Sebastian Fundora Defends WBC Title Against Ermal Hadribeaj on October 17

The mandatory defense headlines PBC’s second non-pay-per-view card on DAZN and could clear the champion for major fights at 154 pounds.

Sebastian Fundora will defend his WBC junior middleweight title against mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj on October 17 after the bout was finalized for PBC’s second non-pay-per-view event on DAZN. A victory would satisfy Fundora’s mandatory commitment before he turns his attention to the division’s biggest names.

Dan Rafael revealed that the fight has been signed, although the site has not yet been announced.

Fundora has been out of the ring since stopping Keith Thurman in March to retain his WBC title. His return fulfills a mandatory obligation, leaving him little choice but to face Hadribeaj before pursuing bigger fights.

Hadribeaj (23-0-1, 8 KOs) earned his title shot with a hard-fought unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Bakary Samake in a WBC final eliminator in May. The Albanian contender relied on his experience to outlast the younger Samake over 12 rounds, securing the mandatory position for Fundora’s championship.

The matchup is unlikely to generate the same level of excitement as a belt-unifying fight or a meeting with one of the division’s more recognizable contenders. Hadribeaj remains unknown to many casual fans despite entering the fight unbeaten, and his modest knockout total suggests he will begin as a sizeable underdog against the towering champion.

Still, the bout carries importance for the future of the 154-pound division. A victory would satisfy Fundora’s mandatory obligation and free him to pursue more lucrative fights against the division’s elite, including unification bouts or other marquee opponents.

Hadribeaj faces the biggest fight of his career. A victory would make him Albania’s first world boxing champion.

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