Terence Crawford and Sebastian Fundora are stuck in each other’s crosshairs.
Despite both expressing targeted fights versus other opponents, they are now forced to work out terms for a junior middleweight title consolidation bout. The Ring has confirmed that the WBO ordered a 30-day negotiation period to reach a deal and avoid a purse bid hearing.
“Please be advised that the parties herein have thirty (30) days upon issuance… to reach an agreement,” WBO Championship Committee Chairman Luis Batista-Salas said in an official letter obtained by The Ring. “If an accord is not reached within the timeframe stated herein, a purse bid will be ordered.”
The minimum bid is $200,000 under such a scenario. Crawford would be entitled to the favorable end given his ‘Super Champion’ designation, even though Fundora holds the full title. Crawford (41-0, 31 knockouts) won the interim WBO 154-pound title and the full WBA belt in an Aug. 3 decision over Israil Madrimov. Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) holds the full version of the WBO and WBC titles.
Crawford is a promotional free agent and represented by legal advisor Harrison Whitman. Fundora is with Sampson Boxing, though TGB Promotions’ Tom Brown was listed as point of contact for negotiations. TGB is the promoter of record for all Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) events.
The ordered bout was an extention of a ruling applied per the conditional terms by the sanctioning body in its approval for Fundora to challenge previously unbeaten titlist Tim Tszyu. Fundora won their blood-soaked March 30 Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Prime pay-per-view headliner via split decision. He also picked up the vacant WBC 154-pound title with the win.
“Please be advised that March 25, 2024, this Committee granted sanction approval of the Tszyu/Fundora WBO [title fight],” WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas noted at the time. “Sanction approval was granted subject to the winner facing next the Mandatory Challenger in the Jr. Middleweight Division, Terence “Bud” Crawford within 180 days after the Tszyu/Fundora bout.
“The foregoing condition was essential for purposes of sanction approval. Therefore, in light of the above and per WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests, the parties are hereby ordered to commence negotiations for the WBO Mandatory Jr. Middleweight Championship.”
Failure to move forward with the fight without the other party’s consent will result in forfeiture of their version of the WBO title.
The distinction is important, as Crawford and Fundora have set their sights on other matchups.
Crawford has openly spoke of his desire to hold out for a superfight with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs). The interest remains one way, as Alvarez—the reigning RING, WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight champion—has been dismissive of the matchup when asked about it. In fairness, Alvarez is due to defend his crown versus Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) on Sept. 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It is not in his nature to look past any given task at hand.
Fundora was for months linked to a potential title defense versus former unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. (28-1, 22 KOs). The matchup has been on hold for months, in large part due to greater clarification required on Fundora’s mandatory title defense obligations.
Spence has not fought since his one-sided, ninth-round stoppage defeat to Crawford in last July 29’s undisputed welterweight championship. Crawford fully unified the division but has since parted ways with the WBC, IBF and WBO welterweight titles. He was also relieved as Ring champion, as he is clearly not returning to the weight.
PBC cannot move forward with Fundora-Spence or any other planned fight for its 6’6″ junior middleweight titlist until this matter is resolved.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JakeNDaBox
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