It looks like Terence Crawford has accepted that he won’t be facing Saul Canelo Alvarez next.
Crawford has been chasing a showdown with the Canelo over the past year as he attempted to make an unprecedented jump up in weight to super-middleweight.
‘Bud’ defeated Israil Madrimov in August to win the WBA super-welterweight title, and then set his sights on the clash, although the Mexican superstar appeared to think differently.
Alvarez didn’t want to negotiate for a Crawford fight before his bout with Edgar Berlanga in September, which he went on to win by unanimous decision to retain his WBC, WBA and WBO belts at 168lbs. He has said he is open to offers but shown little interest in the match-up.
Despite the Berlanga fight now being out of the way, Crawford looks to be on the verge of moving on from the fight and signing to face a new opponent, after the WBO announced a 10-day extension to allow him to negotiate a fight with Sebastian Fundora.
“On August 28, 2024, this Committee issued the negotiation order for the mandatory between WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion, Sebastian Fundora and WBO Interim Jr. Middleweight Champion, Terence Crawford to terminate the Interim Champion status per WBO policy.
Per the order rendered, the parties were granted 30 days to strike a deal or purse bid proceedings would be called in accordance with WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.
On September 30, 2024, the WBO acknowledged receipt of an email communication by Attorney, Mr. Harrison Whitman, on behalf of Terrence Crawford requesting a 10-day extension of the negotiation period to continue discussion towards an agreement as ordered. On the same day, Sebastian Fundora’s promoter Mr. Sampson Lewkowicz ratified the aforesaid petition via email agreeing to the extension.”
Fundora is the current WBC and WBO super-welterweight champion, after defeating Tim Tszyu by split decision back in March.
