Crawford Vacates WBA Welterweight Title, Stanionis Elevated

Terence Crawford has knowledgeable the WBA that he’s vacating his welterweight title and maintaining his just lately received 154-lb belt with the group. The transfer by Crawford means WBA ‘common’ 147-lb champion Eimantas Stanionis is the brand new full belt-holder

Crawford’s transfer to vacate his WBA 147-lb title was anticipated as a result of the division has no large names to combat other than IBF champ Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, and Crawford has little interest in preventing him. The 36-year-old Crawford just lately got here off of an extended year-long layoff to defeat WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov by an in depth 12-round unanimous resolution on August third on the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Crawford’s Focus Stays on Canelo

Since profitable the WBA belt at 154, Crawford hasn’t proven any curiosity in defending it or preventing another champions in a unification.

It’s believed that Crawford solely desires to combat Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) and nobody else. If that is true, it’s unclear why Crawford additionally didn’t vacate his WBA 154-lb title. Nevertheless, it might be that he’s holding onto the WBA title in hopes that he’ll be provided an absurd sum of money to combat Vergil Ortiz Jr. or Tim Tszyu.

Crawford could sit on his WBA 154-lb title the identical means he did his 4 welterweight titles. He grew to become the undisputed 147-lb champion final yr in July when he defeated IBF/WBA/WBC champion Errol Spence. Nevertheless, as an alternative of defending his belts, Crawford sat inactive for 13 months earlier than going through Madrimov for his WBA 1544[lb belt.

New Opportunities for Stanionis

Newly elevated WBA welterweight champion Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) will be one of the three belt-holders that IBF champ Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and his promoter Eddie Hearn will target for a unification. Stanionis has already spoken to Hearn about a fight with Boots, but he didn’t accept the offer.

Hearn must make a significant offer to get Stanionis to agree to the fight because he won’t accept a fight with Ennis if his price isn’t met. That goes for WBO champion Brian Norman Jr. and WBC champ Mario Barrios.