Errol Spence vs WBC/WBO 154lb champion Sebastian Fundora is now off. The two were supposed to fight on March 29, but the WBO decided not to sanction the contest.
Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) could face Joey Spencer (19-1, 13 KOs) next. It is questionable whether the WBO will approve that fight as well, as Spencer is not ranked in the top 154 at 154. Lance Pugmire reports on the possibility of Fundor defending against Spencer. It’s not a big fight, but there isn’t much time to pick an opponent before March.
No Spence
It’s a good thing Spence won’t be challenging the 6’6″ Fundor for his two titles as he looked washed out in a loss to Terence Crawford in his last fight on July 29, 2023. The last thing Spence needs right now is to be beaten by a much younger and taller 26 -year-old Fundora in his debut at the age of 154, after a long break.
The reasons why the WBO did not approve the fight are as follows:
– Spence’s 1.5-year layoff
– Defeat in the last fight
– Unranked at 154th place
– I have never fought in the junior middleweight category
In hindsight, it was a crazy idea to use Spence as Fundora’s opponent, given his loss to Crawford in the previous fight, his long layoff and the fact that he had never fought at 154.
He wouldn’t be fully credited for a title fight against Fundora, but you could say the same for Terence Crawford who didn’t rate a world title shot against WBA 154lb champion Israil Madrimov last August. The fight still happened despite Terence never having fought at 154.
Fans don’t see Fundora as a solid champion, given his performance in his last fight against Tim Tszyu and his loss to Brian Mendoza. Beating Tszyu is no big deal, as we saw in his recent third-round knockout loss to Bakhram Murtazaliev on October 19th.
The WBO would not sanction Fundora/Spence because (1) he has been inactive for 1 year and 5 months; (2) loss by technical knockout in the last fight; (3) not rated at 154 lbs., & 4) never wrestled at 154 lbs. A different decision would be a disservice to the rest of the 154 world-ranked competitors. https://t.co/R2VgVXAi9V
— Gustavo Olivieri, esq. (@OlivieriLaw) January 16, 2025
