Terence Crawford is expected to return to the ring soon and now his next fight has been teased by the promoter of a rival fighter.
Crawford has reportedly activated his status as WBO ‘super-champion’, assuming the position as mandatory challenger for what was presumed to be Tim Tszyu’s super-welterweight title.
However, Tszyu suffered a shock defeat to Sebastian Fundora last month and an injury to the ‘Towering Inferno’ means that the WBO crown will likely become vacant, as he will not able to defend the belt against Crawford.
As a result, Crawford has been linked to a showdown with Sunderland’s Josh Kelly, who is the number one contender with the WBO, but Kelly’s promoter Kalle Sauerland told Boxing Social that he believes ‘Bud’ will instead take on WBA champion, Israil Madrimov.
“We had a chat with the Crawford side – a good chat. I think that they are going down the Madrimov route from what I have heard, but we are there and if it’s Crawford or if it’s Fundora, whoever it is we are in that number one position.
“We are very close to announcing a big fight for him in the summer, so obviously if that [Crawford fight] would have suddenly come off, then that would have been a different situation.
“Josh Kelly, if you take away the big names that are mostly in Saudi at the moment, he is one of those names that is coming through at a pace but at the same time, he has been around for years.
“So it is sort of like it is his time to come and that is super exciting. He’s a great kid to work with and he is such a good talent, ask anyone that has been around him in the gym what a talent that guy is. Phenomenal.”
The 154lb scene appears to be at a standstill, with news of Crawford’s next move set to be revealed imminently.