Fundora Eyes Crawford Fight – ‘We Welcome Him’

WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora is keen on facing Terence Crawford. 

Fundora’s comments follow Crawford’s win over Canelo Alvarez to become the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion. The victory made him the first male to become a three-weight undisputed champion, following his feats at 140 and 147. Following the win, the attention turned towards whether Crawford would move back down to 154 pounds.

The fighter ruled out, vacating his WBA belt at 154, as the interim champion Abass Baraou became the new champ. Crawford’s camp have ruled out a fight against David Benavidez, as the latter’s father Benavidez Sr. suggested they are ready to come down to 168 for the fight. If the opportunity presents itself, Fundora would take the fight at 154 or 160. 

“I think he’s thinking about going back to 160. We welcome him. Why not? It didn’t look like Canelo wanted that rematch. Crawford can do whatever he wants. I hear there’s talk of him and Benavidez. Crawford is the #1 in the sport right now. He’s a smart fighter. He’s pound-for-pound for a reason. We Welcome Him,” Fundora said

The Approach

Fundora would enter the fight with a significant physical advantage. At 6’5 ½”, his height and reach are a major factor against a fighter like Crawford, who stands at 5’8″. Fundora’s style is built on relentless pressure and a high-volume offense, as he constantly moves forward, throwing punches in bunches from his southpaw stance. His strategy would be to use his size to overwhelm Crawford, trying to make the fight a physical war on the inside. 

However, Crawford has the boxing skills to neutralize a bigger man. Crawford would need to be disciplined in using his jab to control the distance and prevent Fundora from getting close enough to use his size. His footwork would be key to staying off the ropes and making Fundora miss. He would likely use his switch-hitting ability to confuse Fundora and land clean counter-punches, making the bigger man pay for his aggression.