WBO President Paco Valcarcel has announced that the WBO will sanction the March 30 fight between WBO 154lb champion Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora. The winner must face the WBO-designated mandatory challenger (possibly Terence Crawford) within 180 days. Negotiations for the WBO mandatory commitment must be started five days after the fight. The original Tszyu-Thurman fight was not sanctioned by the WBO and was to proceed as a non-title affair.
Tszyu-Fundora will also be for WBC 154lb title. In addition, Serhii Bohachuk and Brian Mendoza meet on the same card for the vacant WBC 154lb interim belt.
Duh!
I thought Crawford was going to jump up to middleweight to fight Eubank Jr (rumor). Eubank Jr doesn’t make 160 easy (and only appeal for Eubank vs Crawford in the UK). Makes sense for Crawford to have a few fights at 154. It depends on who the WBA and WBC champs are at 160 in about 6 months if Crawford would jump to 160 after one fight at 154. Fundora or Tszyu would be tougher fights for Crawford to take at 154.
Tell Crawford that vergill ortiz is there at 154
But he has no belt.
Does not matter
If they do end up with a unified champion at 154, I would think Crawford would be interested. Probably no interest in completely unifying the division but 2x undisputed and unified at another weight is an excellent way to go out.
You don’t know Crawford from a hole in the wall so you have no idea what interests him.
I don’t know him at all personally but, and call me silly, I’m pretty confident in saying that MONEY interests Terence Crawford. I could very well be wrong and making a big assumption (and you know what happens when we assume things) but MOST LIKELY he enjoys being paid a lot of money.
“Tszyu-Fundora will also be for WBC 154lb title. In addition, Serhii Bohachuk and Brian Mendoza meet on the same card for the vacant WBC 154lb interim belt.”
– I hate to ask, but how is there a WBC “interim” title on the line when two fighters are going for the WBC 154-pound title the same night?
Gary that common sense and logic will not be tolerated on here! LOL!
-Great question, Gary. I think they’re trying to maybe placate Bohachuk. Had him going for a WBC title and then it falls out… well, let’s try to give him SOMETHING!
I think Fundora is a bigger threat then Thurman. Thurman may have only one loss but he has been so inactive and when he has been fighting he has shown weakness to the body. I know Fundora has been stopped but he is young and hungry. I still pick Tszyu but I do not think Thurman had much of a chance where Fundora I think does.
Lucie, yes placate him and charge him sanctioning fees as well.
Things just got easier for Tim. I like Fundora but he simply isn’t ready for this fight yet. This could end his career instead of advancing it. I’m sure it’s the most money he’s seen to date but it’s a premature decision to take this fight. I’m sure it will be a good scrap though, for as long as it lasts.
Fundora is the real deal. He is ready for the names. Wow. He lost 1 fight by knockout wow. This is a 50/50 fight or a 60/40 chance for Fundora
Finally the governing Boxing Bodies are establishing their due dilegence with the mandatory championship matches with time lines. In addition, they must include removal of championship status for failure to meet the mandatory challenger and an elimination bout between challengers next in line for the respective title. This will be the only way to resolve current issues.
So the winner must face the WBO-designated mandatory challenger (possibly Terence Crawford) within 180 days. Then the WBC probably strips the unified champ for doing so.