Unified WBC and WBO 154-pound champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora (pictured) will make the first defense of his titles against Chordale Booker headlining PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video action Saturday, March 22nd at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. In the co-feature, Mexican junior middleweight Jesus Ramos Jr. will battle all-action Kevin Salgado in a ten-round all-Mexican showdown, plus rising middleweight Elijah Garcia duels veteran Terrell Gausha in the ten-round opening bout. The event will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the action streaming exclusively on Prime Video for all Prime members in the United States and select countries. Join today or start a free 30-day trial to catch the championship card. Known for delivering action every time he steps into the ring, Fundora will compete as a champion for the first time as he takes on Booker in this high-stakes clash with multiple titles on the line. Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, Sampson Boxing and Mayweather Promotions, will go on sale Thursday, February 13 at 10 a.m. PT on AXS.com. Pre-sale tickets are available on Wednesday, February 12th at 10 am PT until 10 pm PT on AXS.com with the code: PBC
“Sebastian Fundora sits atop the stacked super welterweight division and will no doubt be looking to put on a show when he defends his world titles against the dangerous highly-rated contender Chordale Booker topping this great event on Prime Video on March 22nd,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “This is a tremendous style matchup between the forward-charging attack of Fundora and the slick counterpunching of Booker and will make for great back-and-forth. Combined with a surefire action fight between Jesus Ramos Jr. and Kevin Salgado and a toss-up fight between Elijah Garcia and Terrell Gausha, everything is in place for another memorable fight night in Las Vegas.”
“Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora will be better than ever in his first fight as a defending unified world champion,” said Fundora's promoter Sampson Lewkowicz. “The whole Fundora family works so hard to be where they are and they deserve their success. Chordale Booker is a good fighter with real skills, but he won’t be able to take Sebastian’s power.”
Standing nearly six-foot-six, Fundora leapt into the championship ranks after earning a decision over Tim Tszyu last year. At 21-1-1 with 13 KOs, he rocketed to the top of the 154-pound division with a fan-friendly style and bruising toughness in the ring that helped him emerge victorious from a grueling and bloody battle against Tszyu last March. A native of Coachella, California, Fundora notably showed his mettle in April 2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in a 2022 Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round. The 27-year old suffered his only defeat against Brian Mendoza in 2023. Fundora represents one of boxing’s most accomplished families, as he is trained by his father Freddy alongside his younger sister, undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela. The two fighting Fundora’s are the first brother and sister to simultaneously hold world championships.
“I’m preparing really hard to defend my unified WBC and WBO world titles on March 22nd in Las Vegas,” said Fundora. “Everyone can expect to see me prepared and ready to leave it all in the ring like I always do. ‘The Towering Inferno’ is back, and I’m coming to take out everyone in my way.”
Fighting out of his native Stamford, Connecticut, Booker (23-1, 11 KOs) enters this fight on a six-fight winning streak that includes four stoppage victories that have helped him rise up the rankings and earn his first world title opportunity. Since a 2022 loss to Austin Williams, Booker has dominated his competition, including a 2024 campaign that saw him defeat Greg Vendetti in February before stopping Brian Damian Chaves in round three of their June clash. The 33-year old also owns triumphs over Wale Omotoso and VeShawn Owens. Prior to turning pro in 2016, Booker put together an amateur career that included gold medals at the U.S. National and Golden Gloves championships, in addition to a bronze medal at the U.S. Olympic trials that earned him an alternate spot for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
“I’ve done everything I could to get here, and it’s a testament to what my foundation represents – going the distance,” said Booker. “I’ve gone the distance to make it to this fight. I’ve taken fights on short notice, fought for less and always kept pushing forward. Now, 15 years into my boxing journey, I’m stepping into the biggest fight of my life. This moment means everything and it’s proof that hard work and perseverance pays off.”
