Chordale Booker: ‘I Want To Get Back To The Big Stage’

Chordale Booker is open to a run at junior middleweight, middleweight, or even super middleweight after his bout on Saturday. Booker will face Issah Samir in an eight-round bout at the Palace Theatre in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Booker, 24-2 (12 KOs), is best known for his title loss to Sebastian Fundora in 2025. Since that bout, he stopped Patrick Allotey in three rounds in August, as he readies for one last chance at glory.

“I am honest with my situation, at the highest level, I am a B-side guy,” Booker told FightsATW. “If it is at 154lbs, 160lbs, or 168lbs, as long as it makes sense, and I can prepare for it, I will take the fight.”

Samir, 19-2 (16 KOs), enters on a two-fight knockout streak. Originally from Accra, Ghana, Samir now trains in Las Vegas and is the one Booker hopes to use as a stepping stone to the next big moment in his career.

“I want to get back to the big stage,” Booker told FightsATW. “I like being on the B-side and being underestimated, I like challenging myself.”

The 35-year-old Booker will not be in that position for his homecoming. Booker is a healthy favorite, as the Stamford, Connecticut resident, found a different motivation for this fight: his opponent’s trash talk.

“The guy gave me added motivation,” Booker said. “He DM’ed me and told me he was going to whip my a%s like Fundora did.”

The comment does strike a nerve for Booker. After his loss to Fundora, he heard whispers from detractors doubting his ability. Booker explained that Fundora evolved as a fighter, moving from an inside fighter to one who can use his jab and capitalize on his lengthy reach, between winning the belts from Tim Tszyu and facing him in his first title defense.

The big takeaway for Booker wasn’t the fight itself; it was the opportunities that came with it.

“It was my first camp,” Booker said. “Being able to have six to eight week camps, I only had five weeks for that fight, and it made me think about if I got two months to prepare for a top guy and not let them be 6ft 6ins.”

The idea of moving up to middleweight is especially enticing, as the division is wide open. The consensus best fighter, Janibek Alimkhanuly, was suspended ahead of a December fight with Erislandy Lara. He still holds the WBO title, with Denzel Bentley holding the WBO interim belt. The other belt holders are 40+ Erislandy Lara, who holds the WBA belt; Carlos Adames, who holds the WBC belt but has stated he will move to super middleweight; Jesus Ramos Jr, who holds the WBC interim title; and the IBF title is vacant.

“I don’t know what direction 160lbs is going, but I will get in there with any of those guys,” Booker said.

Lucas Ketelle

Lucas Ketelle is a boxing writer and podcaster who has appeared on various platforms throughout his career.

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