Terence Crawford’s next move up in the air

THE WBO have granted Terence Crawford’s team a 10-day extension as they try to nail down a fight with Sebastian Fundora. A purse bid will be ordered if the negotiations do not bear fruit by October 10.

As usual, the title situation is a little confusing. Fundora won the WBO belt from Tim Tszyu. He also picked up the vacant WBC crown that evening, almost two years after it was last officially defended by unified 154-pound king Jermell Charlo.

Crawford, meanwhile, moved up to 154 in August, snatching the WBA belt from Israil Madrimov along with the WBO Interim super-welterweight title. Now Crawford and Fundora are hoping to flesh out a deal to unify their bundle of belts.

Crawford’s rise is nothing short of remarkable. Already a two-weight undisputed champion (both requiring four titles to complete), if he beats Fundora, then only the IBF belt remains for him to become undisputed across three weight classes. Bakhram Murtazaliev currently holds that strap and defends it on October 19 against Tim Tszyu. Crawford would be a favourite over the winner of that contest. Suddenly, the history-making efforts seem realistic.

Crawford has long been linked with a cross-weight clash against Canelo Alvarez. That would require Bud to jump up a couple of divisions or at least bulk up for some kind of catchweight agreement (that would favour Canelo). 

However, Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh was mainly the driving force behind the fight. As ‘His Excellency’ has since publicly fallen out with Canelo, it would appear that Canelo vs. Crawford has now drifted off the radar.