A clash between pound-for-pound rivals, Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, was being touted as a perhaps unnecessary yet unrivalled event, with both men eager to stamp their authority on a claim to the pound-for-pound throne, although for a number of different reasons it seemed as though that proposal was dead in the water. Now, despite Crawford being ordered for an alternate bout, Canelo has reassured fans that he and ‘Bud’ could still meet in the ring.
The Mexican superstar had been rumoured to be facing Crawford at the end of the year, but with little to gain from fighting a skilled opponent that campaigns multiple divisions lower than he, Canelo wanted an additional financial incentive to accept any offers. Feeling as though he was being taken for a ride, newfound Saudi catalyst Turki Al-Alshikh then performed a u-turn on the event and placed the blame solely on Alvarez’s shoulders.
Instead, Crawford faced off with Israil Madrimov on his super-welterweight debut and managed to edge a razor-thin unanimous-decision against the Uzbek to claim the WBA 154lb title. Yet regardless of the fact that he won the belt, the unconvincing nature of the victory appeared to be the final nail in the coffin of Canelo-Crawford, with many fans left convinced that Canelo was simply too big for the American.
In a wide-open division, Crawford has numerous threats at super-welterweight as he attempts to become the first three-division undisputed champion of the four-belt era and the WBO have now confirmed that the newly-crowned WBA title-holder has been ordered to challenge Sebastian Fundora in a three-belt unification bout.
“Please be advised that the parties herein have thirty (30) days upon issuance of this notice to negotiate and reach an agreement for the above-referenced WBO Jr. Middleweight Mandatory Championship Contest.
“If an accord is not reached within the timeframe stated herein, a purse bid will be ordered per the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests. The minimum acceptable bid in the WBO Jr. Middleweight Division is $200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Dollars). Any of the parties involved may request a purse bid procedure at any time during the negotiation process.
“Furthermore, if a purse bid ceremony for the Crawford/Fundora bout is called, Section 14(e)(1)(2) of the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests triggers and governs proceedings per Terence Crawford’s “WBO Super Champion” status (“Rights and Privileges, not a title”), with the rights conferred by such provision.”
However, in spite of the WBO’s ruling, Canelo Alvarez has now told Boxing Scene that a showdown between he and Crawford could still happen.
“I don’t think so [that the WBO order will get in the way of Canelo-Crawford]. I’m not saying that fight can’t happen. That order doesn’t matter.”
Fundora currently holds the WBC and WBO super-welterweight titles, and had been linked to a fight with Errol Spence Jr., a long-term rival of Crawford’s. Although, it appears as though Spence has either continued with his injury struggles or simply has been frozen out of the world title frame for now at least.
Elsewhere, the fourth belt at the weight will be on the line when Bakhram Murtazaliev defends his IBF crown against Australian fan-favourite Tim Tsyzu.
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