The World Boxing Association (WBA) has ruled that Terence Crawford can maintain his WBA welterweight title as he prepares to challenge for the junior middleweight crown against Israil Madrimov.
Crawford, who currently holds three of the four major world welterweight titles, has been looking to move up to the super welterweight division following the cancellation of a rematch with Errol Spence Jr., whom he defeated last year to become the undisputed champion. Madrimov secured the vacant title last month in Riyadh by stopping Magomed Kurbanov in the fifth round.
Jermell Charlo, the former undisputed 154-pound champion, was stripped of the WBA title last March but was made “champion in recess,” which allows him some leeway in deciding when to attempt to reclaim his former title.
Following the official confirmation of Crawford vs. Madrimov, the WBA issued a statement clarifying the title situation at 154 pounds. Should Crawford win, he will have five days to decide which weight class he wishes to continue competing in, as WBA rules prohibit holding world titles in multiple weight classes. Additionally, the winner of the Crawford-Madrimov fight is mandated to face the current WBA mandatory challenger, Vergil Ortiz Jr., who will also be fighting on the undercard against Tim Tszyu, with an interim junior middleweight title at stake.
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