Sebastian Fundora vs. Brian Mendoza: date, time, how to watch, background
Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora will face Brian Mendoza in a key 154-pound fight Saturday night in Carson, California.
SEBASTIAN FUNDORA (20-0-1, 13 KOS)
VS. BRIAN MENDOZA (21-2, 15 KOS)
Date: Saturday, April 8
Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Junior middleweight (154 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Fundora 10½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Brandun Lee vs. Pedro Campa, junior welterweights; Luis Nunez vs. Christian Olivo, featherweight
Prediction: Fundora KO 10
Background: Fundora has emerged as a popular contender as a result of his unusual height (6-foot-6) and bruising style. The 25-year-old from the Southern California desert quashed the notion that he is nothing more than a physical freak when he got up from a knockdown to stop Erickson Lubin in April of last year. He followed that with a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Ocampo in October, a fight in which he boxed more than usual. A victory over Mendoza will keep Fundora near the front of the line to face undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo, although Charlo is expected to defend against Tim Tszyu next. Mendoza is a 29-year-old boxer-puncher from Albuquerque. He lost two of three fights between 2019 and 2021, a split decision against Larry Gomez and a one-sided decision against rising star Jesus Ramos. However, he rebounded by stopping journeyman Benjamin Whitaker (TKO 5) and former unified champion Jeison Rosario (KO 5). The latter victory, a major breakthrough, earned him a shot at Fundora.
