Avila Perspective, Chap. 232: Fundora – Mendoza and More on a Deep Saturday of Boxing

Is the West Coast the best coast?

Perhaps, perhaps not.

But a stacked deck of Western U.S. boxing saturates this weekend. It’s not a surprise when you realize Southern California alone has more than 100 boxing gyms.

That’s no exaggeration.

Undefeated super welterweight Sebastian Fundora (20-0-1, 13 KOs) meets Brian Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) for the number one spot on the WBC rankings on Saturday April 8, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles. Showtime will televise the TGB Promotions card.

The super tall Fundora has a towering six-inch height advantage. Thus, his nickname the “Towering Inferno.”

But height does not equate to wins or else NBA players would venture into the sport and dominate. “The chin does not discriminate” to borrow a quote from now retired knockout artist Randall Bailey.

So far, Fundora’s chin has held up and despite some rough encounters with contenders like Jamontay Clark and Erickson Lubin, he’s been able to remain unbeaten.

“It feels great to be fighting tough guys like Mendoza and that’s what I want to do again and again. I love fighting in front of these fans in Southern California,” said Fundora.

Fundora and Mendoza will be trading blows where many classic wars took place. Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, Timothy Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov, and Paul Williams and Antonio Margarito clashed here back when it was called the Home Depot Center.

New Mexico’s Mendoza has been training in Las Vegas and is primed to meet the tall challenge of Fundora, especially after defeating ex-world champion Jeison Rosario by knockout last November in Minnesota.

“In my last performance I was a big underdog and everyone saw the result. You can expect the same type of performance and result on Saturday night,” said Mendoza.

There are no sure things in boxing. Anything can happen from a broken clavicle to a sprained ankle.

Also on the extensive fight card Brandun Lee fights Pedro Campa, while Devon Alexander, Chris Arreola, Adrian Corona and female contender Gabriela Fundora, the sister of Sebastian Fundora, participate too.

Texas

Undefeated Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (17-0, 11 KOs) is dropping down to his natural weight to meet Mexico’s Cristian Gonzalez (15-1, 5 KOs) for the vacant WBO flyweight world title on Saturday April 8, at San Antonio, Texas. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card live.

“Fights in San Antonio are just different for me,” said Rodriguez, a San Antonio native. “The last one against Sor Rungvisai in San Antonio was electric and exciting, so to get another opportunity to fight for another world title there in front of my fans is amazing.”

Bam Rodriguez already had the WBC super flyweight title but opted to move down to 112 pounds to capture a second division world title. His brother Joshua “el Profesor” Franco holds the WBA super flyweight title.

Gonzalez has a height advantage and despite lack of firepower, he’s managed to rise to the top of the rankings in the flyweight division.

“Gonzalez is ranked #2, he’s tall, he’s lengthy and he likes to move a lot. So, we’ve been working on how I will close the distance and cut off the ring,” said Rodriguez, 23, who trains in Riverside, Calif. with Robert Garcia. “I’ve been sparring taller guys so on April 8, there’s not going to be a problem for me to go in there and show what we’ve been working on.”

The co-main event is a super bantamweight world title clash that may steal the show.

WBA and IBF titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) defends both titles against the Philippines Marlon Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs) in a battle between southpaw sluggers.

Akhmadaliev trains with brothers Joel Diaz and Antonio Diaz in Coachella. He’s made the transition from amateur star to pro fighter smoothly.

It’s a loaded card that also features former champion Jesse Magdaleno versus Raymond Ford; plus Israil Madrimov, Thomas Mattice, Ricardo Lopez and others.

Top Rank

Ultra talented Shakur Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) returns to his hometown Newark, New Jersey and meets Japan’s undefeated Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KOs) in a lightweight contest set for 12 rounds at the Prudential Center on Saturday April 8. ESPN will televise the Top Rank card.

Stevenson, a two-division world titlist at the featherweight and super featherweight division, now fights at lightweight and gets a taste of the 135-pound fighters.

It gets tougher with lightweights usually as tall as six-feet in height.

Also, on the card, Keyshawn Davis a very talented lightweight who displayed great skills in the Tokyo Olympics in winning a silver medal. He should have won gold but that’s amateur boxing for you.

Davis might be as talented as Stevenson.

The Olympian faces Anthony Yigit who was stopped by Rolly Romero when they fought.

In an interesting heavyweight match, undefeated Jared “Big Baby” Anderson (13-0, 13 KOs) clashes with Dominican George Arias (18-0, 7 KOs) who has derailed seven undefeated heavyweights in his 18 fights. Will Anderson be a victim or the guy who stops Arias?

Anderson, 23, has a big height and weight advantage but nothing is guaranteed.

Fights to Watch

Sat. ESPN+ 4 p.m. Shakur Stevenson (19-0) vs Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Jesse Rodriguez (17-0) vs Cristian Gonzalez (15-1); Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0) vs Marlon Tapales (36-3).

Sat, Showtime 7 p.m. Sebastian Fundora (20-0-1) vs Brian Mendoza (21-2).

Fundora/Mendoza photo credit: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME

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