PBC announced yesterday that WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora will defend his title against mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj atop an October 17th TNT/DAZN tripleheader at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KO), sticking to his customary two-fight-per-year schedule, sees action for the first time since running over Keith Thurman this past March. A potential undisputed showdown with either Jaron Ennis or Josh Kelly loom large for next year, but he’ll first have to get
past Miami-based Albanian Hadribeaj (23-0-1, 8 KO), who upset fellow unbeaten Bakary Samake in a ProBox-aired final eliminator in May.
He’s solid enough as far as mandatory challengers go, and with most of the rest of the division top 15 reeling from recent losses, he’s arguably one of the better opponents available for Fundora while fellow titlists Ennis and Kelly sort things out amongst themselves.
“Camp is going great! October 17 is going to be an exciting night for boxing fans, Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora will be taking over Las Vegas once again,” said Fundora.
“I’m working hard to be at my best and become world champion on October 17,” said Hadribeaj. “This is what I’ve worked for my entire career, and I’m going to be prepared for the fight Fundora is gonna bring. If he takes me lightly, he’s gonna be in for a big surprise.”
In the middle slot goes WBA featherweight champ Brandon Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KO), who blew away Nick Ball to claim the belt in one of the most comedically proportioned matchups you’ll ever see. Though he’s got his sights set on a future date with Naoya Inoue, his first defense comes against one of “The Monster’s” more seasoned countrymen: Tomoki Kameda (42-5, 23 KO). The former bantamweight champ is coming off a tight split decision loss to IBF titlist Angelo Leo and is the sort of pocket slugger that could easily produce fireworks with Figueroa.
“I’m feeling strong, sharp and ready to defend my title,” said Figueroa. “We’ve been pushing hard this camp and making sure I’m prepared for anything. Fans know I always come to fight, so expect a show October 17 in Las Vegas.”
“I’m coming to take advantage of this opportunity on October 17 and leave Las Vegas world champion once again,” said Kameda. “Brandon Figueroa is a great champion and I know that when the bell rings, we’re going to give the fans a fight they’ll remember.”
The opener pits Jermall Charlo (34-0, 23 KO) against super welterweight Koen Mazoudier (16-4-1, 6 KO) in a rescheduled showdown originally set for July in Australia before Charlo failed to get a visa. It was a stupid matchup when they first proposed it and it’s even dumber now considering that Mazoudier being a New South Wales boy fighting in front of local fans was literally the only thing it had going for it.
“I’ve been waiting on this moment and I’m ready to get back in there and remind everybody who Jermall Charlo is,” said Charlo. “I was ready to fight in July, and when that didn’t happen, I went right back to the gym and kept working. I know my fans have been waiting to see me and I’m gonna step into the ring hungry, focused and with a lot to prove. Mazoudier is coming to make a name for himself, but he’s standing in the way of where I’m trying to go. October 17, I’m coming to make a statement.”
“I know I’m the underdog and I don’t care,” said Mazoudier. “I’m coming to take down a legend, I’m not just going there for a payday…I’m going there to win. I’ve never taken a backward step in my life, and I’m sure as hell not starting on October 17. I’m coming to take Charlo down.”
