Sebastian Fundora is at the head of affairs at the Michelob Ultra Centre in Las Vegas this Saturday evening, as he defends his WBC and WBO super welterweight titles against Chordale Booker.
Amazon Prime televise Fundora vs Booker, with TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing on promotional duty.
Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) had a solid 2021, where he took a points win over the undefeated Sergio Garcia, and he then claimed the interim WBC title in April 2022, forcing Erickson Lubin to retire after nine rounds of a thriller.
After defending on the cards against Carlos Ocampo, Fundora then suffered defeat for the first time as a professional, as Brian Mendoza knocked the 27-year-old out in seven, with Fundora well ahead on the cards at the time.
He would regroup in style in his very next assignment, as he took the vacant WBC strap, as well as the WBO title, via split decision against Tim Tszyu in March 2024.
His first defence is a low-key one, with Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) having never previously fought at world championship level. The Connecticut man was halted inside a round by Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams in 2022, but has won six since, four inside schedule.
He has also operated at middleweight for his last three outings, the most recent coming last June, where he stopped Brian Chaves in three rounds.
Prediction: Fundora won’t look past Booker, but will know that big fights are ahead if he can get the job done here. I fancy him to retain via stoppage in the middle rounds.
Two ten rounders head the undercard.
Terrell Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs) is looking to get back on the world title trail, and he takes on Elijah Garcia (16-1, 13 KOs) at middleweight. Gausha challenged Carlos Adames for the WBC title in his last contest, and was widely beaten on the scorecards.
He is durable though, having also gone the distance in losing efforts to Erislandy Lara and Tim Tszyu. Garcia is also coming off a loss, as he was defeated by split decision last June by Kyrone Davis.
Prediction: I think Gausha has that extra seasoning and experience, and can prevail here on the scorecards.
At super welterweight, Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr (22-1, 18 KOs) is up against Guido Emmanuel Schramm (16-3-2, 9 KOs). Ramos is coming off an eighth round stoppage win against former world champion Jeison Rosario.
What a way to end the prelims š±
@ramos_jesus9 gets the big knockout win.#CaneloMunguia | May 4: Las Vegas | Live on DAZN: Click link in bio to buy pic.twitter.com/aSDNvoEGkq
ā DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 4, 2024
Schramm hasn’t won in his last four, and was knocked out by Vladimir Hernandex in six when he was last in the ring. Ramos can repeat the trick here and win inside the distance.
Further undercard preview
In eight round affairs, Freudis Rojas (14-0, 11 KOs) can stay unbeaten with a points win against Maurice Lee (15-1-2, 6 KOs) at welterweight, while at super featherweight, Alberto Mora Garcia (12-0, 9 KOs) can halt Viktor Slavinskyi (15-3-1, 7 KOs) inside schedule.
In six rounders, Jursly Vargas (4-0, 3 KOs) can record an early win against Uhlices Avelino-Reyes (3-1, 2 KOs) at lightweight, and Alexis De la Cerda Landin (5-0, 3 KOs) can do the same in his super bantamweight meeting with Sharone Carter (14-9-1, 3 KOs).
At super welterweight, Joseph Brown (4-0, 3 KOs) can take the battle of unbeatens on points against Ezequiel Duran (4-0, 1 KO).
In four round action, Brayan Gonzalez (2-0, 1 KO) can outscore Justin Marquez (5-1, 4 KOs) at super bantamweight, and lightweight novice Robert Guerrero (5-0, 2 KOs) should also be a points winner over Sean Armas (6-1, 3 KOs).
