Fundora Puts WBC Title on the Line Tonight Against Unbeaten Hadribeaj
Fundora defends his WBC super welterweight belt tonight in Vegas against unbeaten Albanian Ermal Hadribeaj.
Sebastian Fundora puts his WBC super welterweight title on the line tonight at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas against unbeaten Albanian challenger Ermal Hadribeaj, live on TNT and DAZN.
Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) is making his fourth defense of the 154-pound title and comes in riding momentum from a sixth-round stoppage of Keith Thurman in March. The 28-year-old southpaw from West Palm Beach has established himself as the division's most dangerous champion, and he is already looking past tonight toward a potential undisputed showdown with Jaron "Boots" Ennis.
Hadribeaj (23-0-1, 8 KOs) is the kind of underdog story that boxing still knows how to produce. The Albanian did not turn professional until age 25 and came to the sport after a career in MMA. He earned his mandatory shot by beating Bakary Samake for the WBC Silver title in May, and a win tonight would make him Albania's first world boxing champion.
The odds say it will not happen. Fundora is a heavy favorite at around -650, with Hadribeaj listed at roughly +430 at most US sportsbooks, per Boxing Insider. But Hadribeaj is unbeaten for a reason, and his MMA background gives him durability and comfort in exchanges that pure boxers sometimes lack.
The undercard took a hit when Jermall Charlo withdrew roughly 10 days ago with an undisclosed training injury, per Boxing Insider. Armando Resendiz (16-3, 11 KOs) stepped in on short notice to face Australian Koen Mazoudier. The card also features unbeaten super middleweight prospect Marco Romero (15-0, 13 KOs) in the telecast opener.
The main card begins at 8 pm ET, with Fundora's ring walk expected around 11 pm ET.
This is in my backyard, literally a few miles from my house, and I'll be watching every second. Fundora is a problem for everybody at 154 pounds. The reach, the angles, the southpaw pressure: at 6'5" in the super welterweight division, he's a matchup nightmare that nobody has really figured out.
Hadribeaj being unbeaten is real, and his MMA background means he's not going to freeze up in there. But the odds are the odds for a reason. Fundora is a different level of fighter and he showed it against Thurman.
The real story here is what comes next. If Fundora handles business tonight, the Boots Ennis fight is right there. That's the one the division needs. Undisputed at 154 with two guys who actually want to fight each other. Get through tonight, make that fight happen, and we've got something special on our hands.
