBU ruler Cedric Vitu.

On the undercard cruiserweight prospect Fabio Turchi (10-0) outscored Isossa Mondo (7-12) over six.