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Andreas Hale, ESPN
The World Boxing Council announced Monday that Terence Crawford has been downgraded to “champion in recess” in the welterweight division just a few months ahead of his debut at super welterweight against WBA 154-pound champion Israil Madrimov on Aug. 3.
“The WBC Board of governors has voted in favor to accept our proud WBC welterweight champion, Terence Crawford, to be placed as champion in recess in the welterweight division,” the WBC said in a statement.
Crawford has not fought since knocking out Errol Spence Jr. in dominant fashion last July to become the undisputed 147-pound champion. But it appears Crawford’s time at 147 pounds may be up, as the fighter out of Omaha, Nebraska, is pursuing world titles in higher weight classes.
Aside from challenging Madrimov for a super welterweight championship, Crawford has shown interest in facing undisputed 168-pound champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
“The WBC Board also voted in favor of officially sanctioning the Crawford vs Madrimov as a final elimination bout for the mandatory position in the Super Welterweight division,” the WBC’s statement continued.
Sebastian Fundora is the WBC and WBO super welterweight champion but could be stripped of his WBO title by forgoing his mandatory challenger to face Spence later this year.
Crawford will inform the WBC which division he wishes to compete in after the August fight, according to the statement.
Mario Barrios is currently the WBC interim welterweight champion, but there has been no announcement regarding whether he will be elevated to full champion.
Crawford, 36, is the former undisputed 140-pound champion and moved up to 147 pounds in 2018 to pursue a second weight class to become undisputed. He accomplished that feat against Spence, and it doesn’t appear that he has much interest in fighting at welterweight again.
Crawford was stripped of the IBF title last November, elevating Jaron “Boots” Ennis to full champion. Brian Norman is the WBO interim welterweight champion and Eimantas Stanionis is the WBA “regular” welterweight titleholder.
Source: www.espn.com