UNIFIED super-welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora must lock horns with WBO mandatory challenger Xander Zayas before adding more belts to his collection.
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri has given both teams 20 days to negotiate terms, with a purse bid due to be called should promoters Bob Arum and Sampson Lewkowicz fail to reach an agreement.
Fundora, 22-1-1 (14 KOs), produced a destructive performance last Saturday to halt limited operator Chordale Booker, successfully retaining his straps at 154lbs with an emphatic fourth-round stoppage victory.
Before that, ‘The Towering Inferno’ claimed his WBC and WBO world titles against Tim Tszyu who, after suffering a horrendous cut early doors, was forced to lose a highly contentious split decision.
But following his win against Booker, Fundora immediately expressed his interest in adding the WBA and IBF belts to his trophy cabinet.
That ambition, however, must now be put on hold, with number one-ranked contender Zayas, 21-0 (13 KOs), putting himself in pole position to challenge the spindly southpaw.
The 22-year-old took a sizable step-up in levels against former world champion Patrick Teixeira last year after firmly establishing himself as one of boxing’s most talented prospects.
Sure enough, the promising Puerto Rican came through his first acid test with flying colours, and has since extended his unbeaten record with wins over Damian Sosa and Slawa Spomer.
But now, Zayas must enter a far more formidable assignment against Fundora who, while not being the most defensively polished fighter, has nonetheless cemented himself as a truly ferocious puncher at super-welterweight.
