The WBO has ordered that Sebastian Fundora should make a compulsory junior middleweight title protection towards Terence “Bud” Crawford, who received the interim title on Aug. 3.
Fundora and Crawford have 30 days to achieve an settlement for the bout, or a handbag bid might be ordered.
Beforehand, it had been thought that Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KO) can be dealing with Errol Spence Jr within the fall, however there hasn’t been a lot notable motion on that, a minimum of publicly (or leaked). Fundora, 26, upset Tim Tszyu on quick discover in March to win the WBC and WBO titles in Las Vegas.
Fundora’s workforce has indicated that they want to maintain each title belts, and that if the WBO did order a Crawford battle, they might doubtless be going by means of with it with the intention to keep away from being compelled to vacate.
Crawford (41-0, 31 KO) made his transfer as much as 154 lbs earlier this month, beating Israil Madrimov to win the WBA title and likewise the interim WBO belt, which was vacant, and likewise realistically didn’t a lot have to exist.
Crawford would appear pretty unlikely to battle once more by yr’s finish, because the 37-year-old hasn’t fought two instances in a calendar yr since 2019, however boxer schedules have modified a bit once they’re backed by the cash of Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh, so it’s not unimaginable that we might see Crawford once more earlier than the calendar turns over to 2025.
If the battle does really occur, it may very well be an interesting fashion matchup. Crawford has moved up from 135 lbs to 154 over his profession, profitable a minimum of one world title at 4 weights and going undisputed twice, and is a pound-for-pound generational nice.
However Fundora is about 6’5” or so, which might tower over the 5’8” Crawford, and there are a minimum of some questions on Crawford’s energy at 154, as a result of he by no means appeared to actually get to Israil Madrimov an excessive amount of. Fundora’s top, youth, and fearlessness may very well be actually intriguing towards Crawford, however the pure talent, expertise, and spitefulness of “Bud” might additionally give Fundora a horrible evening.
