Terence Crawford has lastly vacated his WBO welterweight title, leaving it for Brian Norman Jr. to be elevated by the sanctioning physique.
Predictable Transfer After 154-b Title Victory
It was a predictable transfer by Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) after he captured the WBA Junior middleweight title with a slender victory over champion Israil Madrimov on August third.
Crawford nonetheless holds the WBA welterweight title, however he’ll vacate that belt quickly. If not, he’ll be stripped finally. The present WBA ‘common’ 147-lb champion, Eimantas Stanionis, would then be elevated.
The World Boxing Group ought to have stripped Crawford the second he moved as much as 154 and captured the WBA title from Madrimov on August third. As soon as Crawford made that transfer, it ought to have resulted in him shedding his WBO 147-lb title on the spot as an alternative of voluntarily vacating the belt.
It’s now believed that Crawford will use his newly gained WBA 154-lb title to struggle WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. or WBC/WBO champ Sebastian Fundora subsequent. Crawford continues to be holding Canelo Alvarez will grant him his want for a struggle at 168, nevertheless it doesn’t appear like that struggle will occur.
Boots Ennis: The Undesirable Shark in Crawford’s Ocean
It’s unclear why Crawford has chosen to vacate his WBO welterweight title quite than proceed to carry onto it for validation functions.
Might it’s that Crawford is apprehensive that if he holds onto it, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis will surrender on his aim of turning into undisputed 147-lb champion and transfer as much as 154 to place warmth on him or take among the prized chickens he’s trying to cook dinner within the pan, like Vergil Ortiz Jr?
It wouldn’t be good for Crawford for Boots to maneuver as much as 154 and snatch Vergil out from underneath his nostril earlier than he’s gotten the prospect to show him as a hype job. It additionally wouldn’t be good for Crawford to take care of the fan strain of getting Boots Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) preventing in the identical weight class and be hounded evening and day to struggle him.
Having Boots round could be pure distress for Crawford as a result of if 154 is his portion of the ocean, the very last thing he wants is a predatory shark like Ennis devouring his prey fish earlier than he will get the prospect to have a meal.
Whereas the 154-lb division is well-stocked with fish for Crawford, the meals provide isn’t infinite. Having Boots round reduces the provision for Crawford, leaving him just a few insignificant Inexperienced Sea Carp to feed on.
