What Does Terence Crawford’s Exit Mean For The Welterweight Division?

The news the boxing world had been expecting was confirmed this week as Terence Crawford officially left the welterweight division to pursue more history at junior-middleweight.

Crawford (41-0-0 31 KO) became a four-weight world champion earlier this month when he defeated Israil Madrimov on points in Los Angeles to claim the Uzbek’s WBA title. The Nebraskan will now remain at 154lbs where he aims to become the first male fighter of the four-belt era to achieve undisputed in three divisions.

The WBO ultimately announced Crawford’s departure by confirming he had vacated its world title and that interim belt holder Brian Norman Jr. had been elevated to full champion status.

“WBO President Paco Valcarcel received official communication from … Crawford confirming his decision that he will no longer stay in the welterweight division,” Luis Batista-Salas, WBO Championship Committee chairman, said in a statement.

“Brian Norman, Jr. is elevated from ‘Interim Champion’ to ‘Full Champion’ status in the WBO Welterweight Division with the rights conferred by such designation.”

Crawford Exit Opens The Door

Crawford’s exit leaves the welterweight class without a leading pound-for-pound star, but it also creates the exciting possibility for another fighter to step up and dominate one of boxing’s glamour divisions – and become a pound-for-pound star in his own right.

The 147lbs world titles are currently evenly distributed, with both Mario Barrios and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis previously benefitting from Crawford vacating the WBC and IBF belts respectively. Norman now holds full champion status with the WBO, while the WBA will inevitably follow suit and promote interim belt holder Eimantas Stanionis.

Below the champions are several leading contenders who will want to take their shot at the titles and prove they can rule the division. Unbeaten Shakhram Giyasov, the top-ranked contender by the WBO and WBA, IBF mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian, and leading WBC contender Souleymane Cissokho all have major champion ambitions, as does Conor Benn, Jin Sasaki, and Cody Crowley.

However, there is one fighter who most boxing observers believe is Crawford’s true heir apparent at welterweight.

Ennis (32-0-0 29 KO) may have been given his IBF world title instead of winning it in the ring, but he has proved more than worthy of full champion status. The Philadelphia native ended 12 months of inactivity in July with a fifth-round stoppage of the capable David Avanesyan in his hometown and is generally regarded as the best fighter in the division.

Is Ennis Crawford’s Heir Apparent?

In addition to his undeniable skill, Ennis is starting to emerge as a new star with an ever-increasing global fanbase. Backed by the powerful Matchroom and Eddie Hearn, who view ‘Boots’ as their leading American fighter, Ennis appears destined for pound-for-pound stardom.

Calls have been getting louder for Ennis to fight Crawford, but with ‘Bud’ permanently remaining at super-welterweight, that enticing showdown will have to wait. ‘Boots’ has already said he doesn’t plan to remain at 147 for long – just long enough to become undisputed – before chasing down Crawford at 154.

For him to fulfill those ambitions and become the new welterweight king, Ennis will need to conquer his fellow champions, and as the main draw in the division, those fights shouldn’t be difficult to make.

A fight with Barrios, who could face Manny Pacquiao next as the Filipino legend plots his remarkable return to professional boxing, would make for an interesting all-American unification bout, as would a showdown with Norman.

Stanionis carries a smaller profile but if the Lithuanian can secure a run of title-defense victories, he would quickly see his reputation enhance and become an intriguing opponent for Ennis.

There may be a Crawford-shaped hole in the welterweight division, but in his place is an exciting battle for supremacy, giving fans plenty of reasons to stay engaged.