Earlier this month, unified welterweight champion Terence Crawford overcame his toughest test to date as he stepped up to super-welterweight and claimed Israil Madrimov’s WBA belt. Now that ‘Bud’ has confirmed that he will be sticking around at 154lbs, a new champion has been confirmed at 147lbs and he has now sent out a clear warning to the rest of the division.
Crawford became the first multi-divisional undisputed champion of the four-belt era when he famously knocked out long-term rival Errol Spence Jr. last July to pick up the remainder of the welterweight titles. However, there was little reason to stick around at the weight and after links to a mammoth jump to super-middleweight, the pound-for-pound sensation opted to move up to super-welterweight and take on Madrimov.
Following the win in what proved to be a tight affair, Crawford was then left with the difficult decision of whether he should remain at 154lbs or drop back down to the more natural welterweight scene but his aim of conquering yet another weight-class has seen him decide to keep hold of his newest trinket with the WBA and vacate his WBO welterweight crown, as confirmed by the World Boxing Organization.
“WBO President Paco Valcarcel received official communication from… Crawford confirming his decision that he will no longer stay in the welterweight division.
“Brian Norman, Jr., is elevated from “Interim Champion” to “Full Champion” status in the WBO Welterweight Division with the rights conferred by such designation.”
As mentioned in the official statement, Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) has now been elevated to full WBO world champion, following on from his sensational tenth-round stoppage victory over Giovani Santillan in May, which saw him become the WBO interim champion.
On his social media, the 23-year-old confidently announced that his coronation marks the beginning of a ‘shake up’ for the rest of the division.
Time to shake up the division 🐺 https://t.co/uPqZd0ERZv
— Brian Norman Jr (@OfficialBNorman) August 12, 2024
“Time to shake up the division.”
At present, Mario Barrios holds the WBC welterweight title but it is Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis who is deemed by most as the top dog at 147lbs, whilst Crawford maintains his position as WBA champion for now.
Additionally, Crawford’s win over Madrimov earnt him the WBO super-welterweight interim title, making him the mandatory challenger for Sebastian Fundora’s WBO and WBC straps. Yet, ‘The Towering Inferno’ is expected to face Spence Jr. before the end of the year, possibly opening the door for a rematch between ‘Bud’ and his old foe.
Despite being first reported in May and there still being no official confirmation Fundora has recently stated that the bout between he and Spence is still on and that the date is just being changed, after initial rumours that the American duo would meet in October.
The victor of that battle will likely clash with Crawford in 2025, with Vergil Ortiz Jr. considered as the man to fight during the interim, in the eyes of Turki Al-Alshikh at least.
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