By Edward Chaykovsky

WBO lightweight champion Terence Crawford (24-0, 17KOs) is likely heading up to the junior welterweight division after his next fight. The World Boxing Organization was informed by Top Rank that Crawford is seriously considering the move.

Crawford makes a mandatory defense of his title against Raymundo Beltran (29-6-1, 17KOs) on November 29th at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha. HBO will televise.

Top Rank is already preparing for the possibility of Crawford moving up. If the he wins next month and the WBO belt becomes vacant, Top Rank put in a request for Juan Diaz to be ranked as the number one contender to the title. Diaz would then have to fight the highest ranked available contender for the vacant belt. And if Beltran wins, then Diaz would face him for the title.