Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy PromotionsIn a perfect world, Gabriela Fundora would fight a minimum of four times per year, headline every show and knock out every opponent.
In this actual world we live in, the undefeated and undisputed flyweight queen spends every day working on being the perfect fighter.
“I think now as I'm maturing, it's just the longer I'm in training camp, the better I'm going to be on fight night,” Fundora told BoxingScene. “So, if you want to put me all the way into August, that's fine. I'm fine with that. I'll just continue training, continue honing my craft, and being the best I can be.”
Fortunately, the lengthy gap between ring appearances for the pound-for-pound talent is limited to six months.
Fundora, 17-0 (9 KOs) returns to the ring this Saturday, when she faces WBA interim titlist Viviana Ruiz in a mandatory title consolidation clash. Their scheduled 10-round championship affair is part of a loaded Golden Boy Promotions show which airs live on DAZN from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Their bout is one of two title fights on the show, which is topped by a welterweight crossroads bout between former 140lbs contenders Arnold Barboza Jnr and Kenneth Sims Jnr. Fundora-Ruiz is third in the lineup, behind Barboza-Sims and the Oscar Collazo-Jesus Haro lineal, RING, WBA and WBO 105lbs championship.
The placement is irrelevant as far as the 23-year-old southpaw is concerned. In fact, she plans to lean all the way in to the concept of providing a tough act to follow.
“I'm gonna steal the show,” vowed Fundora. “Yep. Sorry, Barbosa. I'm gonna steal the show again. You put me in the spotlight. I'm gonna make sure I steal the show and make sure I take everything with it.”
Fundora has thrived in that regard ever since arriving on the title stage. Five of her six fights with at least one major title at stake have ended in knockout, beginning with her October 2023 fifth round stoppage of Arely Mucino to win the IBF 112lbs title.
The following year was spent making history. Fundora went 3-0 in 2024, with two knockouts. The lone distance fight was a 10-round shutout of Daniela Asenjo, bookended by her one-sided, 10th round stoppage of unbeaten Christina Cruz and her 7th round knockout of Gabriela Alaniz, the latter to fully unify the 112lbs division.
Fundora’s banner was well rewarded, as she was universally recognized as the 2024 Women’s Fighter of the Year.
Two more knockouts were added to her ledger in 2025, each ending in the 7th round. The lack of sustained activity was a bit of a letdown, though her year included her first main event when she topped a pre-Easter show last April 19 in Oceanside, California.
Still, there is plenty of room to add to her pound-for-pound credentials in the year ahead. A return in March leaves rooms for hopefully two more fights on the year – not that she’s looking past the one in front of her.
Ruiz, 10-2 (5 KOs) – a Colombian boxer based in Sydney – earned her place as the mandatory challenger with a win over Maria Rivera last April 26 in Nathan, Australia. The win was her most convincing to date and – at 43 – enters this weekend with a last-chance saloon mentality.
Still, Fundora is a massive -4500 to win according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
With a win, the plan is activity and perhaps another division to conquer.
“I definitely want to be more active than I was last year,” admitted Fundora. “Like I said, if I have to train eight, nine months for a fight, then I’m only going to be that much better when I get in the ring. But I’d rather fight and – who knows – maybe even become a two-division champ.”
The pathway to that goal is down, however – not up.
Fundora already walks around at 113lbs and is not prepared to fight above flyweight in the foreseeable future. An attainable goal is to rule the roost at junior flyweight, which boasts Evelin Bermudez, 22-1-1 (8 KOs) and Lourdes Juarez as the top threats. Mexico City’s Juarez holds the WBC title, while Argentina’s Bermudez is the unified WBA, IBF and WBO titlist and was also a Fighter of the Year finalist in 2023 and 2025.
“We’ll have to see how that works out, what my team believes is best for me,” noted Fundora. “I don’t get into other fights when I’m training for one. But whatever opportunity presents itself, whether it’s going after the WBC and then Bermudez for the rest, or fighting an undisputed champion if there is one by the time I get there – it doesn’t matter.
“Right now, I’m just going to keep doing what my team says is best for me.”
That – and raising the stakes for all the fighters who share the stage with her this weekend.
“The only competition I have right now is Viviana Ruiz, and outshining everyone else on the card,” vowed Fundora. “I’m gonna put on a show for all my fans.”
