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Former undisputed super-welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) has invoked his right as the WBA’s champion in recess to challenge existing champion Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7KOs).
Promoter Tom Brown submitted a letter of intent to the WBA stating that Charlo is keen for the fight.
Charlo has not boxed since his one-sided points defeat to Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) last September in a challenge for Alvarez’s undisputed title at 168lbs at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
BoxingScene had previously learned that Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) and champion Madrimov had entered negotiation for a proposed contest with a provisional date of August 3 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The event would introduce the influential Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority, to the U.S market. Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing would have handled the promotion.
Crawford’s hopes of challenging to become a four-weight world champion are now being tested by Charlo, who has submitted a letter invoking his champion in recess rights directly to the WBA.
“On behalf of former undisputed Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo, we are pleased to inform you that he hereby requests to be reinstated as the WBA Super Champion at 154 pounds,” Brown wrote in the letter, which was obtained via Dan Rafael.
“Jermell is prepared and ready to defend his WBA title against WBA champion Israil Madrimov. Thank you for your attention and consideration.”
Gilberto Mendoza Jr., president of the WBA, clarified to Rafael that he intends to order Madrimov to defend his newly-acquired title against Charlo.
Madrimov, however, retains the ability to offer step-aside money to Charlo to wait for the title shot, and an official familiar with the situation told Boxing Scene the effort to keep Madrimov-Crawford a title fight “should all be OK.”
Crawford is yet to fight since becoming undisputed welterweight champion after halting Errol Spence Jr (28-1, 22KOs) in nine rounds in Las Vegas last year. Crawford had been expected to rematch Spence and has subsequently made his intentions clear that he will be moving up in weight and challenging for a version of the 154-pound world title. Crawford’s standing with the WBO has seen him named as mandatory challenger for Sebastian Fundora, who defeated Tim Tszyu last month to collect the WBO title along with the vacant WBC title.
Charlo had previously held all the marbles at 154lbs. However, following his defeat to Canelo, he decided to vacate the IBF, WBC and WBA world titles. Upon the sound of the opening bell in his encounter with Canelo, the WBO elevated Tim Tszyu from interim to full WBO world champion status.
Madrimov became the WBA titleholder last month with an impressive fifth-round stoppage of Magomed Kurbanov (25-1, 13 KOs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
