Errol Spence Jr. will have another shot at a world title when he returns to the sweet science, but he’s not getting a soft touch.
On Wednesday, the way was cleared for Spence to challenge WBC and WBO super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora. Per multiple sources, the fight is expected to land in January and to take place in Spence’s home state of Texas. ESPN’s Mike Coppinger offered some of the details.
This is the fight Spence wanted. Fundora smashed his way onto the radar of a slew of fight fans when he stepped in on short notice for an injured Keith Thurman to take on an undefeated Tim Tszyu with the WBC and WBO titles on the line in March.
In a strong candidate for Fight of the Year, Fundora outlasted Tszyu, dethroning him via split decision in a bloody, all-action fight. Spence was at the T-Mobile Arena for the fight and climbed into the ring to challenge Fundora.
At one point, it appeared Spence and his rival Terence Crawford were both chasing an opportunity to fight Fundora. However, Crawford’s agreement with Fundora on Wednesday paved the way for the latter to fight Spence in 2025. Crawford, who won the regular WBA super welterweight title via unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov in August, was mandatory for Fundora.
Their agreement says that Fundora can fight Spence in a voluntary title defense, but he must revisit the negotiations with Crawford later in the year–if he wins. Fundora poses a matchup challenge that few in his weight class carry.
He’s 6-foot-5 1/2 and somehow consistently makes 154 pounds.
Fundora has a whopping 80-inch reach, and when he’s at his best, he uses it to keep opponents at the end of his jab. As long as Fundora is, he tends to get into brawls. That tendency has made him a fan-favorite fighter, but it also led to the only loss of his career: a KO at the hands of Brian Mendoza in April 2023.
Spence will look to score a similar result when he clashes with Fundora. The agreement seems to be a win-win-win for all parties involved. Crawford may have received step-aside money to allow Fundora to fight Spence, and he still has the opportunity to take on the winner in a potentially more lucrative bout later in 2025.
Fundora may not be getting the payday with Spence that he would have gotten if he fought Crawford, but it’s a more prominent opponent than he would have gotten elsewhere. If he beats Spence, his stock grows even more, and he brings more to the table in a potential fight with Crawford. Spence, who Crawford beat severely in July 2023, needs an opportunity to bounce back.
He’s getting that chance against a young and hungry champion. If Spence wins, he’s back in the mix, and perhaps that rematch with Crawford will be back on the table. Even if the second fight with Crawford doesn’t happen, Spence could face Fundora in a rematch, Tszyu, or even an up-and-coming 154-pounder like Xander Zayas.
Overall, this agreement seems good for the fighters, fans, and the sport.
