The WBO has accepted a 10-day extension request by Terence Crawford to continue negotiations with unified junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora. The two fighters have until October 10 to agree before a purse bid is ordered.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) holds the WBA 154-lb title and WBO interim belts, while 26-year-old Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) holds the WBC and WBO belts.
On the WBOs websitethey say Crawford and Fundora have until Oct. 10 to agree to a deal before ordering a purse bid.
It will be a tough battle for Crawford to face the 6’6″ Fundora, who can hit a little younger, bigger and more active with his career. Fundora is a natural 154 pounds, unlike Crawford, and he’s ambitious.
Last August, Crawford lost to WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov in their main event at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
The fight showed that Crawford was not the same fighter at 154 as he was at 147. Age, inactivity and competing in a higher weight class against better opposition have shown that Crawford may not be enjoying the same success he has had in the past.
If Crawford defeats WBC/WBO champion Fundora, he will have three titles at 154 and will only need the IBF title to become the undisputed champion. Winning that title would make Crawford an undisputed three-division champion, which would be impressive for his legacy. The IBF title is held by Bakhram Murtazaliev.
If Tim Tszyu wins the IBF belt, Crawford will have a tough fight on his hands against him as he hits very hard and can take advantage of his age and lack of size.
This is not a sure win for Crawford as Fundora has talent and is a nightmare to fight due to his size and high output. If the former four-division world champion Crawford loses, he can forget about his dream of a mega-payday fight against Canelo Alvarez.
The recently turned 37-year-old Crawford is choosing to keep fighting at 154 rather than sit and wait for unified super middleweight champion Canelo to give him a title shot for his three belts.
There are still good money fights for Crawford in junior middleweight against fighters like Fundora, Tim Tszyu, Vergil Ortiz Jr., and Serhii Bohachuk. However, for Crawford to succeed against those younger, stronger and bigger fighters, he needs to fight more often than once a year.
Crawford’s goal is probably to win the WBO undisputed at 154 and not fight dangerous punchers like Bohachuk and Vergil Ortiz Jr. not to waste unless he absolutely has to.
To beat those young lions at 154, Crawford needs to fight at least twice a year. It won’t work if he sticks to his one-year routine.
