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Super Welterweight Sebastian Fundora Duels Rising
Contender Brian Mendoza April 8 In Carson, Ca.
Undefeated super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The
Towering Inferno” Fundora will defend his Interim WBC Super
Welterweight Title against rising contender Brian Mendoza on
Saturday, April 8 live on SHOWTIME from Dignity Health
Sports Park in Carson, Calif., headlining a Premier Boxing
Champions event.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast begins at 10 p.m.
ET/7 p.m. PT and will feature undefeated super lightweight
contender Brandun Lee taking on Mexico’s Pedro Campa in the
10-round co-main event, plus undefeated featherweights Luis
“The Twist” Núñez and Christian Olivo square off in the
10-round telecast opener.
“Sebastian Fundora has established himself as one of
boxing’s must-see attractions, as he brings an all-action
demeanor every time he steps into the ring, combined with an
ability to end a fight at any time,” said Tom Brown,
President of TGB Promotions. “Coming off a career-best win,
Brian Mendoza will be highly motivated to slow down
Fundora’s momentum, which should make for great action at
the always electric Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson.
Adding in another action-fighter in Brandun Lee taking on
Pedro Campa, and a pair of unbeaten featherweights in the TV
opener, and April 8 lines up to be another memorable night
on SHOWTIME.”
Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) has rocketed to the top of the
super welterweight division with a fan-friendly style and
bruising toughness in the ring. At 6-foot-6, the unbeaten
25-year-old southpaw from Coachella, Calif., towers over his
opponents, but has displayed an appetite for toe-to-toe
combat from short range. Fundora showed his mettle in April
2022, battling the hard-hitting Erickson Lubin in an instant
2022 Fight of the Year contender. Despite both men hitting
the canvas, Fundora stood tall in the end, prompting Lubin’s
corner to stop the fight at the end of the ninth round.
Fundora returned last October at Dignity Health Sports Park,
dominating the streaking Carlos Ocampo to win a wide
unanimous decision.
“I’m well-prepared for this matchup,” said Fundora. “I’m
training hard, as usual, and I’m ready to put on a great
show for the fans in Carson all over again. We expect a
great fight from Mendoza. I hope he brings his best so that
we can give the fans their money’s worth. Every single fight
is important, so we’re going in there to win and get to
where I want to be, and that’s world champion of the
154-pound division.”
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mendoza (21-2, 15
KOs) now fights out of Las Vegas and will return to 154
pounds after knocking out former unified champion Jeison
Rosario in the fifth-round of their middleweight clash in
November. The 29-year-old, who trains under the tutelage of
renowned trainer Ismael Salas, has won back-to-back fights
after taking highly touted knockout artist Jesus Ramos the
10-round distance in a losing decision in September 2021.
Mendoza also owns a 10-round unanimous decision triumph over
Thomas LaManna in August 2020 and began his career with
eighteen consecutive victories.
“I have another big opportunity in front of me on April 8,”
said Mendoza. “Just like in my last fight, I’m embracing the
role of underdog so I can shock the world. I’m not satisfied
with just fighting for a world title, I’m going to keep
working day after day until I walk out of the ring with that
belt wrapped around my waist. Sleep on me at your own risk,
because I’m coming for everything.”
La Quinta, California’s Lee (27-0, 23 KOs) has stopped 16 of
his last 18 opponents, including a four-round destruction of
Diego Luque in January. The 23-year-old has also shown his
boxing acumen in winning a pair of 10-round decisions in
2022, besting Zachary Ochoa in April and Will Madera in
August. Trained by his father Bobby, Lee was also an
accomplished amateur, going an estimated 195 amateur fights
with only five losses and capturing gold at the prestigious
2015 U.S. Junior National Championships at 145 pounds.
“This is my first co-main event, so it’s important for me to
go and show the boxing world who Brandun Lee is and where I
belong in the division,” said Lee. “Pedro Campa is a true
Mexican veteran who can take a punch but also give one, so I
have to be alert at all times. The fans can expect an
explosive performance from me. I’m looking forward to
performing in front of my family and friends but most
importantly, I’m looking forward to being under those bright
lights on April 8.”
The 31-year-old Campa (34-2-1, 23 KOs) had an eight-fight
unbeaten streak snapped in his last outing, as he dropped an
August 2022 showdown against former world champion Teofimo
Lopez. A native of Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, Campa stopped
eight of his first nine opponents after turning pro in 2011
and owns an impressive stateside win over Aaron Herrera in
2015. Campa stopped previously unbeaten fighters Abimel
Bautista and Carlos Valadez in back-to-back contests to earn
the fight against Lopez.
“I’m very motivated to be on a great card like this,” said
Campa. “I’ve seen a little bit of Brandun Lee and I have a
good idea of what I need to do to win this fight. I’m ready
to face the best version of Lee and show that I have the
experience and strength to come out victorious. My plan is
to have my hand raised on April 8 and give the people in my
hometown of Guaymas something to celebrate.”
After piling up an 85-5 amateur record, Núñez (18-0, 13 KOs)
turned pro in 2018 and has shown impressive skill in
amassing his unbeaten pro resume. Fighting out of Puerto
Plata, Dominican Republic, Núñez made his U.S. debut in
September 2021 by winning a unanimous decision over the
previously unbeaten Jayvon Garnett on SHOBOX: The New
Generation® and followed up that performance by taking down
another undefeated fighter, as he stopped Carlos Arrieta in
the 10th round of their January showdown, also on SHOBOX®.
Núñez made it three unbeatens in a row in May 2022, as he
won a unanimous decision over Jonathan Fierro, before most
recently stopping Renson Robles last December.
“I’m very thankful to be back for another opportunity on
SHOWTIME,” said Núñez. “I’m coming to represent my people of
the Dominican Republic as a proud warrior. Olivo is an
excellent fighter and this will be a tough fight, but my
experience, my strength and my skills will twist things my
way.”
A native of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Olivo (20-0-1, 7
KOs) will be making his U.S. debut when he steps into the
ring on April 8. The 24-year-old turned pro as a teenager in
December 2017 and has steadily racked up wins since a
split-draw in his sixth pro fight. Olivo added two wins to
his ledger in 2022, sweeping a pair of fights on all three
judges’ scorecards each time out. His most recent triumph
saw him earn a unanimous decision over the previously
unbeaten Carlos Jaquez last September.
“I’m thrilled to be making my U.S. debut on such a big
stage,” said Olivo. “I’m thankful to my team for giving me
this chance. I believe that our styles will make a great
fight and that in the end, the fans will be the winners. I’m
going to give everything I have in the ring to make the
public remember my name. I’m going up against a great
fighter, but I’m ready for this challenge.”
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