Errol Spence’s comeback fight now has a planned date as he prepares for an immediate world title shot in 2025.
‘The Truth’ hasn’t fought since his brutal stoppage defeat to long-term rival Terence Crawford in their undisputed welterweight title clash in July 2023.
Esther Lin/PBCThe American and Fundora are expected to meet in Sin City this year[/caption]
He looked far from his best in the clash, and there had been widespread concerns that we may have seen the last of Spence in the boxing ring.
Reports indicated that Spence had agreed a deal to fight 6ft 6in giant Sebastian Fundora, with the fight touted to take place in Dallas in October last year.
But it failed to materialise at the time, with Spence’s comeback in jeopardy, but it appears the 5ft 9in star’s switch to 154lbs is now back in the pipeline.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael has reported that a deal is currently being worked on, with March 29 now the target date for the fight to headline a huge bill.
The fight is expected to be a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view on Amazon Prime, which will take place in the iconic MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
A full agreement has yet to be thrashed out, but the date has been booked out with a view to contracts being signed.
It will likely only be for the WBC super-welterweight title, despite Fundora also holding the WBO strap.
WBO president Gustavo Oliveiri suggested the organisation will not sanction the fight for the belt, given Spence’s previous defeat at 147lbs.
It could lead to his former rival Crawford benefiting if Spence has his hand raised, as ‘Bud’ could be upgraded to full WBO champion.
Olivieri explained to talkSPORT.com: “During the WBO convention at the ratings proceedings which I was presiding at after being elected, TGB Promotions through their council, Phile Weiss (lawyer) petitioned that Errol Spence be installed within the top ten at 154lbs.
“The purpose was to request that he be allowed to fight Fundora for the [WBO] title and he presented his case with strong arguments.
“But there are some factors that are undisputed: he’s been inactive for two years, he’s coming off a brutal TKO loss to Terence Crawford and he has never fought at 154lbs nor been rated at 154lbs.
“So I have those facts that are undisputed… You may say ‘Errol Spence is one of the biggest names at 154lbs, it’s a great fight against Fundora’.
“But based on those facts and the other fighters that are waiting their turn at 154lbs, having fought at 154lbs plus their level activity, their suitable opposition, having won regional titles, having faced rated contenders.
“If I allow Spence to fight Fundora immediately for the title with those facts. Would that be a good precedent to set?
“And we’re not going to sanction that fight [Fundora vs Spence]. Fundora may fight Spence, but it will be considered a WBO non-title fight.
“We’re going to allow him to proceed with that fight with the condition that if he loses, the title is vacated automatically and Crawford elevated to full champion status.”
Spence’s only defeat of his career came against Crawford, but he has had a turbulent time outside of the ring in recent years.
The American star has been involved in two huge car crashes, with the former leaving him injured with a fractured jaw, facial lacerations and concussion.
Many questioned whether his boxing career would ever fully reach the same peak, but he was able to set back on to a winning trajectory with wins over Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugas.
Now he has the opportunity to become a two-weight world champion and take a step to any potential attempt at revenge against Crawford before the end of his career.