Sebastian Fundora wants to fight regularly.
Even if it means repeatedly risking the spot he has earned as one of Jermell Charlo’s mandatory challengers, Fundora prefers remaining active over sitting around and waiting for his title shot. The 6-foot-6 southpaw will take another risk Saturday night, when Fundora is scheduled to battle Brian Mendoza in a 12-round fight for Fundora’s WBC interim super welterweight title.
Showtime will air Fundora-Mendoza as the main event of a three-fight telecast from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. For Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs), this will mark the Coachella, California resident’s fourth fight in 16 months.
Though some fighters affiliated with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions compete a lot less frequently, Fundora wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s very important,” Fundora told BoxingScene.com. “It’s your job to stay active with any sport. You can get rusty in this sport if you don’t fight. It’s important to continue training and continue fighting.”
Fundora defeated Mexico’s Carlos Ocampo by unanimous decision in his last fight, a 12-rounder that headlined a “Showtime Championship Boxing” tripleheader October 8 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The 25-year-old Fundora found himself back in his family’s gym soon after he conquered Ocampo (34-2, 22 KOs).
“This is my job,” Fundora said. “If you take too much time off from your job, you’ll get fired. We’re not part-time boxers. We’re full-time. And that’s just something I’ve done my whole life. I’ve been training every day my whole life. Why switch it up now?”
Mendoza became a viable opponent for Fundora on November 5, when he knocked out former 154-pound champion Jeison Rosario in the fifth round of their 10-round middleweight match at The Armory in Minneapolis. Albuquerque’s Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) took that fight on only 10 days’ notice, but he dropped the Dominican Republic’s Rosario in the second round and again with a jarring right uppercut in the fifth round.
Rosario reached his feet in time to beat referee Mark Calo-oy’s count after that second knockdown, but he fell to the canvas again. Calo-oy stopped their fight 35 seconds into the fifth round.
Rosario (23-4-1, 17 KOs) announced his retirement immediately after Mendoza defeated him.
The 29-year-old Mendoza moved back down to the 154-pound division for a shot at Fundora’s interim championship and a chance to take his undefeated foe’s spot as one of Charlo’s mandatory challengers.
“There was a bunch of names they were giving us and we said yes to all the names,” Fundora said. “This is the only one who took the fight. We do what our job is, to fight whoever it is.”
Showtime will televise two 10-round bouts before Fundora faces Mendoza.
Brandun Lee (27-0, 23 KOs), a junior welterweight contender from La Quinta, California, will oppose Pedro Campa (34-2-1, 23 KOs), of Hermosillo, Mexico, in the network’s co-feature. The Dominican Republic’s Luis Nunez (18-0, 13 KOs), a featherweight contender, will meet Mexico’s Christian Olivo (20-0-1, 7 KOs) in the first fight of a broadcast set to start at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT).
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.