In a shocking turn of events, the highly anticipated junior middleweight title bout between Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence Jr., originally slated for March 29 in Las Vegas, has been called off, according to sources who spoke with ESPN on Thursday. The reigning WBC and WBO champion Fundora, known as “The Towering Inferno,” must now seek out a new challenger for his first title defense.
The matchup between the 6-foot-5½ Fundora and the welterweight star Spence was first reported by ESPN back in May 2024, with an initial target date of October. However, after a series of delays, the fight was pushed to March 2025. PBC, who was set to promote the event on Prime Video PPV, never made an official announcement of the clash.
Fundora’s Rise to the Top
The 27-year-old Fundora, fighting out of Southern California, captured the WBC and WBO belts in a thrilling split-decision upset over Tim Tszyu last year, in what many hailed as one of 2024’s best action fights. Fundora stepped in on just 11 days’ notice after former champion Keith Thurman withdrew due to injury.
With his towering height and incredible 80-inch reach, Fundora has taken the junior middleweight division by storm. He currently sits at No. 2 in ESPN’s divisional rankings, with a record of 21 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, with 14 victories coming by way of knockout.
Making History with Sister Gabriela
Sebastian and his sister Gabriela made boxing history by becoming the first brother-sister duo to hold full world titles simultaneously. Gabriela was recently named ESPN’s Female Fighter of the Year for 2024, capping off a meteoric rise for the Fundora family.
Spence’s Welterweight Reign
Errol Spence Jr., the long-reigning welterweight kingpin, has not fought since his ninth-round TKO loss to Terence Crawford in their June 2023 undisputed championship bout. The 34-year-old Texan boasts a stellar record of 28-1 with 22 knockouts and has headlined numerous PPV events and stadium shows.
Spence was aiming to become a two-division champion in his junior middleweight debut against Fundora. After “The Towering Inferno’s” title victory over Tszyu, Spence entered the ring and issued a challenge, declaring, “It’s time to get it on. He got a pretty good height, but we’ll see. We’ll break him down like we always do.”
What’s Next for Fundora?
With the Spence megafight falling through, Sebastian Fundora and his team must now chart a new path forward. Sources indicate that junior middleweight contender Charles Conwell is among the potential opponents being considered for Fundora’s first title defense.
Regardless of who he faces next, there is no doubt that Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora has firmly established himself as one of boxing’s most exciting new champions. Fans will be eagerly awaiting news on his next move as he looks to further cement his status atop the stacked 154-pound division.
