Who will Terence Crawford fight next?
‘Bud’ wants to fight Saul Alvarez at super middleweight but things could change after the WBO ordered the American to fight another opponent.
Terence Crawford wants to go up to 168 lbs to take on Saul Alvarez. That’s the fight the American wants, as it would allow him to face one of the best and most charismatic boxers in modern history and earn a large amount of money in one night. It would also give him the chance to become a five-division world champion.
Bud last defeated Israil Madrimov in a competitive unanimous decision victory in his first fight at 154lbs for the WBO interim belt. The judges had it 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113 in favor of the Omaha native.
While many would like to see Crawford go up in weight again -from 154 to 168- to take on the Mexican superstar, others believe another massive body transformation would have negative consequences if he were to take on Canelo next.
The WBO comes into play: who will Crawford fight next?
However, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) has other plans for the undefeated champion. The boxing entity ordered the fight between Crawford (41-0-0, 31 KOs) and Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs). Fundora is the current WBC and WBO super welterweight champion, and the WBO wants him to defend his belt against Crawford. Both boxers will have 30 days to reach an agreement or the clash will be sent to purse bid.
Errol Spence Jr. was expected to take on Fundora but he may have to wait to take on the Florida-bred boxer.
Fundora took the WBC and WBO super welterweight belts from the then-undefeated Tim Tszyu (24-1-0, 17 KOs) by split decision in March. He had just lost his interim title when he was knocked out in the seventh round by Brian Mendoza (22-4-0, 16 KOs). After an impressive return, the American wants to return to the spotlight, and Terence Crawford is probably the best name for it.
Bud is one of the boxers of the moment, a charismatic fighter with attractive boxing. Everyone wants to see him fight. He became an undisputed champion by unifying the crowns against Errol Spence (28-1-0, 22 KOs), beating him by TKO in the ninth round.