Although the way forward wasn’t entirely clear, it’s obvious that after WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora’s victory over Keith Thurman Saturday night, his next title defense should be against Vergil Ortiz Jr.
This is where the WBC (World Boxing Council), which is often the target of criticism mainly due to their own actions, should step in and order that fight to be next. Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) is the WBC interim champion, and the purpose of that status is to have a champion in place while the full champion recovers from an injury or other issue that keeps him out of the ring. That reason has been abused, and interim champions are frequently created, especially in the WBC. Nonetheless, Ortiz remains the interim champion, and if the sanctioning body wants to do things properly, they will order Fundora-Ortiz to be next.
Fundora’s Stock Went All The Way Up
It feels like a lifetime ago when Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) was knocked out by Brian Mendoza, but in reality, it was only two years ago. In those two years, Fundora improved significantly, winning four consecutive fights along with the WBC and WBO titles. When Xander Zayas became the WBO mandatory, Fundora vacated the title, leaving him only with the WBC belt. The key point to remember after his first and only loss is that Fundora continued to improve. He was no longer leaning down from his 6’5” frame to make himself an easier target, but now he stood straight up, regaining all of the advantages he had once given away. It showed in the Tim Tszyu rematch and also in the Thurman fight.
Fundora has also improved his boxing and punch selection, giving his opponents fits. Thurman couldn’t figure it out during Saturday’s fight, and his face was a direct result of Fundora’s offense. With the recent announcement of Xander Zayas vs. Jaron Ennis, two of the titles will be at stake, leaving Josh Kelly as the remaining champion. Kelly doesn’t seem to be the type to be knocking on TGB Promotions’ door for a fight, so that just leaves Ortiz. For Fundora, this is a great opportunity to make this fight, even if the path to get here wasn’t as clear as others.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. Missed Out on Boots Fights-Should Now Focus On Sebastian Fundora
Things have been quiet regarding the upcoming arbitration case of Ortiz vs. Golden Boy Promotions. The only development has been Ortiz’s manager, Rick Mirigian, extending an olive branch to Oscar De La Hoya in hopes of improving relations. With Ennis now having a fight, Ortiz is left without a major fight while still dealing with his case. The arbitration must be completed by September, according to the Judges’ ruling, so the expectation is that it will be resolved soon, allowing Ortiz to return to fighting.
Ortiz will need a big fight to replace Ennis, and that’s Fundora. The WBC champion Fundora recently mentioned he wouldn’t mind fighting Ortiz in September on Canelo’s “Mexico vs. The World” card. That would instantly boost the card’s prominence, and it would be for the Ring Magazine title, as Ortiz is currently number one and Fundora is number two on the Ring rankings at 154.
It’s Time For Someone To Breakout At 154
There is no question that the junior middleweight division is one of the most talent-filled weight classes. With all that talent, we need to see the best fighters face off. Some of this is happening, but we need more so someone can be clearly recognized as the division’s top fighter. Right now, it could be argued that Fundora is that person, but others may say it’s Ortiz or Zayas. Let’s get Fundora-Ortiz scheduled for later this year, and hopefully, in 2027, one fighter will break out as the division’s top star.
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