PANAMA – Just over a week after Terence Crawford shocked the boxing world with a clear points win over Saul “Canelo” Álvarez, his time as WBA super welterweight champion has come to an end.
The World Boxing Association announced that Terence Crawford would lose his 154-pound title, pushing Abass Baraou up from interim to full champion. This move brings the lesser-known German into a position Crawford held for less than a year.
Terence Crawford (37) picked up the WBA belt in August 2024 when he beat Israil Madrimov on points in Los Angeles. Since then, he had not defended it. With more than a year passing since that victory and with no plan to fight again at 154 pounds, the WBA took action. Instead of a defence, Crawford chose to focus on super middleweight, where he now controls all the major belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring).
After his hard-fought win over Canelo at Allegiant Stadium, Crawford summed up his plans in simple terms. “I’ve done it at that weight. I want to create more history somewhere else.”
Terence Crawford’s clear intent to remain at 168 pounds meant the WBA swiftly promoted Baraou (17-1, 9 KOs), whose decision victory over Yoenis Tellez in Orlando last month set him up as the natural successor. That fight featured a key knockdown in the later rounds, confirming Baraou’s rise and earning him a shot at the division’s top tier.
At 30, Baraou is a skilled southpaw from Cologne, shaped by his days in Europe’s amateur ranks. With the title change, his team at Wasserman Boxing wasted no time celebrating, sharing their excitement online.
Terence Crawford’s Weight Gain
The WBA has listed names like Conor Benn and Josh Kelly as possible contenders for Baraou’s first defence. Jermell Charlo, sidelined with the “champion in recess” tag, could also step in soon. The division is split between several champions – Sebastian Fundora (WBC), Bakhram Murtazaliev (IBF), and Xander Zayas (WBO) – but Baraou says he welcomes the challenge.
“There’s space for me at the top,” he said. “Terence Crawford leaves a big gap, but I’ll make it my own.”
There’s a twist to Terence Crawford’s story this month. His ambitious jump from 154 to 168 pounds earned him a fifth world championship. At the same time, it cost him his latest crown after such a convincing win against Canelo. The Mexican superstar, a strong favourite before the fight, could not solve Crawford’s style and landed just 28% of his power punches.
Ring judges scored the contest 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113. Crawford’s jab, movement, and sharp timing defused Canelo’s strengths and handed him only his third career defeat (previously to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Dmitry Bivol). Crawford’s record now stands at a faultless 42-0 with 31 knockouts.
Dropping world titles is nothing new for Crawford. He’s long been willing to leave belts behind while chasing bigger fights in new weight divisions. The proud son of Omaha, Nebraska, who was born in 1987, turned pro in 2008. Crawford’s first big moment came in 2014 when he unified the lightweight division.
Terence Crawford’s Record Stands Apart
He then moved to super lightweight, ran through the competition there, and held all four major belts by 2017. He repeated the trick at welterweight (147 pounds), taking the WBO from Jeff Horn in 2018 before dominating Egidijus Kavaliauskas in 2020. In 2023, he demolished Errol Spence Jr. to become the first male boxer in the four-belt era to rule three weight divisions, matching legends like Sugar Ray Leonard and Henry Armstrong.
Terence Crawford’s record stands apart. He has 40 wins, with 11 against world champions, and boasts a high knockout ratio. His style makes him hard to beat, with the ability to switch stances and outthink any opponent. Some have raised questions about his activity, with only three fights since 2020, and the lack of a clash with Manny Pacquiao. Still, the $50 million payday from the Canelo fight points to Crawford’s strong reputation at the box office.
As Crawford takes a break, talk of him hanging up the gloves grows, matched by rumours of a light-heavyweight challenge against Dmitry Bivol or another fight with Spence. “There’s more I can do,” he said. While losing the WBA belt might matter to some, for Crawford, it’s just a small chapter. Baraou takes his place in the spotlight, while Crawford keeps chasing history.
