Sebastian Fundora is ready for his next big fight after recovering from his injuries

By Moses Ochieng

Sampson Lewkowicz, the promoter of WBO/WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs), is targeting a unification fight with WBA champion Terence Crawford rather than a title defense against Errol Spence.

Fundora recently scored a 12-round split decision victory over WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu on March 30 and is expected to return to the ring after recovering from injuries sustained in that fight. A fight with Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) is considered less lucrative and less high-profile than a clash with Crawford, who remains in the prime of his career. Spence’s loss to Crawford last year and his 14-month inactivity likely diminished his appeal with fans.

A Crawford vs. Fundora fight would likely generate strong pay-per-view numbers in the United States, surpassing the attention of Fundora’s recent fight against WBA 154-pound champion Israil Madrimov on August 3.

Boxing insider Manouk Akopyan has reported that promoter Sampson Lewkowicz is focused on securing a fight with undefeated Terence Crawford, 37, rather than Errol Spence. A clash with Crawford makes sense for Fundora, as he is highly regarded by Saudi boxing figurehead Turki Alalshikh, and the fight would be a major revenue generator for one of Riyadh’s season events.

“A fight between Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence continues to brew; promoter Sampson (Lewkowicz) tells me that he is only focused on organizing a fight for Fundora against Terence Crawford,” Manouk Akopyan said on X.

Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KO) had expressed interest in a potential fight against three-belt Mexican super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez after narrowly securing a unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov on August 3 to win the WBA 154-book title. However, the fight seems unlikely, as Canelo has expressed no desire to face Crawford.

A WBO official said Terence Crawford had the option to request an extension of negotiations before Monday’s deadline. However, promoter Sampson Lewkowicz pointed out that the lack of communication from Crawford’s team during this time speaks volumes. Lewkowicz believes the WBO should impose a 10-day deadline on Crawford to declare whether he intends to fight Sebastian Fundora.

If Crawford of Nebraska decides to withdraw from negotiations with Fundora, it is expected that Sebastian Fundora of Southern California will face former three-belt welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. Spence notably appeared in the ring with Fundora after his two-belt victory. against Tim Tszyu on March 30.