Much like Sebastian Fundora’s twenty-three previous opponents, Chordale Booker has to solve the Rubik’s Cube that is the 6-foot, 6-inch southpaw billed as “The Towering Inferno.”
Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) steps into the fire in his first career title shot to face the WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas headlining a PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video card.
“He has the most unique height and reach ever in the division, so we’re bringing in tall sparring and punching higher on the bag,” Booker said during a recent press virtual press conference. “That’s an awkward motion in boxing, punching that high.
“I’ve watched his fights because I want to see what he’s good at, and what shots he likes to throw. I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to win. Contrary to what the fans believe – that I’m just showing up – I’m here to win. I take risks. That’s why I have a loss, because I went up to 160.”
The defeat that Booker is referring to is the first-round knockout he suffered to Austin “Ammo” Williams in 2022. Since then, “The Gift” has put a bow on six straight wins, but the 33-year-old from Stamford, Connecticut has yet to score a hallmark win in his nine-year career.
Fundora is a -1400 betting favorite and Booker is a +700 underdog, according to DraftKings.
“This fight is for the history books. This is a dream come true. To be able to fight for a world title is amazing,” said Booker. “Every time I think about it, it gives me chills. I worked so hard and finally we are here.”
“There’s nothing bigger I could do. At this moment in my life, I have no kids or wife, so there’s no bigger thing I could do for my own personal goals than win this world title. This is the best thing I could do, and it would mean everything to me and my community. To go back as a world champion, there would be nothing I couldn’t get done for the youth of Stamford.”
Manouk Akopyan is a lead writer for Ring Magazine. He can be reached on X and Instagram @ManoukAkopyan.