Terence Crawford (proper) interviewed by DAZN’s Chris Mannix after his Aug. 3 win over Israil Madrimov to assert the WBA 154-pound title. Photograph credit score: Matchroom Boxing
Terence Crawford has concluded his RING and undisputed welterweight championship reign.
The final piece of the puzzle—the WBA belt—has been relinquished by the four-division titlist. Crawford (41-0, 31 knockouts) contacted the sanctioning physique in writing to precise his dedication to his present WBA 154-pound title reign.
“Terence Crawford determined to stay as champion within the tremendous welterweight division… and vacate his welterweight belt,” the WBA confirmed. “[Crawford] despatched a letter through which he knowledgeable his determination.”
Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) was elevated to full WBA welterweight titlist because of this. The unbeaten Lithunian held the WBA ‘Common’ title since April 2022, although he solely made one protection.
Crawford didn’t defend the WBA, WBC or IBF belts he lifted from Errol Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) final July 29 in Las Vegas. Nor did he put his RING welterweight championship at stake within the 13 months since he stuffed the void.
The most recent title relinquishment comes lower than three weeks after he vacated the WBO belt. Crawford held that title since June 2018 and made seven profitable defenses. Nonetheless, he knowledgeable the WBO on Aug. 12 of his determination to finish his prolonged reign.
Brian Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) was subsequently upgraded to full from interim WBO titleholder. The unbeaten 23-year-old from Conyers, Georgia landed the standing simply three months after his Could 18 spotlight reel tenth-round knockout of Giovanni Santillan in San Diego.
As a substitute, he’ll stay put as WBA junior middleweight titlist. The Ring’s No. 3-rated pound-for-pound fighter dethroned then-unbeaten Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs) on Aug. 3 in Los Angeles. He additionally collected the interim WBO 154-pound title and is the necessary challenger to the WBC title.
Their bout headlined the U.S. debut of the Riyadh Season boxing collection headed by Turki Alalshikh. Crawford and Alalshikh have been bullish on securing a superfight with RING/unified tremendous middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs). Nonetheless, the sanctioning our bodies produce other plans.
As beforehand reported by The Ring, the WBO ordered a title consolidation bout between Crawford and full titlist Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs). The order places Crawford’s twin WBO/WBC standing in danger—Fundora holds the complete model of each belts. The WBO beforehand ordered that Fundora-Crawford should happen earlier than the tip of 2024.
Fundora is tentatively slated to headline a Dec. 14 Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Prime Pay-Per-View occasion. Most rumors have Fundora subsequent dealing with Spence. Nonetheless, PBC and Sampson Boxing are cognizant of the WBO order and can enable correct decision earlier than his subsequent opponent is confirmed.
The uncertainty of Crawford’s future at 154 pales compared to absolutely the finish of his days at welterweight. He was downgraded as WBC titlist to ‘Champion in Recess’ in late Could. Mario Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) was upgraded three weeks later to full titlist, having beforehand held the interim model.
Crawford was stripped of the IBF title final fall for failure to honor an ordered title consolidation bout versus Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs). The ruling got here when Crawford knowledgeable the sanctioning physique that he was contractually sure to a Spence rematch.
That combat by no means came about, nor has Crawford returned to welterweight. He was relieved as RING champion after his win over Madrimov and determination to combat at 154 and above.
Ennis was elevated to full titleholder and not too long ago defeated David Avanesyan (30-5-1, 18 KOs) to defend the belt. Nonetheless, he’s now pressed with the state of affairs of both vacating the belt or entertaining an undesirable rematch with necessary challenger Karen Chukhadzhian (24-2, 13 KOs).
Such a transfer might be par for the course within the present state of the welterweight division. Crawford spent 5 years in pursuit of a career-defining win on the weight. He discovered it—and full unification—within the type of his wipeout of Spence.
One yr later, the division is as fractured because it’s ever been.
