Sebastian Fundora ‘The Towering Inferno’ too hot for Booker
Plus, rampant Ramos, Kambosos wins in Oz and Skye’s low
He may not have been able to remember the name exactly, but Sebastian Fundora knew the man he wanted next. Bakhram Murtazaliev, the IBF super-welterweight champion, was the target, and PBC interviewer Brian Campbell helped him recall accurately.
Fundora had even name-dropped Errol Spence Jr in a fight that was previously touted before Spence withdrew. Let’s hope Spence avoids any kind of ring return, given the torrid state he was left in by Terence Crawford two years ago.
I digress. Fundora’s next moves came after four rounds of bludgeoning over Chordale Booker. Fundora retained his WBC and WBO super-welterweight titles by using the jab, avoiding Booker’s overhand lefts and smashing him with the uppercut.
The loser seems like a good guy. Before the fight, Booker spoke to Boxing News about his struggles and troubles.
“I grew up in the hood, but I was a church kid, I was a bit of a nerd too. When I got in trouble that one time it really brought me back to my faith in a stronger way and I have always prayed for my opportunity to show what I can really do and it's finally here, I’m very grateful,” he said.
Life has been tough. This fight was no easier. Fundora is a likeable champion with options and a desire to fight the best around. Puerto Rican challenger Xander Zayas is next in line for the WBO portion of Fundora’s belts.
That won’t be an easy task, but the winner would have a pick of Keith Thurman, Tim Tszyu, Vergil Ortiz Jr, or anyone else. Maybe even the beastly Bakhram, who has a habit of making victims remember his name.
Jesus Ramos and Elijah Garcia grab undercard wins
Supporting Fundora in the Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, was Jesus Ramos, who has racked up four straight wins since his sole career defeat, controversially, to Erickson Lubin.
Argentina’s Guido Emmanuel Schramm stepped in and was knocked about for seven rounds by Ramos, who is fast becoming a problem at 154.
Elijah Garcia kind of bounced back from his own first career defeat to Kyrone Davis last summer by beating Terrell Gausha on a split decision.
Gausha dropped Garcia with a right hand in the opening round and seemed to do the sharper work. Two of the judges preferred Garcia’s endeavours and awarded him the victory.
George Kambosos lands a world title shot after gruelling Wyllie walkabout
I’ll tell you one boxer who has carved out a good career for himself: George Kambosos. The Aussie known as ‘Ferocious’ is competent, confident (online and in the ring) and always in fantastic shape.
That has taken him far. The shock 2021 win over Teofimo Lopez has set him up for multiple huge paydays and a number of homeland assignments despite his obvious limitations at the top level.
After 12 hard rounds on Saturday evening, Kambosos repelled the charge of Jake Wyllie, an honest Aussie grafter, not unlike Kambosos, only less refined. Wyllie could punch, was in great shape and wasn’t afraid to launch the head as much as right hands.
Kambosos can deal with those kinds of attacks. It’s the stick-and-move style that troubles him greatly. Richardson Hitchins, the IBF champion at 140 pounds, boxes that exact way.
“Stand and fight, shit chins!” Kambosos roared after the Wyllie win. Hitchins won’t stand still and Kamobosos will struggle to land a glove on him when they meet.
Tiara toughs it out to take the world title off Skye
On the Sydney undercard, Skye Nicolson entered the ring in bullish mood ahead of her WBC featherweight title defence against Tiara Brown. The undefeated American challenger arrived with an 18-0 slate, 11 KOs, and a reputation for being avoided.
The 36-year-old ‘Dark Menace’ showed there was good reason for this as she caused the upset, taking Skye’s WBC featherweight title by split decision.
It was a close and competitive contest but two of the judges preferred Brown’s long-levered assaults over Nicolson’s light-punching southpaw moves, awarding the win and the belt to the American visitor.
In a rematch of one of the most bizarre incidents of not just last year but recent years across boxing, Cherneka Johnson stopped Nina Hughes in round seven. ‘Sugar Neekz’ was defending her WBA bantamweight title for the first time since winning it from Hughes, on the Lomachenko-Kambosos undercard last May.
The controversy arose when ring announcer Dan Hennessey announced the wrong winner and was forced to quickly rectify his mistake, resulting in a furore that ended in Hennessey’s retirement from the MC gig.
There was no fuss this time round as Johnson grabbed the early initiative and never let go, forcing Hughes’ corner to throw the towel in during round seven. Their woman was bloodied, bruised and had been deducted a point for holding. The bout had got away from her.
Opening the DAZN broadcast, 2020 Olympian Imam Khataev endured a 10-round war with Duval Elias Palacio. Palacio hit the deck and Khataev was deducted a point during the brawl.
Matching heavyweight hope Teremoana Jr is proving to be a difficult task. Latest victim, James Singh, offered nothing in line with his ‘Beast’ nickname, aside from a bulky belly. Teremoana dropped and blasted him away in a single round.
Image Credits: Ryan Hafey/PBC, DAZN, Sky Sports.
About Steve…
Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.
Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com
Excellent reading as always
Great recap of the Matchroom Australian outing! The Khataev fight was fantastic :)