WBA Permits Crawford to Retain Title

The World Boxing Association (WBA) has confirmed that Terence Crawford, the WBA, WBC, and WBO champion in the welterweight division (up to 66.7 kg), will be allowed to retain his WBA title until his match against the current WBA middleweight titleholder (up to 69.9 kg), Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs).

Should he win, Crawford will have five days to decide in which weight category he wishes to continue competing and subsequently defend his title.

Jermell Charlo, holding the status of "Champion in Recess," is set to be the contender for a match with the winner of the Crawford-Madrimov bout.

The WBA also confirmed that the victor between Crawford and Madrimov must face the current mandatory challenger, Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs). Ortiz is scheduled to fight Tim Tszyu (24-1, 17 KOs) on the undercard of Crawford vs. Madrimov.