Sebastian Fundora’s height is still a defining characteristic. How could it not be? He’s a 6-foot-6 junior middleweight, which qualifies as physical freak.
At the same, the more the 23-year-old contender fights, the more people are beginning to talk about his other qualities. His all-action style, his toughness, his power. He’s a physical freak who can fight, which is stirring the boxing masses.
The “Towering Inferno” returns to the ring against Jorge Cota on the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Chris Arreola pay-per-view card Saturday in Carson, Calif.
“I think the only people who still mention the height a lot are interviewers,” Fundora told Boxing Junkie. “They ask constantly about my height, about basketball, stuff like that. Every time I get a message from a fan, it’s about fighting style, how I like to fight inside.
“It’s starting to go that way. And I like it. Instead of looking at how I make weight or how tall I am, they’re looking at my talent.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjwwPh5oUJw
Another prominent characteristic of Fundora’s: confidence.
Cota (30-4, 27 KOs) is arguably the toughest matchup of his career. The Mexican veteran has lost his biggest fights – to Erickson Rubin (TKO 4), Jeison Rosario (SD) and Jermell Charlo (KO 3) – but has won consistently otherwise, mostly as a result of his punching power.
First and foremost, Fundora (16-0-1, 11 KOs) is excited. The fight is being billed as a WBC title eliminator, which means a victory would bring him a step closer to realizing a dream.
And he likes the idea of testing himself against someone who has shared the ring with the notable fighters mentioned above, which will allow Fundora to gage how he compares to them.
He’s expects to follow the lead of Rubin and Charlo by stopping Cota but isn’t obsessed with doing so.
“Yeah, I do plan to finish him,” he said. “… I don’t know what he might bring but I expect him to bring a fight, which is what I want. Not everything goes as planned, though. I’ll be ready for whatever happens.
“And I don’t feel pressure to do what [Rubin and Charlo] did. I’m a completely different fighter. I just do what the Towering Inferno does in the best fashion.”
Fundora was originally scheduled to face Cota on the Errol Spence Jr.-Danny Garcia card in December but Cota pulled out after testing positive for COVID-19. He was replaced by Habib Ahmed, who lasted less than two rounds.
Fundora is pleased he has a second chance to face Cota for the reasons stated above but he isn’t preoccupied with whom he fights, at least not at this stage of his career. Line ’em up, he says, and he’ll knock ’em down.
If he can continue to do that, the time will come for him to fight for a world title. He’s in no rush.
“My parents taught me how to be patient a long time ago,” he said. “Everything has its time. If I become champion, it will come at exactly right time.”
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