Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz says WBO mandatory Xander Zayas could be next for the WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora, unless he takes a unification against the IBF or WBA champion.
Unparalleled dreams
Fundora’s goal is to become undisputed at 154. So, if he can fight one of the other two belt containers, he will take it next and place the compulsory defense against Zayas (21-0, 13 food). Lewkowicz says Fundora will not evacuate its WBO or WBC titles. He will defend against his compulsory challengers for respecting the sport.
Last Saturday night, Fundora (22-1-1, 14 COs) scored a fourth round technical knockout of Chordale Booker in a voluntary defense in the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. It was a fight designed for ‘The Tower Inferno’ Fundora to get the ring rust out of twelve months of inactivity since his win over WBO 154-pound champion Tim Tszyu on March 30, 2024.
Zayas tried to start promoting the battle prematurely by entertaining the ring last Saturday night and asking a face with Fundora, which was not granted.
“It would be no problem to make a battle with Zayas. The only thing is that you never know in box. So, we’ll see, ‘promoter Sampson Lewkowicz told the media About a fight between WBC and WBO Junior Middle Weight Champion Sebastian Fundora and his WBO mandatory Xander Zayas.
“We need to negotiate, and we have one month to make a decision. The mandatory at this moment is Zayas. So we can’t talk to the others. This could happen, a unification, and it would overcome the compulsory. If it’s the IBF champion (Bakhram Murtazalev), then they (Xander) have to wait a little longer. He is a young child anyway. ‘
IBF champion Murtazaliev posted on X last night, congratulating Fundora on his victory and letting him know: ‘I’m ready’ to start negotiating next about a unification. If Sebastian and Lewkowicz want to do a unification, that would be the chance.
120-day clock
“At the moment we are waiting for the letter of the WBO. We will say immediately if we want it, or we don’t want it. We don’t wait a month to make a decision, but if we have the opportunity to make a lot more money in a unification,” says Lewkowicz. “Actually, he (Fundora) will fight for the same money because he wants to reach his four titles.”
The WBO president has already said that they want Xander Zayas to fight for the belt within 120 days. Fundora will have to decide whether he wants the game to happen next. It can be a better paying battle for them than facing Murtazaliev.
“I can’t make the decision as a promoter. It’s up to Fundora, but the number 1 is Zayas at this moment,” says Lewkowicz. “He is the mandatory. We must honor the compulsory honor. The only thing that can happen is the unification, because it would be more important than the money. He wants to be undisputed. He will never evacuate his WBO title).
“The only thing is if it comes the opportunity to fight for the IBF. So he makes an exception, and then he goes back, but he will honor the mandators. Boxing is more than about money, ‘says Sampson about Fundora. “Many boxers will sell their soul for money. Sometimes you have to think about the good for the sport. These are the two champions, WBA and IBF and Zayas,” Lewkowicz said of what is the best fighting for Fundora.
It is a difficult decision for Fundora to take whether he should fight against Zayas or to go the unification against one of the champions at 154. If he believes in himself, he must go to the fight against Murtazaliev. The WBA champion Terence Crawford will be fighting Canelo Alvarez in September for the rest of this year.
Last updated on 03/23/2025
