“Terrible” Terry Washington believes he could fight for a world title by the end of the year.

The ambitious push would place him nearly in line with one of his boxing inspirations - U.S. Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Fame former 108lbs world champion Michael Carbajal.

“I want to bring excitement back to the lower weight classes,” Washington told BoxingScene. “115lbs and down. We are overlooked.”

Washington, 7-0 (6 KOs), knocked out Eduardo Yudel Reyes of Monterrey, Mexico, on Friday night at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California. The bout marked the second scheduled 10-round bout for Washington, and immediately saw him ranked No.11 by the WBA.

He's yet to lose a round as a professional, and the first time he heard the final bell was in his last fight, which took place in November. Washington would win a 10-round unanimous decision over veteran Ricardo Astuvilca, who holds a record of 23-5 (5 KOs). Astuvilca had fought (and lost to) current unified titlist Rene Santiago and top contender Erick Sosa. Washington, 21, was making his main event debut, and spoke with BoxingScene before the fight.

“This performance could determine if I get a title shot in my next fight,” Washington told BoxingScene. “If I put on a spectacular performance, like I am going to do, I can call out who I want to call out, or they can give me whoever they want.”

Washington is hoping for a title shot. He currently holds multiple smaller regional titles and has proven to have an uncharacteristic power in the lowerweight classes, stopping all but one of his foes. 

“Terry is earning it the old school way,” Ray Alcorta, the matchmaker for DMG Promotions, told BoxingScene. [He is] fighting everyone and anyone we put in front of him.”

Washington, who is trained by Ian Franklin of Project Fighting Champs in San Bernardino, California. Washington has been at the gym for 14 years. Washington is a nine-time national champion as an amateur; he turned professional in 2024. In February 2025, he signed with upstart Southern California-based promoter DMG Promotions. 

Washington views himself as on the brink of a title. It could also be based on the limited talent pool in the division. Reyes, 18-5 (8 KOs), holds a win over current WBO and WBA belt holder Santiago, and was stopped by Oscar Collazo in 2023. Reyes, 29, also entered the bout with three times as many professional fights as Washington, and has gone 101 rounds compared to Washington’s 22. None of that mattered on fight night. 

“We are trying to [fight for a title] for the next fight,” Washington said. “We are in that conversation now.”

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.