Terence Crawford downgraded by WBC to ‘champion in recess’
Terence Crawford was downgraded by the World Boxing Council (WBC) as a “champion in recess” in its welterweight division.
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TERENCE CRAWFORD DOWNGRADED FOR INACTIVITY IN WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) was reclassified as a “champion in recess” by the WBC.
Furthermore, the WBC decided due to his inactivity in the welterweight division where he was once an undisputed champion.
The 36-year-old Omaha, Nebraska, native has not been in the ring since beating Errol Spence Jr (28-1, 22 KOs) in July last year.
That result enabled Crawford to become the undisputed champion in the 147-pound division.
Crawford has been making moves to seek more titles by fighting in higher-weight classes.
WBC ORDERS CRAWFORD-MADRIMOV FIGHT AS FINAL ELIMINATOR
Crawford is scheduled to fight Israil Madrimov on August 3.
However, that fight has been ordered by the WBC “as a final elimination bout for the mandatory position in the super welterweight division.”
WBC and World Boxing Organization (WBO) superwelterweight king Sebastian Fundora (21-1, 13 KOs) must fight the Crawford-Madrimov winner being the mandatory challenger.
However, Fundora is reportedly keen to give up his WBO belt to instead face Spence.
Spence’s bigger drawing power lured Fundora to fight him first than Crawford.
CRAWFORD WANTS TO MOVE IN WEIGHT TO FACE CANELO ALVAREZ
Crawford is interested in fighting undisputed 168-lb champion Canelo Alvarez (61-2, 39 KOs).
Alvarez is busy with a purse bid scheduled for June 6 for his International Boxing Federation (IBF) mandatory title defense against William Scull (22-0, 9 KOs).
Crawford would inform the WBC as to which division he wishes to fight next after his August fight.
The 5-foot-8 southpaw was stripped of his IBF title last November.
This enabled Jaron “Boots” Ennis to be elevated as full champion.
Eimantas Stanionis, meanwhile, was installed as the WBA’s “regular” welterweight champion.