10/01/2024
The waiting game continues.
The WBO has officially granted Terence Crawford a 10-day extension to negotiate the terms of his mandatory junior middleweight title bout against WBO (and WBC) champion Sebastian Fundora. The deadline extension was requested by Crawford’s attorney, Harrison Whitman, and has been approved by Fundora’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz. The new deadline for reaching an agreement is October 10, 2024.
Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
In a resolution released by the WBO, the organization confirmed, “On September 30, 2024, the WBO acknowledged receipt of an email communication by Attorney, Mr. Harrison Whitman, on behalf of Terrence Crawford requesting a 10-day extension of the negotiation period to continue discussion towards an agreement as ordered. On the same day, Sebastian Fundora’s promoter Mr. Sampson Lewkowicz ratified the aforesaid petition via email agreeing to the extension.” The statement went on to clarify, “The parties are granted a 10-day extension to continue discussions towards reaching an agreement as ordered by this Committee. Consequently, the camps have until Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time) to reach an agreement. Failure to reach an accord within the time provided herein, will result in this Committee ordering purse bid proceedings accordingly.”
Originally, the two camps had until September 27 to reach an agreement before the WBO would initiate purse bid proceedings. With the new October 10 deadline, both parties now have a limited window to finalize their bout without the uncertainty of a purse bid looming overhead. A purse bid could throw another wrench into an already complicated situation, as the rights to promote the fight would go to the highest bidder, potentially complicating negotiations further.
This latest development follows a mandate from the WBO, issued on August 28, requiring Crawford to face Fundora. The bout was initially ordered in March but had been delayed due to a medical exemption granted to Fundora. As part of the WBO’s April 24 resolution, Fundora must defend his title by December 31, 2024. Should Fundora fail to meet this deadline, he will be stripped of his championship, with Crawford being elevated to full champion status. Conversely, if Crawford does not move forward with the bout, he risks losing his interim title.
Photo Credit: Ester Lin/Premier Boxing Champions
Sebastian Fundora, known for his towering 6’5” frame and moniker “The Towering Inferno,” has shown no indication of stepping aside. His team has made it clear that they are ready for the fight, leaving the delay to be primarily from Crawford’s side. The undefeated Crawford, who has held titles across multiple weight classes, has shown little enthusiasm for the mandatory clash, sparking rumors that he may be more focused on securing a high-profile bout with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez. There has been speculation that a showdown with Alvarez could take place in May 2024, around Cinco de Mayo.
For now, the clock is ticking for both camps to finalize negotiations before the October 10 deadline, with significant ramifications for both fighters depending on the outcome.
Crawford’s recent history of fighting just once per year, a pattern dating back to 2019, adds fuel to the speculation that he might be unwilling to break that trend for a bout with Fundora. If Crawford opts to vacate his interim title and forgo the WBO-mandated bout, it could open the door for Fundora to take on Errol Spence Jr., with rumors suggesting that such a fight could be promoted by PBC as a potential pay-per-view blockbuster.
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