SEBASTIAN Fundora had been out of the ring for a while, but there were no signs of rust as he broke down, busted up and stopped Chordale Booker in round four of their Michelob Ultra Arena headliner.
Rather than the stars coming out in Las Vegas, Fundora was surrounded by friends and family both in the ring and outside as he put on a suitable display to send them all home happy. The stoppage, at 2-51 of round four, was the full stop at the end of a slow and steady beatdown for Booker.
Aside from a few looping overhand lefts, the 33-year-old challenger was unable to ruffle Fundora at all. ‘The Towering Inferno’ started off using his southpaw jab to soften up the smaller man, before body shots followed and a spiteful uppercut ended the show.
A long left hand bloodied Booker’s nose in the third. He fell heavily in round four as an uppercut caught him flush. Booker took a count and was covered up on the ropes moments later as Fundora unloaded. Referee Thomas Taylor had seen enough and dived in to end the domination.
After the contest, Fundora, 22-1-1 (12 KOs), signalled his intentions to either defend the WBC and WBO 154-pound belts that he retained here, or attempt to pick up more silverware in unifications.
As for Chordale Booker, 23-2 (11 KOs), this was his second career defeat, both by stoppage. The veteran has turned his life around, but stepping up to that next level will likely prove elusive.
