American Crawford vacates welterweight world title

Unbeaten American Terence Crawford has vacated his WBA welterweight world title, elevating compatriot Brian Norman Jr from interim to full world champion status.

Crawford, 36, won a world title in a fourth division when he beat Israil Madrimov to claim the WBA light-middleweight crown earlier this month.

The move signals Crawford’s intention of staying at light-middleweight in pursuit of unification fights.

Norman Jr is undefeated in 26 pro bouts with 20 stoppages.

The 23-year-old captured the interim WBA title with a stoppage win over Giovani Santillan in May.

What’s next for Crawford?

A former lightweight world champion, Crawford – who has won all 41 pro bouts – was also undisputed champion at light-welterweight and welterweight.

His win over Uzbek Madrimov set up a lucrative bout against Mexican star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, but Saudi Arabia powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has since cooled talk of the super-fight taking place.

Crawford is mandatory for WBO light-middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora, while Alalshikh is keen on the Omaha-fighter facing interim title holder Vergil Ortiz Jr.

The highly-rated IBF welterweight champion Jason ‘Boots’ Ennis has also been mentioned as a possible future opponent.

More boxing from the BBC