Errol Spence looks to become a two-division world champion after suffering his first professional loss against pound-for-pound star Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford.
The pair squared off for the undisputed welterweight crown in July of last year, when Terence Crawford produced a punishing performance to emerge victorious.
While it was dubbed a 50-50 matchup, their spectacle proved to be anything but, with ‘Bud’ flooring his man three times before securing a scintillating ninth-round stoppage.
And so, with Spence now firmly on the comeback trail, it will be interesting to see how the former IBF titlist responds to the first setback of his decorated career.
Sebastian Fundora insists that the Errol Spence fight ‘should be next’
After years of boiling himself down to 147 lbs, it appears that Spence will now move up to super welterweight to take on unified WBC and WBO champion Sebastian Fundora.
In his rise through the ranks, Fundora has largely established himself as a prolific knockout artist, utilizing his wiry frame to maximise the leverage behind his shots.
But then, after dispatching several top contenders, ‘The Towering Inferno’ suffered his first defeat to Brian Mendoza, who caused a sizable upset to halt him in the seventh round.
In his following fight earlier this year, however, Fundora was able to tear up the script himself, edging a highly contentious split decision against Australian star Tim Tszyu.
And now, without revealing a date or location, the 26-year-old is seemingly confident that he will be defending his titles against Spence.
“That [fight] should be next,” Fundora told BoxNation. “I think it’s going to be a good fight. Lots of action – he throws a lot of punches, I throw a lot of punches.
“He’s a come forward fighter, I consider myself that as well. It’ll be good for the Mexican fans within America.
“He’s been in certain problems or in different ordeals with his life, inside and outside of the ring. But again, that’s for him to consider and to work on.
“I just wish he comes in healthy for the fight and leaves healthy.”
Can Errol Spence reignite his career?
Before losing to Crawford, Spence was widely considered to be the best welterweight on the planet, often enjoying a physical advantage over his opponents.
Naturally, the jump up to 154 lbs should restore an element of his explosiveness and durability, while also removing the size advantage he has grown familiar with.
At the same time, though, it is difficult to gauge what the 34-year-old has left in the tank, given the decisive nature of his last outing.
But of course, we should find out soon enough whether the American has what it takes to topple one of the most formidable champions in the sport.