Terence Crawford’s 154-Pound Exit: WBO President Confirms Interim Vacated Belt, Canelo Pursuit

The WBO president, Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. revealed that Terence Crawford “won’t return to 154” and will probably be vacating his interim belt with that group.

It’s a transfer that was anticipated by Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) as a result of he’s making some huge cash, difficult Canelo Alvarez for his titles at tremendous middleweight on September thirteenth.

Crawford’s Exit

After that payday, Crawford, 38, can be taking an enormous pay lower to return to 154 to combat the present champion, Sebastian Fundora, in a match that might contain a number of danger for him because of his lack of dimension and superior age.

Returning to 154 to combat youthful fighters with dimension and skill can be troublesome for Crawford, who solely fights annually. By the point he returns after his victory lap or crushing defeat from the Alvarez combat, he’ll be 39 years previous, and you may’t count on him to combat the 6’5 1/2″ stork Fundora.

It’s unclear what Crawford will do after his combat with Canelo. Clearly, he’s relying on defeating Canelo and getting a profitable rematch. That will be the best state of affairs for the Nebraska native Crawford. Nevertheless, if he loses to Canelo, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if he chooses to remain at 168, return to 154, or retire.

He can nonetheless make enormous cash preventing on the Riyadh Season occasions in the event that they wish to use him for fights. They appear to be keen on Crawford, so he ought to nonetheless be helpful if matched fastidiously. You couldn’t match Crawford towards any of the larger fighters like David Benavidez or David Morrell as a result of he’d get chopped up because of their dimension, energy, and youth. He’d do nicely towards somebody like Edgar Berlanga. That will be a enjoyable combat for leisure, watching Crawford expose Berlanga worse than Canelo did.

Zayas’ Rise

Olivieri recommends that #1 WBO 154-lb contender Xander Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs) be made obligatory to champion Sebastian Fundora. If that occurs, the winner of Saturday’s combat between WBC/WBO Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) and Chordale Booker could have 120 days to defend towards the High Rank-promoted Zayas.

High Rank has protected the 22-year-old Xander Zayas the identical approach they shielded Berlanga when he was with them. So, it’s laborious to know if he’s any good or not. His opposition has been so terrible that there’s no approach of realizing if he’s a hype job like Berlanga or has precise expertise. High Rank is making an attempt to show Zayas right into a star to herald the cash within the New York space.

There hasn’t been a Puerto Rican star to fill the sneakers left by Miguel Cotto. Berlanga isn’t the man as a result of he must be protected for him to do nicely. It’s questionable whether or not Zayas will be the following Cotto as a result of he can’t punch and would have issues if he have been thrown in with one of many high guys at 154, like Bakhram Murtazaliev, Vergil Ortiz Jr. or Serhii Bohachuk. Placing Zayas in with anybody with energy can be a nasty concept.

Re: WBO Jr.Middleweight Division (154 lbs.)

1. We’ve got confirmed Terence Crawford won’t return to the 154 lbs., division & will relinquish his Interim WBO title upon the official announcement of Canelo/Crawford. Subsequently, his obligatory challenger standing is moot. /

— Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. (@OlivieriLaw) March 21, 2025