Terence Crawford’s chance of becoming a three-weight undisputed champion in his next fight has collapsed following a WBO ruling.
“Bud” was linked to moving up in weight to challenge Jermell Charlo after his humbling of Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas. However, any opportunity fell apart after the World Boxing Organization confirmed Charlo would be stripped on September 30.
For his failure to defend against mandatory challenger Tim Tszyu, Charlo will lose his status once his fight with Canelo Alvarez gets underway next month. The American will be allowed to walk in champion, but that privilege will be removed once the first bell rings.
Terence Crawford vs Jermell Charlo is unlikely
The situation means Crawford may no longer target Charlo as the two-time champion effectively no longer possesses all the belts.
In a statement to WBN, the WBO outlined its Charlo ruling.
“If any WBO Participant, including WBO World and Regional Champion, fails to comply with his contractual obligation to fight in any WBO Championship Contest without justifiable cause, the Committee may recommend to the WBO President and the Executive Committee that the fighter be stripped of the title and that the title be declared “Vacant.”
“Or the WBO may take any action deemed proper, equitable, and just against the WBO Participant in accordance with these regulations,” they confirmed.
On Charlo, the WBO added: “We begin our ratio decidendi referencing an excerpt of the WBO preamble [3]. It states in relevant: The World Boxing Organization’s Regulations of World Championship Contests are intended to reconcile the interests of all necessary elements of World Championship Boxing in a manner that is in the sport’s best interests.
“The most important interests are those of the Championship contestants and their worldwide fans.
Tim Tszyu is the new champion after September 30
“It is not the first instance that Charlo has triggered this Committee’s intervention. The record reflects the following undisputed facts, most notably:
1 Tsyu’s Mandatory Challenger status.
2 Tszyu’s significant delay in enforcing his rights as a Mandatory Challenger due to numerous circumstances. They are the Charlo/Castaño Rematch, Charlo injury, T.V. network conflicts, and other agreements between TGB/No Limit/WBO).
3 Charlo’s failure to comply as ordered and agreed with his mandatory title defense obligation no later than September 30, 2023. He is allowed to challenge Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion Canelo Alvarez on the aforementioned date.
It puts Crawford in a tough spot and makes a rematch with Spence more likely than before due to the sheer one-sided nature of the contest.
A further option for Crawford would be to lobby the WBO to be Tszyu’s first challenger. He could win the WBO title and set up an undisputed unification with Charlo after Canelo.
The more likely scenario is that Tszyu will make a defense in Australia. Additionally, Charlo will probably be stripped or vacate his 154 titles after Canelo.
All this means the chances of Crawford becoming a three-weight undisputed champion will be further away than ever.
