By Norm Frauenheim
LAS VEGAS — For Sebastian Fundora, the view is unobstructed.
Maybe, even undisputed.
At 6-foot-6, Fundora, a junior-middleweight with NBA dimensions, already has two pieces to the 154-pound puzzle, both of which he is expected to retain in an interesting challenge from Chordale Booker Saturday on Prime Video at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena.
Fundora’s possible path to undisputed was cleared of a challenge Friday with news that Terence Crawford will relinquish his World Boxing Organization title, a so-called interim belt. Crawford’s decision is significant on multiple levels. Above all, it is a sign that Crawford intends to retire after his looming date with super-middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez in September.
Since a spectacular stoppage of Errol Spence in July 2023, Crawford, a four-division champion and an all-time welterweight great, has never shown interest in fighting Fundora or anyone other than Canelo. At 37, it looks as if he’s seeking a big-money goodbye to his brilliant career. His lone appearance at junior-middleweight, a narrow decision over Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles in August, was seen as a move — the penultimate bout in his career – toward the big paycheck against the bigger Canelo.
Crawford’s decision Friday prompted the WBO to recommend in a social-media post that Puerto Rican Xander Zayas step up in the ratings and into the challenger’s role for one of the titles Fundora will defend for the first time Saturday.
“Anybody,’’ Fundora told reporters Friday after tipping the scale at 152.8 pounds in a staged weigh-in at a crowded ball room at Mandalay Bay. “Whoever it is. Zayas, Crawford. We’re ready for all of them.’’
Fundora said he has seen Zayas fight a couple of times.
“It would be a good fight, a good Latin fight,’’ said Fundora, who hasn’t fought since he took the two belts from a bloodied Tim Tszyu in a split-decision stunner last March.
At 27, Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) looks to be comfortable and in control at 154. He made weight easily, coming under the limit Friday by more than a pound. He’s a 14-to-1 favorite over Booker, who has an interesting back story. For Booker, the ring is a refuge from trouble. In 2010, he was an 18-year old facing a possible 13 years in prison on multiple gun charges and one charge of possession with intent to distribute.
He wound up spending three years on probation, a sentence that included a message: Change. He did. An improbable victory over the heavily-favored Fundora would mean even more change.
“It would change my life,’’ said Booker, who was at 152.6 pounds Friday in front of a crowd that included family and friends. “I’m extremely confident.’’
It’s a confidence he says he found in his first real training camp. For years, he would spend time in the gym only when he could find time away from his 40-hour-a-week jobs.
“This was the only training camp I’ve had in my time as a professional fighter,’’ Booker said. “There’s no pressure. Only my family and friends think I can win. Everybody thinks I’m going to get killed. But I’m here to show what I can do.’’
Whatever happens, he’s already done plenty.
NOTES: Jesus Ramos (22-1, 18 KOs), of Casa Grande AZ, has been mentioned as a possibility for Fundora if — as expected — Fundora beats Booker. Ramos sat next to Fundora at a news conference Thursday. “Definitely,’’ Ramos said when asked about the possibility. “I’m happy to be here, next to him, so I can get a chance to see how tall he really is,’’ Ramos said. “But, first, I have to win this fight.’’ Ramos was at 155.8 pounds Friday. He faces Mexican Guido Emmanuel Schramm (16-3-2, 9 KOs), who was at 154.6 pounds. …Phoenix middleweight Elijah Garcia (16-1, 13 KOs) comes off his only loss in a pivotal test against former Olympian Terrell Gausha (24-4-1, 12 KOs). Garcia was at 159.6 pounds; Gausha 160.2.
