LAS VEGAS — WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora is looking beyond his next title defense, with ambitions of becoming the undisputed champion at 154 pounds. Standing in his way is undefeated challenger Ermal Hadribeaj, who is determined to make history for Albania.
The two will headline Premier Boxing Champions’ latest installment of “The Fight” on Saturday, Oct. 17, at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The event also features WBA featherweight champion Brandon Figueroa defending his title against former world champion Tomoki Kameda.
During Wednesday’s media workout in Las Vegas, several fighters discussed their preparations, career ambitions and the challenges awaiting them on fight night.
Hadribeaj receives advice from the only fighter to knock out Fundora
Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) enters Saturday’s championship bout hoping to move closer to unifying the super welterweight division. However, Hadribeaj (23-0-1, 8 KOs) believes he has the tools to disrupt those plans.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, the Albanian contender revealed that he received advice from Brian Mendoza, who handed Fundora his only professional defeat with a seventh-round knockout in April 2023.
Hadribeaj explained that sparring partner Michael Fox helped arrange a conversation with Mendoza, who shared insight into the movement and positioning that contributed to his victory.
The undefeated challenger also discussed the difficulties of facing Fundora, who stands nearly 6 feet, 6 inches tall. He emphasized the importance of attacking the body, creating angles and executing the strategy developed during training camp.
For Hadribeaj, the opportunity represents more than another championship fight. He hopes to become Albania’s first professional boxing world champion.
“This is not pressure,” Hadribeaj said, expressing excitement about the possibility of making history for his country.
Despite the mutual respect between the fighters, Hadribeaj expects their personalities to change once the opening bell rings.
“There’s going to be a dog fight,” he said.
Figueroa embraces new trainer, addresses Nick Ball controversy
WBA featherweight champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (27-2-1, 20 KOs) returns to Las Vegas following his dramatic 12th-round stoppage of Nick Ball in Liverpool, England, in February.
The 29-year-old Texas native is preparing for his first title defense against Japan’s Tomoki Kameda (42-5, 23 KOs), but much of the attention surrounding his latest preparations has centered on changes to his training team.
Figueroa opened up about his decision to separate his professional training from his family and begin working with respected boxing trainer Manny Robles.
He described the decision as a personal sacrifice made after reflecting on his career, speaking with God and determining what was necessary to achieve his goals.
“He’s made me more of a mature fighter,” Figueroa said of Robles.
According to Figueroa, the transition has helped him recognize additional dimensions of his boxing ability. Rather than completely changing his aggressive approach, Robles has worked to refine his technique and improve the skills already established throughout his career.
Figueroa also addressed the confrontation surrounding his celebrations following the knockout victory over Ball.
He explained that tensions escalated after the fight and that he was concerned about the safety of family members and friends who had traveled to Liverpool to support him.
“I chose to be the bigger person,” Figueroa said, explaining why he remained respectful despite the heated atmosphere.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s championship defense, Figueroa expressed confidence in his preparation and said he expects to deliver the best performance of his career.
Reséndiz accepts short-notice opportunity following Munguía loss
Former world champion Armando “Toro” Reséndiz (16-3, 11 KOs) is preparing for an unexpected opportunity after accepting a fight against Australian contender Koen Mazoudier (16-4-1, 6 KOs) on approximately 10 days’ notice.
The matchup was arranged after former two-division champion Jermall Charlo withdrew from his scheduled contest against Mazoudier because of an injury sustained during training camp.
Speaking in Spanish during fight week, Reséndiz reflected on his recent defeat to Jaime Munguía and the importance of learning from setbacks.
“A veces no es la noche de uno,” Reséndiz said, acknowledging that sometimes a fighter simply does not have his night.
The Mexican fighter explained that he remained active in the gym following his defeat because he anticipated opportunities on upcoming boxing cards.
Rather than taking an extended break, Reséndiz continued training, allowing him to accept the matchup despite limited preparation time.
He also acknowledged that adjustments were necessary because Mazoudier had originally been preparing to face Charlo.
Although both fighters have had little time to study their new opponents, Reséndiz remains focused on delivering a strong performance and entertaining the crowd Saturday.
Romero draws confidence from sparring elite fighters
Undefeated super middleweight prospect Marco “El Tiburón” Romero (15-0, 13 KOs) is looking to maintain his perfect professional record when he faces Uruguay’s Braulio Ferreira in an eight-round contest.
The 20-year-old prospect dismissed criticism from Ferreira regarding his lack of professional experience, pointing to his extensive amateur background and the demanding training camp he recently completed in Canada.
Romero revealed that he spent time sparring with world champions Osleys Iglesias and Christian Mbilli, gaining valuable experience against established fighters.
Mbilli is scheduled to defend his WBC super middleweight championship against Canelo Alvarez on Oct. 31 in Saudi Arabia.
Having shared the ring with Mbilli, Romero believes the champion’s offensive combinations could present challenges for Alvarez.
“I think Canelo could have problems with that,” Romero said.
However, when asked to predict the outcome, Romero declined to choose a winner, explaining that Alvarez has been his favorite boxer since childhood while acknowledging his appreciation for the opportunity to work alongside Mbilli.
The prospect also rejected the suggestion that he lacks the experience necessary to compete at a higher level, expressing confidence in both his preparation and his development.
Romero will open Saturday’s televised card as he continues working toward future opportunities against top-ranked opposition.
Saturday’s event begins at 5 p.m. Pacific and will air on TNT, truTV and DAZN.
