WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora finishes a fight against #5 Chordale Booker for March on PBC on Prime Video in Las Vegas.
It’s an odd choice from Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs), but he’s been out of the ring for 10 months, coming off an injury, and his attempts to get a fight against Errol Spence Jr. and Joey Spencer failed. . He would have beaten one of those two, but he was rejected by the World Boxing Organization.
A strategic choice
The 33-year-old Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) has operated under the radar of most fans throughout his nine-year pro career. He reached the world class against Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams and was eliminated in the first round on April 30, 2022.
Since then, Booker has returned to fighting lower-level opposition and has won his last six fights against obscure opposition. It is ideal for Fundora to give a sure victory to get rid of the rust, but obviously, it is not a fight that will interest boxing fans. I don’t think he will care about it. Fastening their seat belts is what is important.
Few people have heard of Booker because he fought lesser opposition, and he obviously did poorly when he tried to strike out against top-tier fighters in his first-round loss to Ammo Williams.
Chordale Booker’s last six wins:
– Brian Damaian Chavez (14-6, 5 KOs)
– Greg Vendetti (23-6-1, 12 KOs)
– Julio de Jesus Rodriguez (27-8, 24 KOs)
– Nicolas Hernandez (28-8-3, 12 KOs)
– Daniel Aduku (15-7-1, 11 KOs)
– Angel Hernandez (17-18-3, 11 KOs)
There are many contenders that Fundora could have fought in the top 10 that would have been more attractive, but they would have been risky.
If Fundora hopes to hold onto his titles long enough for a big money fight against Terence Crawford or one of the other fighters, defending against Booker makes sense. Fundora can play it safe to milk the two titles long enough for Turki Al-Sheikh to pay a fortune to fight in one of his shows against whoever he chooses.
The WBO Top 10 Contenders
1. Xander Zayas
2. Charles Conwell
3. Josh Kelly
4. Jorge Garcia Perez
5. Chordale Booker
6. Ardreal Holmes
7. Israel Madrimov
8. Serhii Bohachuk
9. Nikita Tszyu
10. Jesus Ramos
Unified junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora and Chordale Booker are finalizing a March fight in Las Vegas, sources tell ESPN. The fight is scheduled to be broadcast on Prime Video.
Booker has won six straight fights since his first KO loss to Ammo Williams in 2022.
– Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 22, 2025
