The Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford Fight Has Been Put On Hold Due To WBO Order, But Canelo Remains Open

The long-awaited showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford may have to wait.

WBO Order Throws a Wrench into the Canelo vs Crawford Plans

While the WBO has ordered 154-lb champion Sebastian Fundora to defend against Crawford next, Canelo’s non-committal stance has left the door open for a potential Crawford vs. Fundora matchup.

Fundora’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, believes Crawford is only interested in the money that a lucrative fight with Canelo will guarantee him.

Lewkowicz suggests that Crawford will likely wait until after Canelo defends his three super middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga on September 14th before deciding whether to pursue the WBO belt against Fundora.

Canelo, however, has indicated that he is not opposed to a fight with Crawford. His message suggests that the WBO’s order won’t necessarily dictate his next move.

‼️ Canelo Alvarez has insisted that a Terence Crawford fight could still happen next, despite Crawford vs Sebastian Fundora being ordered: “I’m not saying that fight can’t happen. That order doesn’t matter.” [@BoxingScene]

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) August 29, 2024

Crawford Faces a Tough Decision

For Crawford, the decision is a delicate one. If he doesn’t secure the Canelo fight, facing Fundora could be a risky proposition.

Fundora’s height, power, and work rate could pose a significant challenge for the aging Crawford, especially given his recent close decision against Israil Madrimov. A loss to Fundora could jeopardize Crawford’s hopes of a lucrative retirement fight with Canelo.

If money is Crawford’s primary motivation, he may be better off pursuing a fight with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. A matchup between Crawford and Ennis is undoubtedly a fight of significant interest among fans, especially considering Ennis’s rising star status.

Ennis could potentially move up to 154 pounds to challenge Crawford for his newly acquired WBA title.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Crawford will prioritise the Canelo fight or take on the riskier challenge of facing Fundora. The decision will have major implications for the future of the 154-pound division.

As for Canelo, he will defends the unified WBC, WBA, and WBO, middleweight titles against Edgar Berlanga on September 14th, on Mexican Independence Day.