Sebastian Fundora Stops Ermal Hadribeaj With One Second Left, Targets Undisputed Title

Sebastian Fundora delivered one of boxing’s most dramatic finishes Saturday night, stopping previously unbeaten mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj at 2:59 of the 12th round to retain his WBC super welterweight title at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Hadribeaj made the fight uncomfortable early by crowding the 6-foot-6 champion and working inside, but two point deductions for holding hurt his cause. Fundora’s body attack and higher work rate gradually took over before a left hand dropped Hadribeaj with just one second remaining.

The finish capped Fundora’s fourth successful defense of the WBC title and improved him to 25-1-1 with 17 knockouts. According to CompuBox figures released by Premier Boxing Champions, Fundora outlanded Hadribeaj 202-144 and connected with 56 body shots. The challenger suffered his first professional defeat and fell to 23-1-1.

Fundora immediately turned his attention to the biggest prize at 154 pounds. He said he wants to become undisputed and called for the winner of Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Josh Kelly, who are expected to meet in a title unification. That gives Saturday’s result more staying power than a routine mandatory defense: Fundora survived an awkward challenger, produced a buzzer-beating finish and kept himself directly in the path of a potential undisputed championship fight in 2027.