Over the last 24 hours, it’s gone from crisis to Christmas for unbeaten WBO super welterweight champion Tim Tszyu, who takes on Sebastian Fundora at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 30.
MORE: Who is Sebastian Fundora? 'Towering Inferno' to face Tszyu
When Tszyu’s original opponent, Keith Thurman, pulled out Monday because of injury, the unbeaten Australian would have been crestfallen. However, Fundora stepped in almost immediately, which led to the vacant WBC title being put up for grabs. And the good news keeps on coming.
On Monday, The Ring’s Jake Donavan reported that boxing superstar Terence Crawford has exercised his right to be installed as the WBO’s No. 1 challenger at 154 pounds. As that sanctioning organization’s welterweight "super champion," Crawford benefits from the following clause in the WBO’s regulations:
SECTION 14. SUPER CHAMPIONS: (2) ELIGIBILITY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DESIGNATION AS THE MANDATORY CHALLENGER IN HIGHER OR LOWER DIVISION. If requested by a Super Champion, the Championship Committee may designate the Super Champion as the mandatory challenger for the higher or lower division.
The Sporting News now takes a look at a potential Terence Crawford vs. Tim Tszyu fight:
Why is Terence Crawford moving up in weight?
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) was contractually obligated to face Errol Spence Jr. in a rematch. However, Spence underwent cataract surgery and the deadline for the sequel expired.
With Spence out of the equation, Crawford called out the significantly larger undisputed super middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez. However, “Bud” does not appear to be in the Mexican hero’s immediate plans, and none of the other welterweights, including IBF champ Jaron "Boots" Ennis, interest him.
Reading between the lines, Crawford will now target the super welterweight division in a bid to become a four-weight world champion.
Will Tim Tszyu fight Terence Crawford?
Tszyu has shown a propensity to chase down the best in the business. For years, he called for a match against then-undisputed super welterweight champion Jermell Charlo, only to be let down more than once.
Should he come through Fundora, Tszyu will be a unified world champion and the consensus best fighter in the 154-pound division. The next logical step in terms of legacy would be a career-defining superfight.
From what we know of Tszyu, he’ll grab the Crawford showdown with both hands.
Where would a Terence Crawford vs. Tim Tszyu fight take place?
The fight is something of a perfect storm.
Crawford’s sensational win over Spence saw him become the first undisputed welterweight champion in 18 years. He was also anointed the finest pound-for-pound fighter in the world by both The Ring and The Sporting News. As a result, he’s hotter than ever.
Crawford vs. Spence took place in Las Vegas, and it was a solid financial success. Tszyu is about to make his Las Vegas debut, and now would be the perfect time to turn in a statement performance. If the unbeaten Australian can blast his way through Fundora, then Las Vegas is sure to be all-in for Crawford vs. Tszyu.
Failing that, Australia would welcome this fight. The Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane hosted Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn in 2017 and produced the highest attendance for a boxing match in Australia (51,026). A bout between Crawford and Tszyu could give that number a run for its money.
MORE: All you need to know about Tszyu vs. Fundora
Who wins Tim Tszyu vs. Terence Crawford?
Crawford is a generational great and would open as a big favorite. While the American is 35 years old now, there was absolutely no sign of decline in his punch-perfect triumph over Spence.
Tszyu, 29, is a brilliant young fighter and the best is yet to come from the unbeaten star. While it’s difficult to envision him outboxing Crawford, his true weapon in this fight is punching power. Bud has never been hit by a big 154-pounder, and Tszyu has a 70-percent knockout percentage.
The logical pick is Crawford, but stranger things have happened.
