Terence Crawford suddenly stripped of IBF title, no longer undisputed welterweight champ

Terence 'Bud' Crawford is no longer boxing's undisputed welterweight champion. The boxer (40-0), who last beat Errol Spence Jr by TKO and dethroned him on July 29 of this year, has been undefeated in three divisions. The IBF took the drastic measure due to Crawford's inability to comply with a mandatory title defense obligation.

The reason? A rematch clause with Errol Spence Jr. bound by contract, which didn't allow Crawford to set up a bout with Jaron "Boots" Ennis (31-0), the former interim (now newly undisputed) welterweight champion.

Terence Crawford stripped of IBF title: what happens now?

Ennis is now listed as the full champion in the category, with vacancies in both the No. 1 and No. 2 contender positions.

To be fair, losing the title will not come as a surprise to Crawford's team. They were given 30 days to negotiate the required fight against Ennis, but ultimately didn't want to breach the contract they signed when booking the Spence Jr. bout. A move likely made to protect a bigger pay day and career-defining moment, in the end.

As for the Crawford-Spence rematch, there is no date on the horizon, despite the rematch clause being activated. But the IBF's move could accelerate the highly anticipated second bout between both fighters.