20-day date: Funder and Zayas ordered to negotiate, and the possibilities of unification with the IBF master threaten the disruption of the WBO mandate
WBO officially ordered the WBC champion and Junior WBO Medium Libra, Sebastian Fund, start negotiations with his mandatory Xander Zayas. They have 20 days to come up with a contract before a handbag offer. However, the supervisor of the fund, Sampson Lewkowicz, says that he will see their union options, which has priority over his mandatory obligations.
The goal of the fund is the undisputed in 154. So, if he can fight one of the other two belt owners, he will be taken by the next and suspended defense against Zayas (21-0, 13 KO). Lewkowcz says that the fund will not leave its WBO or WBC titles. He will defend against his compulsory contenders because he respects this sport.
Orders WBO
Last Saturday evening, the fund (22-1-1, 14 KO) won the technical knockout of the fourth round of Chordale Booker in a voluntary defense at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. It was a fight designed for the Funda “The Wyshing Inferno” to pull the rust of the Rust from twelve months of inactivity from his victory over the WBO champion 154-pound Tim Tsyzu on March 30, 2024.
Re: WBO JR. Medium scale Compulsory pretender – Xander Zayas; Negotiations of the fund/zayas https://t.co/e5vpgosrtx
Zayas tried to start promoting the fight prematurely, tearing the ring last Saturday evening and asking for a meeting with the fund, which was not awarded.
“There would be no problem to fight Zayas. The only thing is that you never know in boxing. So we’ll see,” said Sampson Lewkowicz promoter to media About the fight between WBC and WBO Master Junior Medium Weight Sebastian Fundor and his mandatory WBO Xander Zayas.
“We have to negotiate and we have a month to make a decision. At the moment Zayas is obligatory. So we can’t talk to others. This can happen, unification and it would overcome this mandatory. If this is the IBF champion [Bakhram Murtazalev]Then they [Xander] I have to wait a little longer. In any case, he is a adolescent child. “
Champion IBF MURTAZALIEV published last night on X, congratulating the funds for his victory and informing him: “I’m ready” to start negotiating the struggle of unification. If Sebastian and Lewkowcz want to unite, it would be their chance.
“At the moment we are waiting for a letter with WBO. We will say immediately if we want it or do not. We do not wait a month to make a decision, but if we have the opportunity to earn much more money in unification,” said Lewkowcz. “Actually [Fundora] He will fight for the same money because he wants to reach his four titles. “
President WBO has already said that he wants Xander Zayas to fight for a belt within 120 days. The fund will have to decide if he wants this match to be next. It can be a better paid fight for them than to face Murtazaliev.
“I can’t make this decision as a promoter. It depends on the fund, but definitely number 1 at the moment is Zayas,” said Lewkowcz. “It is mandatory. We have to honor the mandatory. The only thing that can happen is a union because it would be more significant than money. I want to be unquestioned. It will never be [vacate his WBO title].
“The only thing is that there is an opportunity to fight for IBF. So he makes an exception, and then returns, but will honor mandars. Boxing is more than money,” said Sampson for the fund. “Many boxers sell their soul for money.
A hard decision is to make a fund about whether to fight Zayas or go at the start of union with one of the masters aged 154. If he believes in himself, he should go after the fight with Murtazaliev. Terenka Crawford, WBA Master, will be busy for the rest of this year, fighting with Canelo Alvarez in September.
David Morrell says his career isn’t over after his knockout loss to Zak Chelli last Saturday in England, but questions are already being raised about whether Morrell should return to 168 pounds after another tough run at lithe heavyweight.
Morrell was stopped in the 10th and final round after a competitive bout on the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois heavyweight undercard. The defeat was Morrell’s second defeat in his last three fights following a decision loss to David Benavidez in February 2025.
“This doesn’t mean David Morrell’s career is over,” Morrell said on the I shownstagram. We must take this as a lesson and move on with greater strength.
“We’ll be back soon and we’ll have more news for you.”
Morrell also assured fans that he was recovering quickly from the knockout.
“For those who are worried: thank God, I am well and robust.
“A person is not measured by the number of times he falls, but by the number of times he gets up.
“This is the beginning of a fresh stage, not the end of the race.”
The loss to Chelli increased criticism of Morrell’s move to 175 pounds. Since moving up from super middleweight in August 2024, Morrell entered 2025 undefeated, but has now lost two of his last three fights since moving up to lithe heavyweight.
Morrell dropped a split decision victory over previously undefeated Imam Khataev last July before losing to David Benavidez and being stopped by Zak Chelli.
Boxing analyst Chris Mannix was among those who suggested Morrell may need to rebuild at super middleweight after the defeat.
The 28-year-old Cuban currently has a record of 12-2 with nine knockouts, having entered 2025 undefeated and viewed as one of the most perilous newborn fighters in boxing.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Terence Crawford has faced select top-class players throughout his career, but there was one player who coach Brian “BoMac” McIntyre deemed a real threat to his protégé’s dominance.
As the undisputed champion of three divisions, it’s safe and sound to say that “Bud” never shied away from a formidable challenge, even if it meant putting himself at a significant disadvantage.
His fight with Canelo Alvarez, for example, saw the extraordinary technician move up two weight classes and dethroned the Mexican with a remarkable unanimous decision victory last September.
Similarly, many felt that Crawford was clearly the underdog before us his fight with Errol Spence Jr. in 2023only to score a ruthless ninth-round finish and unify all four major welterweight titles.
But according to longtime head coach “BoMac,” Crawford came closest to his only professional loss in 2019, six years before he retired from the sport.
The American was then defending his WBO welterweight title against Egidijus Kavaliauskas, also known as “Mean Machine”, who was not only undefeated, but also boasted an impressive knockout to victory ratio.
I’m talking to Podcast on the front pageMcIntyre credited Kavaliauskas with forcing Crawford to change his tactics after the third round, when “Bud” jumped out of the ring after being deemed a no-knockdown.
“That motherfucker just kept coming and coming. He didn’t stop. For the first few rounds, he only had Bud’s number because he was punching before Bud and punching after Bud.
“It was like, ‘Damn, dog – you [Crawford] I have to pick it up.”
Ultimately, Crawford managed to secure a ninth-round victory over Kavaliauskas, but he had to dig deep into his tool bag to win. The record-breaking star later said that “Mean Machine” was one of the hardest hits he had ever faced.
“Well, you never know. You know what I mean? I think he can make that weight if he wants to,” Prince told Fighthype about the fight between Shakur and Haney.
“But like I told him, Shakur weighs 135 pounds. They weigh 147. So out of 12 pounds, we’re willing to take eight. We’re not even saying we’ll meet halfway.”
“So you never know. I don’t count them because certain numbers often change a person’s mind, right? You never know.”
Prince also said there are ongoing discussions about Stevenson fighting next after recently winning the WBO 140-pound welterweight title.
“It’s up in the air. We’re regrouping. We’re planning again and people will know about it very soon,” Prince said.
Shakur moved up earlier this year and defeated Teofimo Lopez to win the WBO 140-pound title. Stevenson already held titles in three weight classes before moving up to 140.
Haney continued competing at welterweight after moving up from 140 pounds following fights against Ryan Garcia, Brian Norman Jr. and Mario Barrios.
Prince also mentioned undefeated lightweight title challenger Abdullah Mason, who returns to his hometown of Cleveland this month.
“I’m excited, first of all, that Abdullah Mason is fighting at home,” Prince said.
“I have a long history with Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, the entire Midwest was one of the first to embrace my Rap-A-Lot movement.
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