WBO president assures Crawford to keep welterweight title

World Boxing Organization (WBO) president Paco Valcarcel has assured that Terence Crawford will retain his welterweight title.

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CRAWFORD EYES MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE DESPITE KEEPING WELTERWEIGHT BELT

Valcarcel said Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) will be allowed to keep his WBO belt and challenge for the middleweight title.

Crawford confirmed his intention to become the mandatory challenger to the winner of the Tim Tszyu vs Sebastian Fundora fight on Saturday.

Valcarcel cited “Crawford’s merit as a three-division WBO world champion and two-division champion” as a basis to keep his title.

“We will allow him (Crawford) to enter the ring and participate as WBO welterweight champion against the winner of Tszyu versus Fundora,” the WBO president said.

TSZYU-FUNDORA WINNER GETS 180 DAYS TO FIGHT CRAWFORD

Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) or Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs) will be given 180 days to face Crawford.

Valcarcel clarified that both sides, as well as the promoters, are aware of the situation.

“They are aware and cognizant that the winner must fight Crawford next,” he told World Boxing News.

Fundora was supposed to face Serhii Bohachuk for the vacant WBC junior middleweight title.