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Sebastian Fundora, the newly crowned WBO junior middleweight champion, finds himself in hot water. His decision to pursue a fight with former welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. instead of the mandatory challenger could result in him losing his newly acquired WBO title.
The WBO championship committee is scheduled to meet next week to address Fundora's situation. According to a boxing official familiar with the matter, Fundora has a contractual obligation to face the undefeated WBO "super" champion Terence Crawford next. Crawford is currently set to fight WBA junior middleweight titleholder Israil Madrimov on August 3rd.
Should Fundora refuse to fight Crawford, the WBO has a clear plan. The committee will elevate the Crawford-Madrimov bout to a full-fledged WBO title fight, effectively stripping Fundora of his belt.
This scenario puts Terence Crawford in a powerful position. A victory over Madrimov would not only solidify his status as a four-division champion but also keep the door open for a highly anticipated clash with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez later this year or early next year. Importantly, he would retain his WBO title regardless of whether he pursues the Canelo fight.
"Crawford will be afforded that privilege," stated the official, highlighting Crawford's advantageous position.
Fundora now faces a crucial decision. Does he risk losing his WBO title by pursuing a potentially lucrative fight with Spence Jr., or does he fulfill his mandatory obligation and face Crawford in what promises to be a thrilling battle for championship glory?