It’s a busy year for Terence Crawford. High off of a WBA junior middleweight title win against Israil Madrimov in August last year, Crawford seems to have moved to his next challenge. Last month, reports stated that the 37-year-old (41-0-0) has agreed to fight Mexican phenom Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2). While it’s already iconic how Crawford will jump two weight classes for the clash at super middleweight (168lbs), it also means a heavy sacrifice of a once hard-earned glory…

As things stand, Terence Crawford has reportedly confirmed a departure from 154 lbs. Last year he joined the weight class and fought the tightly contested duel against Madrimov on a Riyadh Season card. Spoils of the war included the WBA title and WBO interim championship. But as most of the fans know, there’s a reason why he made the move. Since he became a two-division undisputed champion, a showdown with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez remained on Crawford’s radar. From mere talks, it’s now a reality. The two pound-for-pound boxers are scheduled for a September clash in Las Vegas. Given that he’s preparing for the biggest fight of his career, perhaps there’s no point in him staying back and letting the belt rust. Is it going to be a costly trade-off for the Nebraskan?

On March 21, WBO president Gustavo Olivieri made an announcement on X. “Re: WBO Jr. Middleweight Division (154 lbs.) 1. We have confirmed Terence Crawford will not return to the 154 lbs., division & will relinquish his Interim WBO title upon the official announcement of Canelo/Crawford. Therefore, his mandatory challenger status is moot. /,” his first tweet read. He further added:

“2. I will recommend to the #WBO Championship Committee that current #1 world rated contender, Xander Zayas be designated the Mandatory Challenger in the 154 lbs; if designated, the winner of Fundora/Booker must fight Zayas within 120 days after their bout to discharge mandatory.”

Notably, as an interim title holder, Crawford was the mandatory challenger to Sebastian Fundora’s WBO belt. Now it will no longer be the case. Olivieri subsequently confirmed that he will recommend to the WBO Championship Committee that Xander Zayas, currently the number 1 ranked contender at 154 lbs., be named the mandatory challenger for the WBO title. A month ago, the 22-year-old Puerto Rican had impressed everyone with the ninth-round drubbing of Slawa Spomer on the Denys Berinchyk-Keyshawn Davis undercard.

If this recommendation is approved, then the winner of the upcoming Sebastian Fundora-Chordale Booker fight will be required to defend the title against Zayas within 120 days after their bout. Terence Crawford still holds the WBA title. On the contrary, he doesn’t seem too worried about the loss of his interim WBO title. In fact, he’s already started working toward being one of the greats!

A few days after the fight announcement, ‘Bud’ was already back in the gym with an ambitious proclamation. On March 1, Crawford uploaded a video inside the ring practicing his punches. However, the caption said it all: “I hear em talking,just know that. Feels good to be back in the gym.😤” And on March 20, he doubled down again. In a conversation with The Ring, he said, “I’m the biggest fight [left for Alvarez]. “I’m not going to say if – but when I beat Canelo Alvarez, I think I’ll be a top three pound-for-pound fighter of all time with Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. I don’t think these spots will ever be taken. I think Canelo is up there with the all-time greats, too.”

“I already look at myself as an all-time great. To move up, [two] weight classes, and dethrone the soon-to-be undisputed 168-pound champion without even stepping foot in that weight class, or the weight class below – it’s like some Henry Armstrong stuff. It’s going to be amazing. They always say, ‘You’ll never see a great small guy beat a great big guy.’ And I want to change that narrative,” he further said before adding, “Me and Canelo, it’s going to be a tough fight – for both of us. I can’t give a blind judgement if that’s going to be the toughest fight of my career. Just like with Canelo. We all know Canelo is great. He is big. He is strong. He has good timing. He has good punching power. He moves his head well. He is a good counter-puncher. We know all of that about Canelo.

Furthermore, he also indicated that handling him at 168lbs is not going to be an easy feat for Alvarez. “We don’t know if Terence Crawford can take his punching power. We don’t know if Canelo can box toe to toe with me. We don’t know if Canelo is going to be able to push me around. We think Canelo is going to walk me down because he’s been in the weight class longer than me. But in reality, we don’t know.” However, Crawford’s opponent, on the other hand, wouldn’t be too worried—especially after saying in September 2023 that his upcoming opponent had won “just on big fight” with “one good fighter”.

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Having said that, given the WBO’s decision, fans will have to wait and see what measures the Puerto Rico-based sanctioning body might take.

But fans shouldn’t lose hope

Speaking about future prospects, Fundora expressed interest in a fight with Zayas. “We will fight anybody. Anybody. Whoever it is. Zayas, Crawford. We’re ready for all of them,” said the unified champion during a conversation with Boxing Scene. On the other hand, it’s an opportunity Zayas had been looking forward to for some time. “Extremely excited for this opportunity. I’ve been working hard to be in this position, and Puerto Rico will have a new world champion in 2025,” he told Boxing Scene.

It’s been a few years since Crawford settled on a one-fight pattern. If 2023 saw him fight Spence Jr., in 2024 it was Madrimov. Now it’s over to Canelo. A few fans have cited concerns over the move. Given that he’s moving up two divisions, he should have had at least a tune-up to prepare himself for a grueling battle. Canelo has a fight in hand. He will face IBF champion William Scull in his quest to become an undisputed champion again.

Undeniably, the light middleweight division boasts an exciting lineup within its ranks. Hence, Crawford’s absence from the scene will be a sore point. Perhaps he simply wants to focus on what is arguably the biggest fight of his career and one of the most significant of the modern era. However, will burning bridges prove beneficial? Only time will tell.

What about you? Do you think it’s a prudent decision from Crawford to leave the light middleweight?