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Video: Sebastian Fundora vs. Brian Mendoza final news conference before their 154-pound showdown on Saturday in Carson, California.
Sebastian Fundora and Brian Mendoza on Thursday took part in the final news conference before their key 154-pound fight Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California (Showtime).
Listen to what they had to say above.
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Sebastian Fundora vs. Brian Mendoza: date, time, how to watch, background.
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Sebastian Fundora vs. Brian Mendoza: date, time, how to watch, background.
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Sebastian Fundora’s plan: work hard, win fights and maintain faith that his big chance will come.
Sebastian Fundora’s instinct to brawl in spite of his 6-foot-6 frame has always been intriguing.
The 154-pound contender didn’t want to be too predictable, though. So he’s been working on using his physical advantages by boxing more than he typically does, which we saw in his unanimous decision victory over Carlos Ocampo in October.
Does that mean we’ll see the same thing against Brian Mendoza on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California (Showtime)?
Fundora’s not telling.
“I did want to box more,” he told Boxing Junkie, referring to the Ocampo fight. “I wanted to show fans I’m not a one-dimensional fighter, that I can do different things. We displayed that. If this fight calls for it, why not [do it again]?
“Honestly, I just want to get the job done.”
Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) has always gotten the job done, aside from a draw with Jamontay Clark in 2019.
The resident of the Southern California desert delivered his break-through victory in April of last year, when he got up from a knockdown to stop Erickson Lubin in the ninth round and become a prime candidate to fight for a world title. He followed that with the victory over Ocampo.
Now comes Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs), who hit the jackpot when he took a fight with former unified champion Jeison Rosario on short notice and knocked him out in November.
The oddsmakers have made Fundora a heavy favorite but he believes Mendoza might be better than many people realize.
“I would think so,” said Fundora, who holds the WBC’s “interim” belt. “He’s fighting for the … title. I can’t speak for anybody else but there’s a reason he’s fighting here. … He looked strong [against Rosario], he looked good. This should be a good fight.”
If Fundora wins, he’ll continue to wait for bigger and better opportunities. That could be matchups with other big-name 154-pounders or the holy grail, a shot at a world title.
Waiting hasn’t been easy. For example, Fundora was expected to fight former champ Tony Harrison in March. However, Harrison ended up facing (and losing to) Tim Tszyu after the Australian’s fight with undisputed champion Jermell Charlo was postponed.
Fundora felt he was “skipped over.”
“Harrison was supposed to fight us,” he said. “He was the mandatory for us, for the WBC [interim title]. They made a big deal about it. I was like, “Great. We have this fight with Harrison, we have an ex-champion.’ The fight didn’t turn out. And the next thing you know he’s fight Tim Tszyu.
“I guess that’s the business of boxing but you gotta be fair. That’s what I think.”
Fundora is a realist, though. He knows he can only take one path going forward: continue to work hard, continue to win, continue to impress and continue to have faith that the big opportunities will come his way.
He hopes to face the winner of the Charlo-Tszyu fight, which is projected for this summer.
“I just continue to train,” he said. “My parents, my coach (father Freddy Fundora) keep me in line if I ever start questioning things or whatever the case is. Just continue to work. My time will come soon.”
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Sebastian Fundora’s plan: work hard, win fights and maintain faith that his big chance will come.
Sebastian Fundora’s instinct to brawl in spite of his 6-foot-6 frame has always been intriguing.
The 154-pound contender didn’t want to be too predictable, though. So he’s been working on using his physical advantages by boxing more than he typically does, which we saw in his unanimous decision victory over Carlos Ocampo in October.
Does that mean we’ll see the same thing against Brian Mendoza on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California (Showtime)?
Fundora’s not telling.
“I did want to box more,” he told Boxing Junkie, referring to the Ocampo fight. “I wanted to show fans I’m not a one-dimensional fighter, that I can do different things. We displayed that. If this fight calls for it, why not [do it again]?
“Honestly, I just want to get the job done.”
Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) has always gotten the job done, aside from a draw with Jamontay Clark in 2019.
The resident of the Southern California desert delivered his break-through victory in April of last year, when he got up from a knockdown to stop Erickson Lubin in the ninth round and become a prime candidate to fight for a world title. He followed that with the victory over Ocampo.
Now comes Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs), who hit the jackpot when he took a fight with former unified champion Jeison Rosario on short notice and knocked him out in November.
The oddsmakers have made Fundora a heavy favorite but he believes Mendoza might be better than many people realize.
“I would think so,” said Fundora, who holds the WBC’s “interim” belt. “He’s fighting for the … title. I can’t speak for anybody else but there’s a reason he’s fighting here. … He looked strong [against Rosario], he looked good. This should be a good fight.”
If Fundora wins, he’ll continue to wait for bigger and better opportunities. That could be matchups with other big-name 154-pounders or the holy grail, a shot at a world title.
Waiting hasn’t been easy. For example, Fundora was expected to fight former champ Tony Harrison in March. However, Harrison ended up facing (and losing to) Tim Tszyu after the Australian’s fight with undisputed champion Jermell Charlo was postponed.
Fundora felt he was “skipped over.”
“Harrison was supposed to fight us,” he said. “He was the mandatory for us, for the WBC [interim title]. They made a big deal about it. I was like, “Great. We have this fight with Harrison, we have an ex-champion.’ The fight didn’t turn out. And the next thing you know he’s fight Tim Tszyu.
“I guess that’s the business of boxing but you gotta be fair. That’s what I think.”
Fundora is a realist, though. He knows he can only take one path going forward: continue to work hard, continue to win, continue to impress and continue to have faith that the big opportunities will come his way.
He hopes to face the winner of the Charlo-Tszyu fight, which is projected for this summer.
“I just continue to train,” he said. “My parents, my coach (father Freddy Fundora) keep me in line if I ever start questioning things or whatever the case is. Just continue to work. My time will come soon.”
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Brian Mendoza is confident that he’ll buck the odds again against Sebastian Fundora on Saturday in Carson, Caliifornia.
Brian Mendoza demonstrated that perseverance and a little luck can lead to big things.
The 154-pounder from Albuquerque lost two of three fights between 2019 and 2021, the second a one-sided decision against rising star Jesus Ramos. He seemed to have hit his ceiling as a relevant boxer.
Then he received a phone call.
Yoelvis Gomez had pulled out of his Nov. 5 160-pound fight with former unified champion Jeison Rosario. Would Mendoza be willing to step in for Gomez on short notice at an unnatural weight?
Absolutely.
“As soon as I heard about the possibility, I said, ‘Pleeeeeease get me that fight and watch what I do,” Mendoza told Boxing Junkie.
What Mendoza did was knock out the once-feared Dominican in five rounds, a victory that made him a player again and earned him a fight with top contender Sebastian Fundora on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California (Showtime).
He’s pleased with the turnaround but not surprised.
“I’m a full-time fighter,” he said. “Ever since I got into boxing, all I do is eat, sleep and breathe boxing. It’s been my obsession. I took the [Ramos] loss and just said, ‘Where do I go from here? How do I regroup?’
“I had a lot of faith. I believed that with my work ethic, the experience I gained, the team behind me, my dreams were still achievable.”
Of course, another potential hazard lies ahead.
Rosario was in decline at the time he met Mendoza, having suffered back-to-back knockouts against Jermell Charlo and Erickson before winning three meaningless fights in the Dominican Republic. He retired after losing to Mendoza.
By contrast, Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) is one of the hottest fighters in the world. The 6-foot-6 brawler stopped Lubin in his breakout victory in April of last year.
Mendoza doesn’t seem to fazed, even by Fundora’s height and the fact he’s left-handed. He’s 5-foot-10 and fights from an orthodox stance.
“I used to help out a UFC fighter, Tim Means, get ready for his fights,” he said. “… He’s like 6-2, a 6-2 southpaw that fights inside. Just tons of pressure and everything. So I feel I’ve had the look since I was an amateur.
“And over the years there’s been tons of tall guys. Even before I got the call for this fight I was in there with cruiserweights. I’m sparring big dudes. So I don’t care about the height.
“I know how to get in, I know how to move around, I know how to neutralize their best assets. It’s just another style. Every style if different that you have to neutralize and bring out your best weapons.
“It’s just another fight I have to go in there and get the job done.”
If he can, an opportunity to fight for a genuine world title – Fundora holds an “interim” belt – could be around the corner, which would’ve been difficult to imagine two years ago.
Indeed, he will have come a long way in a short time.
“This my Rocky movie,” he said. “It’s incredible. Every step of the way I wasn’t supposed to be here. I started boxing at like 15, 16 years old. I had less than 30 amateur fights. I turned pro, got my experience as a pro mostly.
“The whole way I wasn’t supposed to get this far, I wasn’t supposed to get this far. And I just keep proving people wrong and taking it farther.”
Brian Mendoza is confident that he’ll buck the odds again against Sebastian Fundora on Saturday in Carson, Caliifornia.
Brian Mendoza demonstrated that perseverance and a little luck can lead to big things.
The 154-pounder from Albuquerque lost two of three fights between 2019 and 2021, the second a one-sided decision against rising star Jesus Ramos. He seemed to have hit his ceiling as a relevant boxer.
Then he received a phone call.
Yoelvis Gomez had pulled out of his Nov. 5 160-pound fight with former unified champion Jeison Rosario. Would Mendoza be willing to step in for Gomez on short notice at an unnatural weight?
Absolutely.
“As soon as I heard about the possibility, I said, ‘Pleeeeeease get me that fight and watch what I do,” Mendoza told Boxing Junkie.
What Mendoza did was knock out the once-feared Dominican in five rounds, a victory that made him a player again and earned him a fight with top contender Sebastian Fundora on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California (Showtime).
He’s pleased with the turnaround but not surprised.
“I’m a full-time fighter,” he said. “Ever since I got into boxing, all I do is eat, sleep and breathe boxing. It’s been my obsession. I took the [Ramos] loss and just said, ‘Where do I go from here? How do I regroup?’
“I had a lot of faith. I believed that with my work ethic, the experience I gained, the team behind me, my dreams were still achievable.”
Of course, another potential hazard lies ahead.
Rosario was in decline at the time he met Mendoza, having suffered back-to-back knockouts against Jermell Charlo and Erickson before winning three meaningless fights in the Dominican Republic. He retired after losing to Mendoza.
By contrast, Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) is one of the hottest fighters in the world. The 6-foot-6 brawler stopped Lubin in his breakout victory in April of last year.
Mendoza doesn’t seem to fazed, even by Fundora’s height and the fact he’s left-handed. He’s 5-foot-10 and fights from an orthodox stance.
“I used to help out a UFC fighter, Tim Means, get ready for his fights,” he said. “… He’s like 6-2, a 6-2 southpaw that fights inside. Just tons of pressure and everything. So I feel I’ve had the look since I was an amateur.
“And over the years there’s been tons of tall guys. Even before I got the call for this fight I was in there with cruiserweights. I’m sparring big dudes. So I don’t care about the height.
“I know how to get in, I know how to move around, I know how to neutralize their best assets. It’s just another style. Every style if different that you have to neutralize and bring out your best weapons.
“It’s just another fight I have to go in there and get the job done.”
If he can, an opportunity to fight for a genuine world title – Fundora holds an “interim” belt – could be around the corner, which would’ve been difficult to imagine two years ago.
Indeed, he will have come a long way in a short time.
“This my Rocky movie,” he said. “It’s incredible. Every step of the way I wasn’t supposed to be here. I started boxing at like 15, 16 years old. I had less than 30 amateur fights. I turned pro, got my experience as a pro mostly.
“The whole way I wasn’t supposed to get this far, I wasn’t supposed to get this far. And I just keep proving people wrong and taking it farther.”
Fight Week: Shakur Stevenson, ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Sebastian Fundora will play starring roles on a busy Saturday night across the U.S.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
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Fight Week: Shakur Stevenson, ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Sebastian Fundora will play starring roles on a busy Saturday night across the U.S.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
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Sebastian Fundora is eager to clear one more hurdle on route to getting his first title shot.
Sebastian Fundora continues to play the waiting game.
The No. 1-ranked 154-pound contender is scheduled to face Brian Mendoza on April 8 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California (Showtime).
If he wins, the 6-foot-6 “Towering Inferno” will remain in position to fight for a world title for the first time. He hopes to face the winner of a projected summer fight between undisputed champion Jermell Charlo and Tim Tszyu, although he knows nothing is guaranteed in boxing.
“I feel like I’ve been proving myself over and over again,” Fundora said. “We’re waiting for our shot to fight for the title. They keep putting guys in front of me who they say will knock me out or expose me, but I keep proving them wrong.”
Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) seemed to hit his ceiling when he lost a one-sided decision to Jesus Ramos in September 2021.
However, last November, he delivered a stunning upset when he stopped former unified titleholder Jeison Rosario in five rounds. That earned him a shot at Fundora and the opportunity to become a genuine contender.
Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) insists he isn’t overlooking the native of Albuquerque.
“Everyone I fought has been strong guys and Mendoza is another,” Fundora said. “We’re just going to go for the win like always. … This fight is as important as every other fight before. Mendoza is a contender as well and we’re not looking at him lightly.
“We have to get past Mendoza if we want to even think of fighting for the championship.”
If things go well, he’ll go back to waiting. He’s only 25; he has time.
“I’m just building up,” he said. “My dad and I had plans that we talked about and we talked about contending and fighting for a title around this age. Things are working out. We’re where we want to be and just looking to get that title fight soon.
“We’re going to have to see what he brings on April 8. I have to prove myself again. We both have chips on our shoulders. We want to become champions and we have to win on April 8 to do so.
“I feel like some people are trying to skip me in order [to fight] for the title, but I’m remaining patient and staying focused on this fight. I just have to keep moving forward while everything else gets dealt with.”
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