By Ciarán Gallagher

AFTER all the contractual and diplomatic wrangling that went on to get Tyson Fury his shot at the Irish heavyweight title, it looks like the Manchester-Irishman’s reign may not last too long.

The 24-year-old beat Martin Rogan in Belfast last April to claim the Irish belt, and fights against Italian-American Vinny Maddalone on Saturday in Somerset.

Fury, being a genuine heavyweight, should come through the bout easily enough considering Maddalone’s tendency to get beaten up by overblown cruiserweights, but it is not the opposition who could take his crown since Maddalone is ineligible to fight for the Irish crown.

The Boxing Union of Ireland (BUI) have received no contact regarding clearance for Fury and since the bout is on English soil, it is believed that he has reverted back to his British licence. Such a move would mean he is automatically stripped of the Irish title by the BUI.

While it may be a great selling point to hype the 6ft 9in giant to a US audience as the Irish heavyweight champ, he may soon have to be billed as the ‘former’ champ.

*Ciarán Gallagher’s Mail Box column appears every Friday in the Irish Daily Mail. , follow him on Twitter: @gallagherbox and read more great/confused sports writing atwww.grannykiller.com