Via Craig Page: Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora plans to make a statement this Saturday night October 8 as he defends his interim young middleweight WBC title against Carlos Ocampo during the Showtime main event at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
(Image source: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME)
Fundora (19-0-1, 13 KOs) needs to keep winning for him to land a title against undisputed 154-lb champion Jermell Charlo, who fights only once a year and has a queue of obligatory challengers waiting for their chance to challenge him for his four belts.
While the 26-year-old Ocampo (34-1, 22 KOs) has an impressive ring record, it’s mostly just a win over a fluff opponent, not the real McCoy.
Ocampo stepped up once in his ten-year pro career against Errol Spence Jr in 2018, but he was quickly eliminated in the first round.
Spence took advantage of Ocampo’s physical weakness, and knocked him down by going downstairs with his punches. If Fundora focuses on body shots, he has a good chance of repeating what Spence did against Ocampo four years ago.
After that loss, Ocampo went back to fighting the very opposition he built his previous record with, and he hasn’t lost since. Given that 6’6″ Fundora is a bulk puncher, Ocampo could continue until later rounds before stopping.
Fundora has good punching power, but he’s not the type to score a quick kill unless his opponent is a bad guy.
“I feel like I’ve proven to everyone that I’m an elite fighter,“Sebastian Fundora said. “I can play with anyone, and I can stop them. I showed that I have what it takes to be a world champion.”
Fundora has yet to prove he is an elite fighter. He stopped Erickson Lubin in the ninth round of their tough fight last April, but he hasn’t beaten anyone else yet. It will be interesting to see Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu and Tony Harrison.
Fundora said: “I will continue to send the same message as always, and that clearly says I will be world champion at £154.
“Ocampo can enter this fight to show off his boxing skills, or he can go inside to trade. I’m confident in my corner and the way we prepare, and it will show in the ring. “
