Resendiz Upgraded To Full WBA Champion After Crawford Exit

1 2 minutes read

Jose Armando Resendez has been promoted to WBA super-middleweight champion following the retirement of Terence Crawford, who officially relinquished his remaining titles when he retired from boxing last month.

Crawford vacates the title upon retirement

The update was confirmed by The Ring magazine, which reported that Crawford had vacated the WBA 168-pound title as part of his retirement on December 17, 2025. Crawford exited the sport at age 38 with an unbeaten record and championships across five weight classes, ending a career widely viewed as one of the most complete careers of the modern era.

With the title vacant, the UFC moved to promote Resendiz from interim champion to full champion. The 28-year-old Mexican earned interim status in May 2025 following a unanimous decision win over Caleb Plant, a result that disrupted the established order at super middleweight and established Resendiz as a reliable presence in the upper echelon of the division.

The upgrade does not change Resendiz’s immediate schedule. He is already set to defend the belt against Edgar Berlanga on February 21, 2026 in Las Vegas. What changes is the frame. The match is now titled a full defense of the world title instead of an interim retention mode.

Questions about the legitimacy of the super middleweight title

The reaction to this move was expected. Some fans have criticized the WBA’s reliance on managerial promotions rather than in-ring consolidation, questioning how much weight the title carries without a direct championship fight. Others focused on what the decision opens up, noting that the super middleweight division remains crowded and commercially driven, with figures like Canelo Alvarez continuing to shape the landscape from the top.

For Resendez, the belt is official. The next test is less about paperwork and more about opponents. How the title is displayed will depend on what follows Berlanga, and whether the Resendiz is placed against the given names of the section rather than protected from them.

Ollie Campbell has been covering boxing since 2014, offering readers a clear-eyed perspective and thoughtful analysis of many of the sport’s biggest nights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, corner adjustments and technical details that make up high-level matches. Over the years, Ollie has reported on main cards in Las Vegas, New York, London and across the UK boxing circuit, earning a reputation for balanced, detail-driven coverage.

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