The WBC junior middleweight champion says the early announcement of his mandatory defense against Ermal Hadribeaj made it appear he was avoiding boxing’s biggest fights
Sebastian Fundora says the announcement of his WBC mandatory title defense against Ermal Hadribeaj came too soon and wrongly suggested he was avoiding the biggest fights at 154 pounds. The champion insists Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz Jr. remain the opponents he wants once his mandatory defense is complete.
“It was bad. That was bad,” Fundora said to Sean Zittel. “That moved Sampson. We were upset about that. We knew what was going to happen, but you had to do it right away and drop that bomb. It looked like we looked like punks. I didn’t like that.”
“We’re willing to fight these guys. We’re willing to fight anybody, man. But with time, I guess,” Fundora added.
After satisfying his mandatory obligation, Fundora wants to move straight into a fight with unified champion Jaron Ennis or top contender Vergil Ortiz Jr.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked whether he would push for one of those matchups.
Although Charlo and Spence remain established names, Fundora sees Ennis and Ortiz as the bigger fights in the division.
“You could throw Charlo, you could throw Spence at us, but the weight they have compared to the fights like Boots or Virgil, it’s not the same,” Fundora said. “It’s the obvious choice.”
He also believes those matchups would do more for his career.
“You might make some money that way, or you want to make money and also become more of a household name for yourself,” Fundora said. “We’re doing good. There’s no reason for me to go and look for this real stuff.”
Becoming the undisputed champion at 154 pounds remains Fundora’s ultimate goal.
“I’m tired of my sister holding all those four belts in front of my face,” Fundora said with a laugh. “I want to get all four of them myself.”
Before he can chase those unification fights, Fundora must first make a WBC mandatory title defense against Ermal Hadribeaj. A victory would put him in position to pursue the matchups he wants against Ennis or Ortiz.
