These days, most boxers are chasing big fights because they know the drill. The bigger the name, the bigger the payday. And whether you win or lose, just stepping in the ring with a top-tier fighter boosts your reputation. That’s how you build a legacy in this sport. But Sebastian Fundora? He’s not taking that route. Since turning pro in 2016, the 27-year-old has been building his career brick by brick, refusing to cut corners or chase hype. And despite suffering his first loss in 2023, a brutal 7th-round KO against Brian Mendoza, he bounced back in a big way, defeating Tim Tszyu last year to claim the WBC and WBO World Super Welterweight titles. That win alone should have made matchmaking for his next fight a walk in the park, right? Well, not exactly.
At first, it looked like Fundora was in line for a major fight. The WBO ordered a title bout between him and Terence Crawford, giving both camps 30 days to strike a deal. But that fizzled out because Bud Crawford had his sights set on Canelo Alvarez instead. Then came talks of a potential showdown with Errol Spence Jr., but that went up in smoke, too. Why? The WBO shut it down. Why? “(1) inactive for 1 year & 5 months; (2) a TKO loss in last bout; (3) not rated in 154 lbs., & 4) has never fought in 154 lbs.,” explained WBO president Gustavo Olivieri. Finally, Sebastian Fundora is set to defend all his titles against Chordale Booker on March 22. Still, with all the setbacks he faced, it’s no surprise the reporter had to ask, what if those fights with Crawford or Spence had actually happened? Would Fundora’s career have taken a different path?
They may fade, but Sebastian Fundora will stand tall
With only 6 days left for the main event, the 27-year-old sat down in an interview with FightHype.com. The reporter asked Sebastian Fundora if he ever regretted not taking the Errol Spence fight when he had the chance, especially since the 41-0, 31 KO has been throwing shade, saying he should’ve taken the fight while he had the opportunity. However, the reporter also brought up an interesting angle. Instead of chasing big names just for clout, he’s getting to build his own legacy on his own terms.
Now, Fundora wasn’t too thrilled about how the question was phrased. The reporter called some of his past fights “no-name” fights, and Fundora wasn’t having it. He even made sure to defend his past opponent, saying, “That no names is kind of offensive.” He didn’t want to throw shade at any fighter, but he made one thing clear. He’s writing his own story.
He explained that, just like his sister Gabriela Fundora is carving out her own path in boxing, he’s doing the same. Sure, the Crawford and Spence fights would be big, but at the end of the day, he doesn’t “need” them. “The Crawford, The Spence, those are great fights. But we don’t need them,” he stated boldly. He also pointed out, “Maybe in a couple years they’re gone and Fundora is still there. Fundora is still Champion.” So, instead of worrying about chasing after those fights, he’s just focused on continuing to grow, stacking up wins, and becoming the big name he wants to be.
But have you ever wondered what made him take the long road instead of the express lane to stardom? Well, we just might have the answer.
Endless delays won’t stop Sebastian Fundora
Sebastian Fundora and Chordale Booker sat down for an interview with FightHype last month. The focus was, of course, their upcoming fight. But you know how it goes—reporters couldn’t resist bringing up the fights that didn’t happen, especially the one with Errol Spence Jr.
Turns out that even The Towering Inferno is just as clueless as the rest of us about why that fight fell apart. “We were ready to fight. They just kept switching the dates. I don’t know what happened,” he admitted. Fundora was pumped for the challenge, ready to test himself against one of the best. But at the end of the day, he couldn’t speak for Spence. He only knew that he was good to go.
But patience can only last so long. After waiting around and watching the dates keep changing, Fundora decided enough was enough. He wasn’t about to sit idle and hold onto his belt without defending it. “The dates kept changing for whatever reason, but I don’t know. We were training since May of last year for whatever was to come,” he explained.
Sebastian Fundora was genuinely eager for the fight, but the constant delays were becoming too much to handle. He understood that big names like Spence and Terence Crawford could call the shots and do things on their own terms, without much regard for their opponents. But Fundora? He’s still fresh in the game, and he’s not about to let his career stall while waiting on bigger names to make up their minds. He wants to keep moving forward and make sure he’s progressing on his timeline—not anyone else’s. Do you think Sebastian Fundora is making the right call by focusing on his own path instead of chasing big names?
The post “We Don’t Need Them”- Sebastian Fundora’s Bold Claim on Terence Crawford’s Future Will Catch Your Eye appeared first on EssentiallySports.