Sebastian Fundora passed the biggest test of his career.
The 6-foot-6 junior middleweight delivered a brutal beating of veteran Nathaniel Gallimore for five-plus rounds before the referee stepped in to save him from further punishment on the Shawn Porter-Sebastian Formella card Saturday in Los Angeles.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:28 of Round 6.
Some thought Gallimore (21-5-1, 17 KOs) might be too experienced and powerful for the long, lean 22-year-old prospect. In the end, Fundora (15-0-1, 10 KOs) had his way with Gallimore.
Fundora generally doesn’s use his height. He goes after his opponents as if he were 5-6, not 6-6. And it works for him. Against Gallimore, he landed whipping punch after whipping punch to break him down and took little in return beginning in the third round.
No one except Gallimore complained when the fight was stopped.
Fundora probably is at least a few fights away from a shot at a major title but he made a strong statement. Gallimore also has losses against Julian Williams, Patrick Teixeira and Erickson Lubin but Fundora became the first to stop him.
Gallimore left the ring on a gurney but perhaps not because of the beating. He apparently injured an ankle at some point during the onslaught.
