By Dan Ambrose: Interim WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora keeps busy against former Errol Spence Jr. knockout victim Carlos Ocampo Oct. 8 on Showtime at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
Fundora (19-0-1, 13 KOs) is keeping busy as he awaits a world title shot against undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo.
That’s the fight the 24-year-old Fundora would rather have, but with Charlo fighting only once a year, he’ll likely have to wait until 2024 before he gets his chance. Charlo will defend against his mandatory WBO mandate Tim Tszyu in 2023, for what will likely be Jermell’s only fight next year.
Ocampo (34-1, 22 KOs) was knocked out in the first round by Spence in 2018. Since that fight, Ocampo has won his last eleven contests against lower-level opponents.
The lanky 6’6″ Fundora is coming off an impressive ninth round knockout of Erickson Lubin last April.
“I think I have been ready since the last fight. We have to keep busy while the champion [Jermell Charlo] he’s doing his thing, whatever he’s doing,” Sebastian Fundora said during the opening press conference when asked when he thinks he’ll be ready for a world title shot.
“I have to keep taking these tough fights and keep growing. Carlos Ocampo is another ranked fighter. If we don’t have Charlo in the next fight, then we also have to fight another top contender and condition to grow.
“My father is Cuban and my mother is Mexican, but when it comes to the ring, I feel like I have Mexican blood. I am excited to fight another Mexican fighter. Two Mexican headliners on Showtime. It’s great for Southern California.
“Looks like my hard work is paying off,” Fundora said of him headlining against Ocampo. “It’s going to be a great night. October 9 is going to be a big night for us.
“We realized that he [Ocampo] he is on an 11-fight winning streak. Like the opponent before [Erickson Lubin], has been on a winning streak. Of course, we’re not going to let it continue, but it’s back up.
“He’s a rated fighter, and I’m sure he’s going to put on a show with me, and we’re going to put on a great fight for you guys again.
“I got a good punch, I was down on my knees and I needed to figure it all out again. I got back up and then the next round I got back to my game,” Fundora said of his fight against Erickson Lubin.
