When a bloodied Tim Tszyu and battered Sebastian Fundora were separated by the final bell, the challenger had done enough to bag the win. But Errol Spence Jr. soon crashed his celebrations and threw the gauntlet at him. ‘The Truth’ made his intention known that he wanted the newly crowned WBO champion next. Buzz and money—the supposed fight has it all. But he is not the only man in the race. He has to edge past Terence Crawford, again. So, who wins it in this Spence vs. Crawford II scenario?

The situation grew complicated when Spence Jr., a former welterweight champion, expressed his desire to fight the winner of Tszyu vs. Fundora. A few days before, Crawford, 36, had traded his WBO ‘Super Champion’ status to declare himself the mandatory challenger for whoever came out victorious between Tszyu and Fundora. However, ‘Bud’ didn’t anticipate running into his former foe again. It seems this time he might have to reevaluate his position. Why?

Errol Spence Jr.: PBC ties and the business side of things

Boxing is a business. These are the words that ‘The Towering Inferno’ himself emphasized when he discussed the chances of fighting with Crawford. While he wants to fight one of the biggest fighters in boxing, there are other considerations. As he said, it’s all about maximizing the profits for the fighter, and profits lie in fighting Spence Jr.

Spence Jr., at 28-1, is a proven PPV star, and Fundora might have the biggest payday of his career if he fights the former welterweight champion. Fundora’s promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, also shares similar views and has declared that the unified champion would prefer Spence Jr. as his first defense. It all boils down to money. Moreover, Lewkowicz has pointed out Crawford’s inability to sell out the 90,000 tickets in Dallas, compared to Spence Jr. Therefore, Fundora’s camp believes Spence Jr. is a better draw and maybe an easier draw.

The Long Island native hasn’t fought in over a year, is coming off cataract surgery, and has added mass to his frame. Spence Jr. might need a tune-up fight next to competitively challenge Fundora. But if he heads directly into the championship fight, Fundora might have no qualms about fighting him. The fight is also easier to make as both are PBC’s stablemates. The PBC might have a PPV blockbuster on their cards if they can pull it off, and every party is set to gain. Meanwhile, Crawford will be the only loser.

Terence Crawford: Aligning ambitions with legacy

Why did the Omaha native decide to move up to 154? It was to fight Tszyu next on Australian soil in a championship fight. But with Tszyu gone, is it really happening? Will Crawford, at 40-0, fight Fundora next? Does the fight hold a similar allure for him? There might be doubts.

Crawford wanted to add another high-profile fighter and another belt to his illustrious resume. He wanted to slowly move up, and get adjusted to the vagaries of 154 to ensure he understood his limits while pursuing Canelo Alvarez. Now, that might still happen because he is the WBO mandatory. But enforcing it when Fundora wants a bigger paycheck might backfire. Fundora can relinquish his WBO strap and put his WBC crown on the line to fight Spence Jr. So where does it leave him? At a wait-and-watch spot.

Who exactly fights Sebastian Fundora next?

All signs hint towards a fight with Spence Jr. However, there is a faction of fans who believe the champion needs to give Tszyu a rematch and that Spence Jr. needs a tune-up fight first. Every possible scenario leaves Crawford out of the mix for a while. All Crawford has to do is wait and then decide. He can fight the winner and he would be heavily favorable against the winner. But can he afford to wait that long? That is a different question.

Read More: “You Look like a Linebacker”: Terence Crawford Reacts as Errol Spence Jr Calls Out Sebastian Fundora

For Fundora, a rematch with Tszyu might not be a high priority as there was no rematch clause imbibed in the contract. He is left to pick whoever he wants, and most likely he is going to pick his stablemate for a hefty payout. It remains to be seen whether it will be for both WBO and WBC titles or just one of them. Another looming question is whether Crawford will grow impatient and fight a no-name in case Fundora gets stripped, or he will be happy to take on the winner at the end of the year.

What do you make of this amusing situation concerning Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, and Sebastian Fundora? Who do you think deserves to fight the champion next? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: “It’s Good”: Sebastian Fundora Responds to Possible Errol Spence Jr and Terence Crawford Fight Saga