- Sebastian Fundora retained his WBC super welterweight title with a stoppage at 2:59 of round 12 against Ermal Hadribeaj in Las Vegas
- Fundora out-landed Hadribeaj 202-144 by CompuBox, including 56 body shots, while Hadribeaj lost points for holding in rounds three and eleven
- Terence Crawford questioned the stoppage, but I think the finish stands, and a Jaron Ennis unification is the fight to make next
Fundora Stops Hadribeaj In The Final Seconds
Right then. If you want a reason to love this sport, here it is. Sebastian Fundora retained his WBC super welterweight title by stopping Ermal Hadribeaj at 2:59 of round 12 at The Chelsea in Las Vegas, with one second left on the clock. One second. I said before the fight that Fundora would win late, and I will take that, even if I had it ending a few rounds earlier.
The numbers tell you the story. Fundora out-landed Hadribeaj 202-144 and landed 56 body shots, which is exactly the kind of work I said would decide it. Referee Thomas Taylor also took points from Hadribeaj for holding in rounds three and eleven, which tells you how desperate the challenger was to stay upright against the champion’s volume.
Was The Stoppage Right?
Here is where it gets spicy. Terence Crawford said Hadribeaj got to his feet and deserved to go the distance, and the fight was reportedly heading to a clear Fundora decision anyway. Let’s not beat around the bush, I get the frustration. Nobody likes a fight ending with a second to spare, and the debate is fair.
My Take
But make no mistake, I back the referee. A man who has been hurt in the closing seconds of a 12-round fight is not in a position to defend himself properly, and the stoppage came after sustained punishment from a champion who had been breaking him down all night. Taylor made a call, and I would rather a fighter lives to fight another day than takes one more shot for the sake of a scorecard. Hadribeaj was brave, tough and game, and there is no shame in losing to a giant.
What Next For Fundora?
Fundora wants undisputed status at 154lb, and the name in the frame is Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, who is due to face Josh Kelly in a unification bout. If Ennis gets through that, Fundora v Ennis is the fight the division needs.
My Prediction
I will not sit on the fence. Ennis beats Kelly, and then Fundora v Ennis is a proper fight. Ennis has the speed and the shot selection, but Fundora’s size and volume will cause him problems early. I make it Ennis on points in a tight, tough fight, and I cannot wait to see it.