Spectre Of Crawford Makes ‘Stakes Higher’ For Tszyu And Fundora

The prospect of preventing Terence Crawford has “raised the stakes” for Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora, in response to Tszyu.

Crawford, broadly thought-about the world’s most interesting fighter, has been put in because the obligatory challenger to the WBO light-middleweight title Tszyu makes an attempt to defend on Saturday at The T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, the place he and Fundora may even contest the WBC title.

Whatever the 26-year-old Fundora representing a late-notice alternative for Keith Thurman, the event represents the very best profile of Tszyu’s profession, however after lacking out on the undisputed title struggle with Jermell Charlo he had lengthy focused, he recognises {that a} date with Crawford would show much more vital.

“The stakes are larger,” the 29 yr outdated mentioned. “A superfight’s on the way in which. Greatness and future awaits. He’s nice. It’s simple, what he’s achieved – he’s nice. You may’t lie about that. He’s an amazing fighter, and what he’s achieved in his profession is fairly loopy.

“He can [compete if he moves up to 154lbs]. He’s obtained the abilities; he’s sturdy as nicely. I don’t assume he’s obtained an issue with that weight division – it relies upon who he fights. 

“I don’t wish to disrespect the opposite guys however he’s positively within the [pound for pound] prime three. [Naoya] Inoue and [Saul] ‘Canelo’ Alvarez [are the other two]. The scale distinction [between Alvarez and Crawford if, as has been suggested, they fight] could be an excessive amount of, however on the similar time, Canelo did begin at 154lbs and moved up – however he’s even bulkier now. However you possibly can by no means underestimate Crawford, as a result of he’s obtained the abilities.”

Charlo selected to maneuver as much as tremendous middleweight to struggle Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and produced a disappointing efficiency that broken his repute at a time when a struggle between he and Tszyu, then the world’s two main gentle middleweights, was amongst these the world most needed to see.

“Final yr proved that I’m the person at 154,” the Australian continued. “I used to be the one which fought everybody; took everybody out [Tszyu defeated Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza in 2023]. 

“I’m gonna preserve cementing myself as one of the best 154-pounder alive. That is my division.”