WBC Special Preview: Sebastian Fundora vs. Chordale Booker 

WBC STATISTICS
WBC Super Welterweight Championship
March 22, 2025 / Las Vegas, Nevada / T-Mobile Arena

PBC / SAMPSON BOXING PRESENTS:

SEBASTIAN “The Towering Inferno” FUNDORA (US)

· WBC Super Welterweight World Champion, 1st Defense
· Former WBC Interim Super Welterweight Champion, 2 Defenses
· Former WBC Youth Super Welterweight Champion
Age: 27 / Date of birth: December 28, 1997
Residence: Coachella, California / Birthplace: West Palm Beach, Florida
Record: 21-1-1, 13 KOs / Total rounds: 128
Height: 6’5.5” – 197cm / Reach: 80” – 203cm / Stance: Left-handed
Manager, trainer: Freddy Fundora

CHORDALE “The Gift” BOOKER (US)

· Ranked WBC No. 13 at Super Welterweight
· Former WBC-USA Super Welterweight Champion (2-time), 1 Defense
Age: 33 / Date of birth: May 7, 1991
Residence: Stamford, Connecticut / Birthplace: Stamford, Connecticut
Record: 23-1, 11 KOs / Total rounds: 115
Height: 5’9” / Reach: 70” / Stance: Left-handed
Manager: Paul Guarino / Trainer: Ahmad Mickens

WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS

1. Denny Moyer (US) (+) 1963
2. Ralph Dupas (US) (+) 1963
3. Sandro Mazzinghi (Italy) 1963 – 1965
4. Nino Benvenuti (Italy) 1965 – 1966
5. Kisoo Kim (Korea) (+) 1966 – 1968
6. Sandro Mazzinghi (Italy) * 1968
7. Fred Little (US) 1969 – 1970
8. Carmelo Bossi (Italy) 1970 – 1971
9. Koichi Wajima (Japan) 1971 – 1974
10. Oscar Albarado (US) 1974 – 1975
11. Koichi Wajima (Japan) * 1975
12. Miguel de Oliveira (Brazil) 1975
13. Elisha Obed (Bahamas) 1975 – 1976
14. Eckhard Dagge (Ger) (+) 1976 – 1977
15. Rocco Mattioli (Italy) 1977 – 1979
16. Maurice Hope (GB) 1979 – 1981
17. Wilfredo Benitez (P. Rico) 1981 – 1982
18. Thomas Hearns (US) 1982 – 1986
19. Duane Thomas (US) (+) 1986 – 1987
20. Lupe Aquino (Mexico) 1987
21. Gianfranco Rosi (Italy) 1987 – 1988
22. Don Curry (US) 1988 – 1989
23. Rene Jacquot (France) 1989
24. John Mugabi (Uganda) 1989 – 1990
25. Terry Norris (US) 1990 – 1993
26. Simon Brown (Jamaica) 1993 – 1994
27. Terry Norris (US) * 1994
28. Luis Santana (DR) 1994 – 1995
29. Terry Norris (US) * 1995 – 1997
30. Keith Mullings (US) 1997 – 1999
31. Francisco Castillejo (Spain) 1999 – 2001
32. Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mex) 2001 – 2003
33. Francisco Castillejo (Spain) * 2002 – 2003
34. Shane Mosley (US) 2003 – 2004
35. Winky Wright (US) 2004
36. Ricardo Mayorga (Nic.) 2005 – 2006
37. Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mex) * 2006 – 2007
38. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US) 2007
39. Vernon Forrest (US) (+) 2007 – 2008
40. Sergio Mora (US) 2008
41. Vernon Forrest (US) * 2008
42. Sergio Martinez (Arg) 2008 – 2009
43. Manny Pacquiao (Phil) 2010
44. Saul Alvarez (Mexico) 2011 – 2013
45. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US)* 2013 – 2015
46. Jermell Charlo (US) 2016 – 2018
47. Tony Harrison (US) 2018 – 2019
48. Jermell Charlo (US)* 2019 – 2024
49. Sebastion Fundora (US) 2024 –
* Regained

WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT TOP 10 CHAMPIONS

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US)
2. Oscar De La Hoya (Mexico/US)
3. Terry Norris (US)
4. Winky Wright (US)
5. Sergio Martinez (Argentina)
6. Nino Benvenuti (Italy)
7. Simon Brown (Jamaica/US)
8. Shane Mosley (US)
9. Vernon Forrest (US)
10. Manny Pacquiao (Phil)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY

40 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only eight have regained the title: Sandro Mazzinghi (Italy), Koichi Wajima (Japan), Terry Norris (US) twice, Francisco Castillejo (Spain), Oscar de la Hoya (US-Mex), Vernon Forrest (US), Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US), Jermell Charlo (US).

122 WBC super welterweight world title bouts have been held in WBC history.

MEMORABLE WBC SUPER WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS:

Mar. 30, 2024 Sebastian Fundora W12 Tim Tszyu – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 14, 2022 Jermell Charlo KO10 Brian Castaño – Carson, California
July 17, 2021 Jermell Charlo D12 Brian Castaño – San Antonio, Texas
Sep. 26, 2020 Jermell Charlo KO8 Jeison Rosario – Uncasville, Connecticut
Dec. 21, 2019 Jermell Charlo KO11 Tony Harrison – Ontario, California
Dec. 22, 2018 Tony Harrison W12 Jermell Charlo – Brooklyn, New York
June 9, 2018 Jermell Charlo W12 Austin Trout – Los Angeles, California
May 21, 2016 Jermell Charlo KO8 John Jackson – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 14, 2013 Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Canelo Alvarez – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 5, 2012 Canelo Alvarez W12 Shane Mosley – Las Vegas, Nevada
Nov. 13, 2010 Manny Pacquiao W12 Antonio Margarito – Arlington, Texas
May 5, 2007 Floyd Mayweather Jr. W12 Oscar De La Hoya – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 13, 2003 Shane Mosley W12 Oscar De La Hoya – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 14, 2002 Oscar De La Hoya TKO11 Fernando Vargas – Las Vegas, Nevada
Jan. 29, 1999 Francisco Castillejo W12 Keith Mullings – Leganes, Spain
Dec. 18, 1993 Simon Brown KO4 Terry Norris – Puebla, Mexico
March 31, 1990 Terry Norris KO1 John Mugabi – Tampa, Florida
June 15, 1984 Thomas Hearns TKO2 Roberto Duran – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 23, 1981 Wilfred Benitez KO12 Maurice Hope – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 18, 1965 Nino Benvenuti KO6 Sandro Mazzinghi – Milan, Italy
Feb. 19, 1963 Denny Moyer W15 Stan Harrington – Honolulu, Hawaii

 Reach for the sky!

By James Blears

In fighting Sebastian Fundora, each and every opponent is gazing up at a tall order, while coming to terms and grips with an uphill battle.

To ‘’Summit’’ up, there`s never been a World Boxing Council super-welterweight champion, who stands six feet five and a half inches tall and throws punches utilizing an eighty inches reach. And to make matters worse, the lad is a southpaw!

The first time Sebastian, his Sister Gabriela and their Dad Freddy came to Mexico, arriving at Sports and Chips in Coyocan at a Martes A Café, the tape measure was duly brought out and someone climbed on toa chair to measure Sebastian, using a marker pen to notch up a felt tip smudge on tip toes. Then, roars of laughter as Sebastian and Chiquita Gonzalez squared up, chin to knee! A modern day ‘’Ambling Alp?’’

On a more recent trip to Mexico, Sebastian confided that at twenty-seven years old, he can still comfortably squeeze into the super-welter limit. Perhaps one day he`ll move up to middleweight, but he and Mother Nature are in no great hurry.

His promoter Sampson Lewkowicz always has a keen eye for emerging talent and a shrewd way of both nurturing and developing it. Years ago, when he was singing Sebastian`s praises, few were listening back then and even fewer put pen to paper, noting down the name, as Seb was little more than a twinkle in the eye debutante. But today, his dance card is full and he has our full, wrapped plus undivided attention!

In years gone by Tommy Hearns fought like a whirlwind on seemingly spindly legs and with reedy, pipestem arms, but oh boy could he punch, especially with his right hand. His skills and awesome power were carefully and expertly honed and developed from an early age, starting in the amateurs, by the legendary Emanuel Steward, who Tommy considered to be a father to him.

Manny who was a brilliant strategist, well knew his own job description. He put it thus: ‘’Every fighter has a style and a strategy and it`s my job as a trainer, to analyse and exploit weaknesses.’’

In spite of his structural physical advantages, there`s nothing that Sebastian likes better than a toe- to toe tear up, where he can throw, inflict and land his potent left uppercut and impose his will. Yet a momentary lapse of concentration cost him dear against Brian ‘’Bulldozer’’ Mendoza, who caught him napping in round seven and made him pay for it dearly, with a cascade of punches, which put him down, dizzy and unable to beat the count.

Sebastian had been comfortably winning the fight, until he got too uncomfortably close and paid the price for it. He lost his WBC Interim Title and it took more than a year for him to regroup and then return to defeat Tim Tszyu in a split decision bloodbath, where Tim was horrendously accidently gashed and Sebastian was pouring blood from a broken nose. On this occasion, Sebastian used his reach more intelligently and he stuck to the gameplan.

After this, a big and deserved pay day was in the offing against former world Champion Errol Spence Jr, which unfortunately fell through. Sebastian who is smart and philosophical beyond his years, brushed it off, as something that happens in Boxing and Life, therefore must be overcome.

So now the fight will be on Saturday March 22nd against thirty-three year old Chordale Booker at the Michelob Ultra Arena, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. It`s Sebastian`s first defence of the WBC and WBO titles.

While Sebastian is six feet five and a half inches tall with an eighty inches reach, it must be noted that Chordale stands five feet nine on tip toes, with a reach of ten inches less. This isn`t necessarily an insurmountable obstacle. At six feet six and a half inches tall with and eighty-three inches reach Jess Willard was almost destroyed by much smaller and slimmer Jack Dempsey.

Legend has it that Jack`s Manager Jack ‘’Doc’’ Kearns bet the entirety of Jack`s purse on a first round KO victory. Jack decked Jess seven times in round one and was heading off for an early bath in the changing room. There`s a famous grainy photo of The Doc frantically gesturing the Manassa Mauler back to the ring, to resume the drubbing. Jess bravely fought back until his corner threw the towel in, prior to the start of round four.

‘’Ambling Alp’’ Primo Carnera was six feet five and a half inches tall and his reach extended eighty- five inches-the same as Sonny Liston who was only six feet tall. It only made Primo a bigger, more vulnerable, lumbering target for Joe Louis to demolish in six excruciatingly painful, ruthless and rueful rounds.

There was never a better way to gauge the resolve of Sebastian than the Erickson Lubin fight when he won the WBC Interim Belt. It was a give and take battle of sheer willpower. Erickson knocked Sebastian down hard in round seven. But then Sebastian got up, dug deep and fought back with measured ferocity plus venom, to batter the tiring Erickson, whose corner retired him after a torrid, bludgeoning round nine. Sebastian`s response had been lion-hearted. This is what champions are made of!

Sebastian trains side by side with his sister Gabriela who is the undisputed flyweight champion with a record of 15-0, 1 no contest, 7 KO`s. Gabriela who is five years younger than Big Brother stands five feet nine inches tall and has a sixty-nine inches reach. Brother and Sister motivate each other and Dad is in charge.

Chordale who is also a southpaw has built a record of 22-1, 10 KO`s. His only defeat and it was a painful one was at the hands of another southpaw, heavy hitting Austin ‘’Ammo’’ Williams who hails from and blasts off from Houston, Texas. Caught napping against the ropes in round one, Chordale was clobbered by a series of left hooks to the head. He wilted, then slumped and Referee Charlie Fitch rightly stepped in to save him. That was for the WBA Continental of the Americas middleweight title.

Chordale who excelled as an amateur and has a decent record as a pro, trains in Stamford, which is famed for its university of smart students. Briefly in trouble as a youngster, Chordale has been giving back to his community. He coaches boxing and he started the Go the distance Foundation at the Trailblazers Academy saying; ‘’I want to break down barriers between at risk youth and the Police. An atmosphere where we can create a dialogue and conversation with both points of view.’’

Sebastian`s nickname is The Towering Inferno. Chordale`s is The Gift. Chordale wasn`t expecting this fight, which has come as a real boon, but he`s determined to take full advantage of the opportunity on offer. Boom or bust? Unless Sebastian temptingly ventures into close proximity, Chordale might find it difficult to reach him. Going to the body, which doesn`t move as much as a bobbing head, might by a useful ploy.

Chordale who has been sparring with some lanky, elongated fighters says; ‘’I`m going in there is be smart, taking it round by round, trying to figure him out, while giving one hundred percent.’’

Both he and Sebastian have already learned first-hand that at this level, lapses in concentration are ruthlessly, efficiently, instantly and invariably castigated.

As Emanuel Steward also observed: ‘’To be a fighter, you have to have the heart of a lion and the mind of a chess player.’’

Check it out mate!