Sebastian Fundora says he was frustrated by how quickly his mandatory title defense was made public after his victory over Keith Thurman, believing the announcement made it appear as though he was trying to avoid the biggest fights in the junior middleweight division.
The WBC super welterweight champion said he already knew the mandatory defense against Ermal Hadribeaj was coming, but felt promoter Sampson Lewkowicz revealed that information too soon.
“It was bad. That was bad,” Fundora said to Sean Zittel. “That moved Sampson. We were upset about that. We knew what was going to happen, but you had to do it right away and drop that bomb. It looked like we looked like punks. I didn’t like that.”
“We’re willing to fight these guys. We’re willing to fight anybody, man. But with time, I guess,” Fundora added.
After satisfying his mandatory obligation, Fundora wants to move straight into a fight with unified champion Jaron Ennis or top contender Vergil Ortiz Jr.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked whether he would push for one of those matchups.
Although Charlo and Spence remain established names, Fundora sees Ennis and Ortiz as the bigger fights in the division.
“You could throw Charlo, you could throw Spence at us, but the weight they have compared to the fights like Boots or Virgil, it’s not the same,” Fundora said. “It’s the obvious choice.”
He also believes those matchups would do more for his career.
“You might make some money that way, or you want to make money and also become more of a household name for yourself,” Fundora said. “We’re doing good. There’s no reason for me to go and look for this real stuff.”
Becoming the undisputed champion at 154 pounds remains Fundora’s ultimate goal.
“I’m tired of my sister holding all those four belts in front of my face,” Fundora said with a laugh. “I want to get all four of them myself.”
Before he can chase those unification fights, Fundora must first make a WBC mandatory title defense against Ermal Hadribeaj. A victory would put him in position to pursue the matchups he wants against Ennis or Ortiz.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, recognized for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reporting focuses on major bouts, divisional developments, and the sport’s most discussed storylines.
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Boxing News 24 » Sebastian Fundora » Sebastian Fundora Says Mandatory Announcement Made Him ‘Look Like A Punk’
Last Updated on 2026/07/10 at 2:18 PM