WBO President Gustavo Olivieri announced on social media that his organization was informed that Terence Crawford would not return to 154-pounds - and as a result would be vacating his WBO interim-junior middleweight title.

Crawford is moving up to super middleweight in September, when he challenges world champion Saul "Canelo' Alvarez in the main event of a major Riyadh Season card in Las Vegas. Canelo has to come away victorious on May 3, when he faces undefeated William Scull in a DAZN PPV main event from Riyadh.

The full WBO champion at 154, Sebastian Fundora, will defend the belt against Chordale Booker on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

"We have confirmed Terence Crawford will not return to the 154 lbs., division & will relinquish his Interim WBO title upon the official announcement of Canelo/Crawford. Therefore, his mandatory challenger status is moot. I will recommend to the #WBO Championship Committee that current #1 world rated contender, Xander Zayas be designated the Mandatory Challenger in the 154 lbs; if designated, the winner of Fundora/Booker must fight Zayas within 120 days after their bout to discharge mandatory," Olivieri stated on social media.

Olivieri would later stand firm on why he believes Zayas is deserving of a title shot - after some users on X began to question the reasoning for Zayas becoming the mandatory.

"Zayas has successfully his NABO regional title consecutively 5 times & has defeated 2 world rated contenders within the past 8 months (Teixeira & Spomer)," Olivieri stated.