What To Know
- Sebastian Fundora Interview: In our discussion about his upcoming fight with mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj, Fundora says he relishes the chance to appear on “The Fight” on TNT Sports.
- The Tall Order: There’s no getting around the Rubik’s Cube puzzle presented by the height and offense of Sebastian Fundora.
- “The Fight” Series on TNT Sports: Fundora hopes to attract new fans appearing in the main event Saturday on one of the few remaining linear broadcast opportunities. The main card starts at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT on TNT Sports, and also airs on DAZN Boxing.
Calls for unification fights in the super welterweight division are heard loud and clear between the division champions and the fans. But unlike champions scattered across other divisions, WBC World Super Welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora doesn’t intend to trade his belt for a payday.
While fans are eager to see a fight with Jaron Ennis or Josh Kelly, Fundora of Coachella, California (24-1-1, 16 KOs) will first take on his mandatory challenger, the undefeated Ermal Hadribeaj of Albania (23-0-1, 8 KOs), who lives and trains in Miami, Florida.
Fundora will be back in the ring for the second time in 2026 after a beatdown of former world champion Keith Thurman Jr. in March. He will defend his title for the third time against Hadribeaj since winning the title in a bloody war against Tim Tszyu of Australia in 2024.
Now 28 and in his prime, Fundora is eager to unify the division against whoever holds a belt.
We spoke to Fundora recently ahead of his fight this Saturday.
Hadribeaj is getting the biggest opportunity of his boxing career after switching from MMA in 2018. Hadribeaj earned the opportunity by winning a WBC title eliminator over Bakary Samake by decision on a ProBox TV card in May.
Hadribeaj is unbeaten, but his resume doesn’t feature many top-rated names in the division. Now the “Albanian Sniper” will try to seize his first opportunity to capture a major world title against one of the division’s recognized talents.
No surprise: Fundora is an overwhelming betting favorite to retain his WBC super welterweight championship, entering as a -1450 favorite, while Hadribeaj is listed as a +750 underdog.
Fundora is pleased to have the opportunity to fight on a standard cable channel as the main event of “The Fight” series on TNT Sports to draw new fans to boxing. Fundora says he remembers watching boxing on ESPN and appearing on Fox Sports earlier in his career.
“Having those extra eyes on us means a lot,” Fundora told me. “There’s a reason why Jake Paul and all these influencers are blasting out in the boxing scene, because they already have the fans,” sending out content on social media. “We’re not influencers, we’re fighters.
“So you put on on public TV … I think it’s very important. I think it’s good for boxing. You know, who doesn’t like a free fight?” asked Fundora.
The Puzzle of Fighting Fundora
We made it several hundred words into this preview before meeting our own mandatory obligation: pointing out Fundora’s freakish height. He is 6-foot-5.5 inches tall and still making the 154-pound super welterweight limit with ease. Never mind that there are boxers with his basic frame fighting at heavyweight.
Fundora’s height presents a virtually unsolvable puzzle for most of his opponents. As fight day looms, one after another, each promises he’s found the key. Hadribeaj is no different.
In our recent interview, he discussed the value of finding two sparring partners nearly as tall with as much mobility and handspeed as Fundora in Mykal Fox and British champion Ollie Cooper, and both southpaws like Fundora
Hadribeaj says he’s confident he prepared to the maximum of his ability. He says he’s willing to go to war.
Firefight? Fine by Fundora
Fine by me, says Fundora. One criticism of Fundora over the years is that he loves to get into a firefight and brawl inside, when he could easily outbox his opponents with his height and reach advantage.
But where’s the fun in that? Fundora has stopped his last three opponents.
“Hadribeaj is undefeated, he’s the mandatory and he’s hungry to win. But it’s nothing we’re unfamiliar with,” said Fundora. “Expect the best from Fundora as always. Just like we always do. ‘The Towering Inferno’ is coming to burn down Las Vegas once again.”
It’s worth remembering Fundora is still under 30 and constantly evolving as a student of boxing. Fundora has added smart defensive skills and diversified his toolkit, using his 80-inch reach to fight skillfully both inside and out as a volume-punching pressure fighter.
Also worth a reminder: Fundora was never an Olympian, and while he won national amateur tournaments, he’s done most of his learning on the job.
“We’ve been working hard up in the mountains since our last fight and just getting ready for the next one. I’m ready to put on another show in Las Vegas,” said Fundora.
“I’ve been getting smarter and wiser. Everything is lining up. The fights are showing the results of everything we’re doing in camp.
Boxing: A Fundora Family Affair
Fundora trained, as always, alongside his sister, undisputed world flyweight champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora, who is now preparing for her own title defense on November 20 at home in Indio.
“We’re always in the gym 24/7. It’s always working time. The second you step off the gas, that’s when you’re gonna start feeling it,” said Fundora, adding the expected remarks about focusing only on the next fight and not overlooking Hadribeaj.
“My sister Gabriela gives me a lot of motivation. Watching her win the title and become undisputed inspires me. It not only inspired me, but I think it’s an inspiration to everyone watching boxing,” said her brother.
Prior to his fight with Keith Thurman in April, Gabriela Fundora issued a challenge to score a knockout faster than in her sixth-round knockout win over Vivianna Ruiz Corredor when speaking to her after the victory.
As it turned out, they both scored sixth-round stoppages. This time, brother Sebastian will lay down the gauntlet for Gabriela’s November fight.
Fundora Heading for Unification Fight
Fundora expressed his ambition to unify the super welterweight division, as his sister did at flyweight. He’s looking to take on the winner of the upcoming unification bout between Jaron “Boots” Ennis” and Josh Kelly. He says he’s ready for either man.
While that fight hasn’t been scheduled, it is anticipated to take place in either December or in January 2027. The winner will bring the three belts to the table to set up a fight for the undisputed super welterweight championship. Speaking for boxing fans, we’re ready too.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
