WBC and WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Sebastian Fundora finalizes a fight against #5 Chordale Booker for March at PBC on Prime Video in Las Vegas.

It's an odd choice for Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs), but he's been out of the ring for 10 months, coming off an injury, and his efforts to fight Errol Spence Jr. and Joey Spencer fell through. . He would have fought one of these two but was rejected by the World Boxing Organization.

A strategic choice

The 33-year-old Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) has operated under the radar of most fans throughout his nine-year professional career. He became world class against Austin 'Ammo' Williams and was knocked out in the first round on April 30, 2022.

Since then, Booker has returned to fighting lower-level opponents and has won his last six fights against obscure opposition. He's ideal for Fundora to knock him off the rust with a guaranteed win, but obviously, this isn't a fight that will interest boxing fans. I don't think he would care. It is important to hold on to his belt.

Few people have heard of Booker because he's been fighting lesser opposition, and during his first-round blowout loss to Amo Williams he clearly did poorly when trying to step up against top-level fighters.

Chordell Booker's last six wins:

– Brian Damian Chavez (14-6, 5 KOs)
– Greg Vendetti (23-6-1, 12 KOs)
– Julio De Jesus Rodriguez (27-8, 24 KOs)
– Nicolas Hernandez (28-8-3, 12 KOs)
– Daniel Aduku (15-7-1, 11 KOs)
– Angel Hernandez (17-18-3, 11 KOs)

There are many competitors that Fundora could have fought in the top 10 that would have been more interesting, but they were risky.

If Fundora hopes to retain his title for a big money fight against Terence Crawford or any other fighter, it makes sense to defend against the likes of Booker. The Fundoras can play it safe milking the two titles to offer the Turki Al-Sheikh a chance to fight at one of his shows against whomever he chooses.

WBO's Top 10 Contenders

1. Gender equality
2. Charles Conwell
3. Josh Kelly
4. Jorge Garcia Perez
5. Cordell Booker
6. Arreal Homes
7. Israel Madrimov
8. Serhii Bohachuk
9. Nikita Tszyu
10. Jesus Ramos

Unified junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora and Kordell Booker are finalizing a March fight in Las Vegas, sources tell ESPN. Expected to be streamed on Prime Video.

Booker has won six straight since a first-round KO loss to Amo Williams in 2022.

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 22, 2025