The WBO has ordered 154-lb champion Sebastian Fundora to next defend against interim champion Terence Crawford in a unification bout if that happens. The two fighters have 30 days to negotiate a deal before a purse bid is ordered.
Crawford’s focus: Canelo, not Fundora
Unfortunately, the WBO’s move may be pointless as the chances of Crawford and Fundora agreeing to this match are slim to none. Crawford, 36, only wants the Canelo Alvarez fight at 168 and nothing else. He’s just looking for big money and supposedly “legacy” at this late-career stage. Fundora would be a tough fight for Crawford due to his tremendous size, strength, high work rate, youth and energy.
Crawford has gotten old, and he’s not the same fighter at 154 that he was at 147, 140 and 135. The inactivity didn’t help. If Crawford fights Fundora, he could lose, which would ruin his chances of the Canelo golden parachute payday he’s aiming for. He wants that sweet retirement cash, and Fundora will screw it up.
Fighting Fundora won’t provide for Crawford either. Crawford could make more money fighting Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis than Fundora, but he’s looking for the big score at once against Canelo. Crawford is still hopeful that His Excellency Turki Alalshikh will give him the Canelo fight, and the Mexican star says he is open to the deal for the right amount of money.
Fundora would be wrong for Crawford and would hit him worse than Erickson Lubin and Tim Tszyu. Crawford won’t be able to rely on winning a cheap decision by sticking Fundora like he did against Israil Madrimov because he’s too short and will eat shots all night. If it’s a poke contest Crawford wants, Fundora will win it easily.
Canelo sees Crawford as an “easy” fight, and based on his last performance against Israil Madrimov, he has a good point. Crawford would be a fish out of water at 168, and he doesn’t look that hot at 154 either.
So, unless Crawford changes his mind, the World Boxing Organization must find another contender to challenge Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs). It is believed Fundora will vacate his WBO if Crawford agrees to this bout. The 6’6″ WBC/WBO champion Fundora plans to fight Errol Spence next. It’s a more winnable fight and would make Fundora, 26, more money than a matchup against Crawford.
