Terence Crawford will lose his WBA super welterweight world title before he steps into the ring with Canelo Alvarez on September 13. The WBA's decision comes as Crawford moves up to super middleweight for the biggest fight of his career.
Dan Rafael reports that Crawford will be stripped of his 154-pound championship when he faces Canelo. This follows Crawford's relinquishment of the WBA interim belt in March after his last super welterweight bout against Israil Madrimov.
"When Crawford steps into the ring against Canelo, he will lose recognition as the WBA 154-pound champion," Rafael stated.
The WBA won't leave the title vacant for long. Abass Baraou, who won the interim title against Yoenis Tellez in Orlando by unanimous decision, will be promoted to full champion status.
Rafael added, "Baraou, who won the interim title against Tellez, will be elevated, and a mandatory defense against Jermell Charlo will be ordered."
For Crawford, losing a belt seems a small price to pay for the opportunity ahead. The fight with Canelo comes with a whopping $200 million total purse. Canelo stands to make $150 million, while Crawford will pocket $50 million - by far the biggest payday of his career.
Crawford's move looks like a calculated risk. He's giving up his super welterweight title for a shot at putting his name at the very top of the boxing world. If he manages to beat Canelo, few will remember or care about the belt he left behind.
But Crawford faces a tough challenge in Canelo Alvarez. The Mexican superstar has a reputation for thorough preparation and studying his opponents closely.
The outcome of this fight will show if Crawford's gamble pays off. A win against Canelo would more than make up for any lost titles, cementing Crawford's place among boxing's elite.
