Sebastian Fundora Vs. Chordale Booker Eyed For March

WBC and WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Sebastian Fundora is finalizing a fight against No. 5 Chordale Booker for March at PBC on Prime Video in Las Vegas.

It’s an odd choice for Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs), but he’s been out of the ring for 10 months following an injury, and his attempts to set up fights against Errol Spence Jr. and Joey Spencer have failed. . He would have fought one of those two, but was turned down by the World Boxing Organization.

A strategic choice

The 33-year-old Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) has been operating under the radar of most fans throughout his nine-year professional career. He rose to world class against Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams and was knocked out 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’s ideal for Fundora to give him a safe win to shake off the rust, but it’s obviously not a fight that will interest boxing fans. I don’t think he’ll mind that. Holding on to your belt is what’s important.

Not many people have heard of Booker because he has been fighting lesser opposition and obviously did poorly when he tried to go up against top 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 Jesús Rodríguez (27-8, 24 KOs)
– Nicolas Hernandez (28-8-3, 12 KOs)
– Daniel Aduku (15-7-1, 11 KOs)
– Ángel Hernández (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, then defending against the likes of Booker makes sense. Fundora can play it safe to milk both titles long enough for Turki Al-Sheikh to pay him a fortune to fight on one of his shows against whoever he wants.

Top 10 OMB Candidates

1. Xander Zayas
2. Charles Conwell
3. Josh Kelly
4. Jorge Garcia Perez
5. Chordale Booker
6. Ardreal Holmes
7. Israil Madrimov
8. Serhiy 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 bout is expected to be broadcast on Prime Video.

Booker has won six straight fights since a first-round KO loss to Ammo Williams in 2022.

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 22, 2025