Mikkel Kessler stripped of WBC title, Ward and Dirrell to fight for it

The WBC has stripped Mikkel Kessler of his 168-pound title.

Kessler withdrew from Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic, citing an eye injury. With his recovery expected to take at least nine months, the WBC opted to take the belt. 

But Kessler isn't totally out of the mix. He was instead named champion emeritus, which means he'll have a chance to get it back once he recovers from an eye injury.

In the meantime, Andre Dirrell will fight Andre Ward for the vacant belt. The bout, which is part of the World Boxing Classic, was originally set for September 25, but isn't likely to take place. No venue has been set and no tickets have been sold.

A more likely date for the fight is late October or early November.