Many believe a scheduled Serhii Bohachuk-Sebastian Fundora matchup might have been a fight of the year contender. But due to a turn of fate, Fundora is now in for the fight of his life.
Serving as a replacement for injured Keith Thurman, Fundora will face junior middleweight titleholder Tim Tszyu in the lead bout of a March 30 pay-per-view card in Las Vegas.
Stopped by Brian Mendoza last April, Fundora (20-1-1, 13 KOs) had been preparing to face Bohachuk, a former sparring partner, on the undercard of the scheduled Tszyu-Thurman main event.
But when Thurman suffered a biceps injury, Fundora got the call – and took it.
“I expect the best performance from myself in this fight,” Fundora said. “Last time, it wasn’t the best. This time, I plan to start this year and to continue to be the best Fundora I can be.”
Initially, Boxing Scene spoke to Fundora when he was still on track to fight Bohachuk, who has sparred Fundora at The Summit, Abel Sanchez’s gym in Big Bear Lake, California.
Fundora spoke of the weight of this moment – even before he knew he would be facing Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs), a fighter on the verge of cracking many pound-for-pound lists.
“I was 18, 19 when I sparred him,” Fundora said of Bohachuk. “I have matured more, I have gotten stronger. [I am] a lot different. It has been six years since our last sparring session.”
At 6-foot-5, Fundora – nicknamed “The Towering Inferno” – predictably dwarfs the 5-foot-8 Tszyu. Bigger isn’t always better, of course, but Fundora believes he is in the right headspace for the upcoming challenge.
“We are ready,” Fundora said. “This is for the full world title now, but it is just another day.”
