Sebastian Fundora has officially transitioned from physical freak to legitimate title contender.
That became obvious in “The Towering Inferno’s” most recent fight, a sensational ninth-round knockout of respected Erickson Lubin that showcased both the 24-year-old’s ability and toughness this past April in Las Vegas.
Fundora (19-0-1, 13 KOs) put Lubin down in Round 2, took a knee under a barrage of punches himself in Round 7 and rebounded to record a knockout and career-defining victory two rounds later.
The WBC’s No. 1 contender is scheduled to fight Carlos Ocampo on Oct. 8 in Carson, California (Showtime).
“I just think it cemented me in the Top 10, Top 5 fighters ,” Fundora told Boxing Junkie. “Was it a break through victory? Yes, yes. That makes sense. They put another elite fighter in front of us and we’re doing the same thing over and over again.
“I feel the fans are now looking at us like we have talent, that it’s not only our height we rely on. It’s good that people are finally noticing.”
The most telling moment might’ve come in Round 7, when a barrage of punches from Lubin forced Fundora to accept a knockdown.
Fundora acknowledged that he was in trouble, which is why he took matters into his own hands by taking a break. His ability to survive that test of his resilience and then turn the tables underscored his toughness and fighting spirit.
“I just used my mind to win the fight,” he said. “… I was hit with a punch that I didn’t like too much. All I could do was take a knee; you can always do that. … I just took it upon myself to get up and finish the fight.”
Ocampo (34-1, 22 KOs) is a solid opponent. The Mexican, ranked No. 13 by the WBC, lost his biggest fight when he was stopped in one round by welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. in 2018 but he has won 12 in a row since.
Fundora considers him a threat, saying, “He’s a very dangerous fighter, another ranked fighter, with only one loss. And I’m pretty sure he’s very hungry.”
That said, Ocampo should be a mere stepping stone to Fundora’s ultimate goal: to fight for a world title. That means he has undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in his sights, although there’s no telling when he might get that fight or whether Charlo will stay at 154.
Fundora’s plan is to continue to win until he finally gets his opportunity, however that looks.
“I’m the WBC mandatory for a reason,” he said. “… When I get the chance, I’ll definitely take it. It feels great. It feels like all the hard work is paying, that I’ve been doing the right things. It’s a good feeling.”
