A fight between unified junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora and Chordale Booker is
“nearly finalized” for March 22 in Las Vegas.
Charles Conwell is hoping to make an 11th-hour effort to perhaps crash the party and face Fundora instead – if not in place of Booker next, then definitely after that, especially after a long-planned fight between Fundora and
Errol Spence Jr. fell apart last week.
“A lot of people underestimate how good [Fundora] really is,” Conwell told SiriusXM “At The Fights” hosts Gerry Cooney and Randy Gordon. “I really think he’s a good fighter, but I just think I’m better. I just think the things I have in my game, that I can just use to exploit and to beat him … I don’t know how good leverage he can get from [his 6 foot 6 height and] range. And I think that’s like my range. That’s where I'm dominant. That’s where I can take control in a close, tight-range type of fight.”
Conwell (21-0, 16 KOs), a 2016 United States Olympian, revived his career in 2024 by signing with Golden Boy Promotions and scoring three stoppage wins.
The knockouts came against gatekeepers Nathaniel Gallimore, Khiary Gray, and Gerardo Luis Vergara, and now the 27-year-old from Cleveland is looking to crash through the gates to make a mark in one of boxing’s deepest divisions.
“Where else do you go from where my position is?” said Conwell. “It’s only up from here. I can’t keep fighting the same guys I’ve been fighting. I need to move up and progress and fight better competition. I have to fight an ex-world champion. I have to fight another contender. I have to fight a champion. It’s only those three options for me.”
A source informed of Conwell’s plans told The Ring that Conwell should be returning to the ring by April.
Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs), the WBC and WBO title holder at 154 pounds, has not fought since last March when he scored a split decision win against Tim Tszyu.
Fundora is ranked No. 4 by The Ring, Conwell is ranked No. 8.
“I’ve been picturing myself fighting all the top guys in the division,” said Conwell. “It’s a lot of good matchups in this division to be made, from ex-world champions to contenders to champions. It’s a fun division to be a part of – great fights with everybody just mixing it up. And I’m excited for it. I think I’m going to be the last man standing. So I'm excited for what’s to come.”
Manouk Akopyan is a lead writer for Ring Magazine. Follow him @ManoukAkopyan on X and Instagram.