Fundora Wants Crawford Next, Not Spence

Sebastian Fundora’s promoter says his fighter wants to box Terence Crawford next, not Errol Spence Jr. 

Fundora is the WBC and WBO Junior Middleweight Champion after having beaten Tim Tszyu. The fight ended in controversial circumstances after Tszyu cut his forehead in the second round. The fight could arguably have been stopped due to the excessive bleeding. However, the Australian decided to continue until the final bell. The result was that Fundora won a split decision, which may have been fortunate, especially since Tszyu dominated the earlier parts of the fight before the cut. 

Fundora Vs. Spence

There were talks of a rematch. However, Tszyu has now moved on to fight for the IBF Junior Middleweight Belt against Bakhram Murtazaliev. Fundora has been linked with the fight against Spence and Crawford after beating Tszyu. Spence jumped in the ring to state that he wanted to fight him next. Reports indicated that they were going to fight in October. However, those plans never went ahead, as Spence dealt with other issues outside the ring. 

He left his trainer Derrick James, who has sued him for unpaid wages relating to the Terence Crawford fight. Then reports indicated that Spence could face Fundora in January. While that may be the case, Fundora’s promoter has said otherwise. They are targeting Crawford, who is coming off a win against Israil Madrimov In his last fight. He defeated Madrimov in a unanimous decision to pick up that WBA belt and become a four-weight world champion. Beating Crawford gives Fundora another belt and takes him a step closer to becoming undisputed. It would also be the biggest win of his career, and that is the focus moving forward. 

Fundora’s Future

“A fight between Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence continues to simmer; promoter Sampson [Lewkowicz] tells me he’s only focused on staging a fight for Fundora against Terence Crawford,”  Manouk Akopyan (reporter) 

“I don’t see Crawford deciding that he’s going to go fight a big 6’6″, 154-pounder after struggling the way he did [against Israil Madrimov in his debut at 154 last August]. Really, he’s looking for Canelo. Getting up for a Fundora fight, I just don’t see Crawford doing it at this stage. I’m sticking with Canelo or Bust for Crawford because he’s looking for legacy-type money. It’s totally understood for what he’s done in his career,” Chris Algieri stated 

Nevertheless, that depends on whether Crawford wants to take the fight. He has been targeting a lucrative fight with Canelo Alvarez, which would take place at 168 pounds. The Mexican initially dismissed the fight idea, stating that he would get no credit for beating a smaller fighter. However, he has backtracked on those comments, saying that the fight could happen. This depends on whether the Saudis put up enough money to make it happen. But if the Canelo fight does not happen, facing Fundora could be an option. It gives Crawford two more belts and takes him closer to becoming an undisputed 154 pounds.