World-renowned trainer Robert Garcia has shared his thoughts on a potential fight between Jaron Ennis and Sebastian Fundora.
Ennis registered a Performance of the Year candidate when he dethroned Xander Zayas to claim the unified WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles in June.
‘Boots’ is now expected to collide with IBF titleholder Josh Kelly in January, as he looks to move one step closer toward a clash with WBC champion Fundora, and the undisputed crown.
Speaking with BoxingScene, Ortiz, who trains Ennis’ fierce rival, Vergil Ortiz Jr, advised that Fundora should be targeted early in the fight, believing that ‘Boots’ is good enough to get the job done quickly and avoid a gruelling battle in the latter stages.
“We all know that it takes Fundora a few rounds to get into that rhythm, to get into what he wants. So, that has to be the game plan for Boots, to get a quick head-start and to try to get it over with.
“He does have the skills and he has the power to do it. Boots could easily be [stood] right in front of Fundora and counterpunch him and hurt him, I know that he could, especially in the first few rounds.
“But, if he decides to do something else and box the first few rounds, then the late rounds could be trouble for him because Fundora is at his best towards the end of the fight.”
Fundora defended his WBC super-welterweight throne for the fourth occasion when he knocked out Ermal Hadribeaj in the final second of their duel on Saturday.
Given his current position as champion, it is unlikely that Fundora will appear again before facing the victor of Ennis-Kelly for all four super-welterweight titles, but his promoter has already named one condition for the fight.
