As the boxing world comes to terms with the untimely cancelation of the proposed fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Sebastian Fundora, new twists are adding even more intrigue to the unfolding narrative. One such twist is the tweet from WBO president Gustavo Olivieri. The fight between the unified welterweight champion and the challenger was initially planned for October of last year.

However, it was later intended for a March 29 meetup. The sudden news that the potential fight had been dropped seems to have taken the boxing world by storm. Fundora became a first-time champion after defeating Tim Tszyu on the inaugural PBC Amazon Prime card on March 30 last year. Spence Jr., on the other hand, hasn’t fought since Terence Crawford handed him his first career loss on July 29, 2023. With the hopes of a rematch between the two fading, Spence followed Crawford into the 154-pound division, where talks of a fight with Fundora soon emerged. But the WBO had a few concerns. Perhaps, driven by a sense of fairness toward other competitors, the WBO made this decision out of obligation.

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Sebastian Fundora: WBO Makes Its Position Clear

“The WBO would not sanction Fundora/Spence,” said Gustavo Olivieri, offering a list of reasons to justify the decision. He essentially attached his message to the initial update from ESPN’s Mike Coppinger. Citing information from sources, the boxing insider reported that the fight between Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence Jr. ‘is now off.’

To expand on Mr. Olivieri’s post, Errol Spence Jr.’s last fight against Terence Crawford took place on July 29, 2023. While there was a chance for a rematch, that possibility eventually fell through. For many, the manner of the loss matters just as much. Had it been a close decision, such as a split or majority loss, it would provide a stronger argument, given that Spence Jr. offered a competitive challenge.

A key concern is Spence Jr.’s absence from the WBO’s top fifteen rankings. Currently, the New York-born southpaw holds only one significant position: the number one contender for the WBC belt. Even considering his former champion status and potential future Hall of Fame career, the fact remains that Spence Jr. hasn’t yet fought in the 154-pound division.

Meanwhile, Terence Crawford made his light-middleweight debut and defeated Israil Madrimov in August. Does this mean the end of Spence Jr.’s championship aspirations?

What avenues are available to Spence Jr. at this stage?

Not necessarily. Spence Jr. could challenge the interim WBC champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. Earlier, the Grand Prairie-born fighter had also expressed interest in facing Spence Jr. at Cowboys Stadium. If victorious, Spence Jr. could challenge Sebastian Fundora for his belt.

A win over ‘The Towering Inferno’ could position Spence Jr. as the division’s new unified champion. It could also pave the way for the much-anticipated rematch with Terence Crawford.

Do you believe the WBO’s stance on Spence Jr.’s claim is justified, or do you have questions about it?