Terence Crawford in the Middleweight Spotlight
In a surprising turn of events, Terence Crawford finds himself in the spotlight of the middleweight division after Janibek Alimkhanuly, the current holder of both the IBF and WBO titles, launched a pointed critique of his fellow champions while inviting Crawford to jump into the title chase.
Alimkhanuly’s Critique
Alimkhanuly, frustrated by stalled negotiations for a unification bout with WBC champion Carlos Adames, voiced his impatience with the state of boxing’s hierarchy, declaring:
“Champions, I can no longer chase you around. Your reluctance reflects poorly on our sport! If you don’t want to fight, why retain the championship? I certainly didn’t anticipate this difficulty!”
The Kazakh fighter, who remains unbeaten, expressed skepticism regarding Adames’ willingness to engage in a fight, hinting at forthcoming developments. To the surprise of many, he also called out Crawford, who has recently made headlines by defeating Canelo Alvarez.
Crawford’s Potential Move
Crawford’s previous statements suggest he might entertain a move down to the 160-pound category should a compelling fight arise. Alimkhanuly stated:
“I would be eager to fight Crawford if he agrees to it. A bout between us could electrify the fans, keeping them on the edge of their seats from start to finish.”
This positions Alimkhanuly for a matchup that could reignite interest in a floundering division.
The State of the Middleweight Division
With many observers viewing the proposed matchup between Adames and Janibek as a natural contest for a three-title unification, the recent negotiation stall has left both champions and the middleweight division in a state of limbo. Adding to the complications:
- Jermall Charlo has shifted his focus permanently to the 168-pound category.
- Gennadiy Golovkin has announced his retirement.
- Jaime Munguia is now competing at a higher weight class.
This further thins the glamour in middleweight boxing.
Crawford’s Impact
However, Crawford’s entry could revitalize interest. Following his significant victory over Canelo Alvarez, he is regarded as a pound-for-pound elite fighter whose presence could breathe new life into the division. Questions loom about Crawford’s genuine interest in making a move to middleweight, especially in light of Janibek’s public invitation. After his victory against Canelo, Crawford indicated he was open to new challenges but is focused on pursuing the largest opportunities.
World Boxing News had speculated that Crawford would consider a move to 160 only if the opportunity to compete for multiple titles materialized, allowing him to potentially unify the division within a few fights. Should Crawford decide to take up Janibek’s challenge and Adames’ negotiations continue to falter, he might find himself in a position to fight for two championships immediately.
Such a match would underscore the significance of middleweight boxing, likened to the importance of the high-profile Golovkin-Canelo trilogy. However, it remains uncertain whether Crawford is willing to commit to a more rigorous three-fight schedule at middleweight after averaging just one fight annually for the past six years.
