LAS VEGAS — Sebastian Fundora didn’t need a knockout to win Saturday night, but the towering junior middleweight champion made sure there would be no questions about the outcome.
Fundora successfully defended his WBC junior middleweight championship with a dramatic 12th-round knockout of previously unbeaten Ermal Hadribeaj at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The 6-foot-5 southpaw from Coachella, California, dominated much of the contest before delivering the finishing blow with just one second remaining in the fight. Fundora improved to 25-1 with 17 knockouts, while Hadribeaj suffered his first professional defeat, falling to 23-1-1 with eight knockouts.
The official stoppage came at 2:59 of the final round when Fundora connected with a powerful left hand that sent Hadribeaj to the canvas, prompting referee Thomas Taylor to immediately wave off the contest.
“I like how we knocked him out in the final second, it was dramatic,” Fundora said afterward. “When I saw him almost fall from the overhand left [in the final round] I said, ‘Let’s throw it again.'”
Hadribeaj Brings the Fight to Fundora
Despite entering the contest as a significant underdog, Hadribeaj showed little fear of the champion. The 33-year-old Albanian challenger came forward aggressively, attempting to neutralize Fundora’s enormous height and reach advantages by fighting at close range.
His approach produced some early success. Hadribeaj appeared to hurt Fundora in the second round, demonstrating that he was willing to exchange punches with one of the division’s most dangerous fighters.
However, Fundora gradually established control by working behind his left uppercut and attacking the challenger’s body. As the fight progressed, the champion’s combination punching and sustained pressure began taking their toll.
By the eighth round, Hadribeaj was visibly fatigued, and Fundora continued increasing his offensive output. Although the challenger mounted a brief rally in the ninth round, he struggled to maintain the pace. Hadribeaj also lost points for holding in the third and 11th rounds, further damaging his chances of pulling off the upset.
Fundora Finishes in Spectacular Fashion
Entering the championship rounds, Fundora was comfortably ahead on the scorecards. Rather than protecting his advantage, the champion continued pursuing the knockout. His persistence paid off in the closing moments.
With the final bell approaching, Fundora unleashed a crushing left hand that dropped Hadribeaj with just one second remaining. It was a fitting conclusion to a performance that showcased Fundora’s conditioning, pressure and finishing instincts.
The victory marked Fundora’s fifth consecutive win since suffering his only professional defeat, a seventh-round knockout against Brian Mendoza in April 2023. Since that setback, Fundora has reestablished himself among the elite fighters at 154 pounds.
Now, the WBC champion has his sights set on collecting the division’s remaining championships. WBA and WBO champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis and IBF champion Josh Kelly are expected to meet in early 2027, potentially creating a pathway toward a major unification showdown.
Fundora made his ambitions clear following Saturday’s victory. “We’re on our fourth defense already,” Fundora said. “Let’s go for undisputed. We’ll break them down like we did this guy, and the last guy, the guy before and the guy before.”
For Fundora, another successful title defense represents one more step toward becoming the undisputed junior middleweight champion. After delivering one of the most dramatic finishes of his career, the message to the rest of the division was unmistakable.
Sebastian Fundora isn’t satisfied with defending his championship. He wants every belt at 154 pounds.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
