- Advertisement -
Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz says WBO obligatory Xander Zayas might be subsequent for WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora until he takes a unification combat towards the IBF or WBA champ.
Undisputed Goals
Fundora’s aim is to change into undisputed at 154. So, if he can combat one of many different two belt-holders, he’ll take it subsequent and put the obligatory protection on maintain towards Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs). Lewkowicz says Fundora won’t vacate his WBO or WBC titles. He’ll defend towards his obligatory challengers as a result of he respects the game.
Final Saturday night time, Fundora (22-1-1, 14 KOs) scored a fourth-round technical knockout of Chordale Booker in a voluntary protection on the Michelob Extremely Enviornment in Las Vegas. It was a combat designed for ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora to get the ring rust out from twelve months of inactivity since his victory over WBO 154-lb champion Tim Tszyu on March 30, 2024.
Zayas was making an attempt to prematurely start selling the combat by entertaining the ring final Saturday night time and asking for a face-off with Fundora, which wasn’t granted.
“It would be no issue to make a fight with Zayas. The only thing is, you never know in boxing. So, we’ll see,” stated promoter Sampson Lewkowicz to the media a couple of combat between WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora and his WBO obligatory Xander Zayas.
“We need to negotiate, and we have one month to make a decision. The mandatory at this moment is Zayas. So, we cannot talk to the others. It could happen, a unification, and it would overcome the mandatory. If it’s the IBF champion [Bakhram Murtazalev], then they [Xander] need to wait a little bit longer. He’s a young kid anyway.”
IBF champion Murtazaliev posted on X final night time, congratulating Fundora for his victory and letting him know, “I’m ready” to start out negotiating a unification combat subsequent. If Sebastian and Lewkowicz wish to do a unification, this may be their likelihood.
120-Day Clock
“At this moment, we’re waiting for the letter from the WBO. We’ll say right away if we want it or we don’t want it. We don’t wait a month to make a decision, but if we have an opportunity to make much more money in a unification,” stated Lewkowicz. “Actually, he [Fundora] will fight for the same money because he wants to reach his four titles.”
The WBO president has already stated that they need Xander Zayas to combat for the belt subsequent inside 120 days. Fundora might want to resolve whether or not he needs that match to occur subsequent. It might be a better-paying combat for them than dealing with Murtazaliev.
“I cannot make that decision as a promoter. It’s up to Fundora, but definitely, the #1 at this moment is Zayas,” stated Lewkowicz. “He’s the obligatory. We have to honor the obligatory. The one factor that would occur is the unification as a result of it could be extra essential than the cash. He needs to be undisputed. He won’t ever [vacate his WBO title].
“The only thing is if it comes the opportunity to fight for the IBF. So, he makes an exception, and then he goes back, but he will honor the mandatories. Boxing is more than about money,” stated Sampson about Fundora. “Many boxers will sell their soul for money. Sometimes, you have to think for the good for the sport. They are the two champions, WBA and IBF and Zayas,” stated Lewkowicz on what the very best fights for Fundora.
It’s a troublesome choice for Fundora to make about whether or not to combat Zayas or go for the unification conflict towards one of many champions at 154. If he believes in himself, he ought to go after the combat towards Murtazaliev. WBA champion Terence Crawford goes to be busy for the rest of this yr, combating Canelo Alvarez in September.
