Sebastian Fundora hurtling toward his first shot at a world title
For Sebastian Fundora, everything is going as planned.
The 23-year-old junior middleweight and his team have projected that he would fight for a major world title by 24 or 25 and he’s on track to do that. On top of that, he’s on the cusp of becoming a major attraction because of his unusual height – 6-foot-6 – and all-action style.
His goals are within sight, although he must beat Sergio Garcia on the Gervonta Davis-Isaac Cruz card Sunday to achieve them.
“There’s not a rush,” he told Boxing Junkie. “I feel my career has never been a rush. I get that a lot, that it’s moving at a fast pace. But, honestly, I think it’s moving at the right pace. I’m 23. I turn 24 at the end of this year.
“We planned 24, 25 to fight for the belt. And we’re going on the right path.”
Fundora (17-0-1, 12 KOs) is best known for his height. He fights at 154 pounds yet is as tall as former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, a fact that intrigues people.
That isn’t lost on Fundora, who not only embraces his physical stature but understands its value as a marketing tool. Hence his nickname: “The Towering Inferno”.
And the marketing doesn’t end there. He also is determined to give fans what they want once the opening bell rings. A 6-foot-6 junior middleweight is interesting. A 6-foot-6 junior middleweight who loves to brawl is can’t-miss TV.
“This is entertainment,” he said. “This is show business. I’m a product and you gotta show off the product to the people that will buy it. If it’s fighting on the inside or knocking a guy out with one punch, whatever it is, I’m going to do it.”
Of course, nothing is possible without hard work. That also isn’t lost on Fundora, who constantly strives to improve.
For example, he generally chooses not to watch tape of his opponents. He leaves that to his father/trainer, Freddy Fundora Sr., who then devises a game plan for his fights. Instead, the younger Fundora watches videos of great fighters or others he can emulate.
“I watch tapes of fighters that I like,” he said. “… If I’m going to watch a fighter, it’s because I want to learn something from them. … I watch a lot of older fighters, like Willie Pep. Or newer ones, like Tyson Fury. I like how he uses his range.
“I’m not picking up everything they do or trying to copy them exactly. But if I see some things that they do and I like, I’m just going to steal it.”
Everything he’s doing is working. He has won four consecutive fights since a draw with Jamontay Clark in August 2019, including knockouts in his last three fights.
He has the attention of the fans. And he has impressed the WBC, which has him ranked No. 4. That’s two notches below his opponent on Sunday. Garcia (33-0, 14 KOs) is a good, athletic boxer with experience but the Spaniard will be fighting outside of Europe for the first time.
WBC champ Jermell Charlo is expected to face fellow titleholder Brian Castano a second time early next year. If Fundora can get past Garcia, he could be in position to get his first title shot later in 2022.
Then he would have the chance to become a 6-foot-6 junior middleweight brawler with a major title. Things just keep getting better for Fundora.
“I’m almost there,” he said. “Two, maybe one fight away. We’re right there.”