Fundora ready to defend WBC interim title

World Boxing Council interim super welterweight champion Sebastián Fundora returns Saturday to face Brian Mendoza at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Fundora, 25, last fought in October when he defeated Carlos Ocampo by unanimous decision. It was one of two big wins for Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) last year, the other being a ninth-round stoppage of Erickson Lubin in their fight in April, in which he won the interim title of the WBC.

Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) is coming off two straight knockout victories, including a fifth-round stoppage of Jeison Rosario in his last fight in November. The 29-year-old Mendoza’s only losses came by unanimous decision to Jesús Alejandro Ramos in 2021 and Larry Gomez by split decision in 2019.