Sebastian Fundora to fight Ermal Hadribeaj, Ortiz and Ennis must wait
Jul 30, 2026 • 7:41 AM ET
Sean Michael Ham / Premier Boxing ChampionsLAS VEGAS – Whatever objections exist, Sebastian Fundora has booked his next junior-middleweight title defense.
With newly unified 154lbs champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis and WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jnr both clamoring for a bout with the 6ft 6ins WBC champion, BoxingScene has learned that Fundora, 24-1-1 (16 KOs), is now inked to fight his mandatory contender Ermal Hadribeaj, 23-0-1 (8 KOs), October 17 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Fundora committed to fight Miami-trained Hadribeaj days after Ennis defeated WBO and WBA beltholder Xander Zayas and days before the unbeaten Ortiz resolved contractual issues with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearn has shifted away from earlier talk this year that a showdown with Ortiz would be the best fight to make on the American landscape.
But now that Ennis has two belts, Hearn said the focus is to be undisputed champion at 154, which puts throws the promoter's IBF boss Josh Kelly into the mix, but the Englishman suffered a serious nose injury and it’s unclear if he’ll fight again this year.
Fundora promoter Sampson Lewkowicz responded to recent criticism by Ortiz manager Rick Mirigian by stating that his charge is interested in meeting the Ennis-Kelly winner next. Should all that play out, Ortiz will be forced to wait even longer for a title shot.
The Carson card will be a Premier Boxing Champions show on DAZN.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
