WBC/WBO 154-lb champion Sebastian Fundora’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, says WBO mandatory Terence Crawford’s financial demands and desire to be the co-promoter for a fight between them may delay him getting a chance to fight him.
Lewkowicz states that Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) wants money, but he won’t be the co-promoter for a fight against Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs). That’s not going to happen. Further, Lewkowicz says Crawford should do the honorable thing and face Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis at 147, a fighter he’s shown no interest in fighting thus far.
Promoter Lewkowicz says Fundora will be out until November at the minimum with his nose injury, which he suffered in his 12-round split decision win over WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu last Saturday night. But when Fundora does come back, a rematch with Tszyu is the likely fight he’ll be taking.
Lewkowicz says manager Louis DeCubas will negotiate with WBO president Paco Valcarcel to try to allow Fundora to keep his title with their organization while he takes a rematch with Tszyu.
If the WBO refuses, Fundora could vacate the title, putting Crawford in a position where he would need to fight #1 contender Josh Kelly for the vacant belt. There won’t be a lot of money in that fight for Crawford.
That would be a nightmarish situation for Crawford because the money that he’s gotten used to getting in his last two fights would likely drop off steeply unless there’s a promoter who is crazy enough to give him a ton of money and risk losing all the dough when the event bombs badly with fans showing zero interest in purchasing the trainwreck.
Crawford’s Co-Promotion Demands Rejected
“I will honor the rematch with Tszyu, and he deserves it,” said Sampson Lewkowicz to Thaboxingvoice about Tim Tszyu deserving a rematch with Sebastian Fundora. “I don’t know if Fundora needs nose surgery, so most likely, there will be no fight for Sebastian until November.
“My word is my contract, and I will honor the contract [with Tszyu for a rematch with Fundora]. I would say the most honorable thing for Crawford is to fight [Jaron Boots] Ennis, and he would have no problem with the weight but he’s looking for money.
“He wants to fight Canelo for money, a payday, and I don’t know if he’ll get the payday against Fundora. My understanding is he wants to be a co-promoter because he’s a free agent, and that will not happen that way.
“Because I’m an emotional person, we’ll make a decision as a team with Luis DeCubas. He will try to negotiate not to lose the [WBO 154-lb] title. He will negotiate with Paco Valcarcel, the president of the WBO, and Crawford. So, I will be out of the situation.
“My wish is to do the rematch [with Tszyu] because the people will request that. Many people will stay that if not for the cut, he would lose the fight, Fundora, which I don’t believe that,” said Lewkowicz.
