Getting To Know: Sebastian Fundora

Never has a moniker been more appropriate than the one Sebastian Fundora carries. The man known as “The Towering Inferno” stands 6-foot-5 with the dimensions of Dhalsim—plus a fan-friendly, non-stop punching style. Fundora will need all of those attributes when he challenges for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against hard-hitting Serhii Bohachuk on Saturday, March 30, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, on a PBC pay-per-view available on Prime Video (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). 

Fundora the person couldn’t be any more different than Fundora the fighter. Here’s a look at some of him outside the ring ahead of his first world title shot. 

What’s your favorite song right now in training?

We listen to all kinds of stuff. Yesterday we listened to Johnny Cash. The day before, we listened to 90’s rock. We are all over the place.

What do the days look like when training with your sister [IBF Flyweight World Champion Gabriela Fundora]?

She works with me. We do everything together. You know the usual, like hitting the pads. All the workouts we do together.

Does everyone in the family possess boxing genes?

Yeah everybody tried at least. Me and my sister are the only ones at this level. My father was a fighter, my mother was a fighter, we were all boxers.

What is your least favorite part of training?

I don’t have the least favorite part. It’s my job. I like my job. A lot has come out of it so I’m very happy where I’m at.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I just spend time with my family. I live with my family so I spend time with my family. My house is always full of people to talk to. I have sister, my mom, my dad, my little sister, and my little brother. We’re all close family so if I ever get bored I just go and hang out with them.

If it came down to it, what is something you can’t live without?

Food. I love eating.

What’s your favorite meal?

Steak and fries. I always eat steak and fries after weigh-ins. 

What is something that keeps you going in this sport? Is it family? Ambitions?

My own ambitions. I have my own dreams. My own ideas, future plans. I’m fighting for a world title now. So, this is one of them. Hopefully—not hopefully—I am going to make it come true in March.

“ I always eat steak and fries after weigh-ins. ”
Super Welterweight Contender – Sebastian Fundora

What are your values and morals?

Respect, any respect from anybody that I talk to. I’m always one to give respect to everybody else and you know give them my attention so that’s just what I want from everybody else.

What was life like growing up in California?

Good. It’s been good. We’ve always been a close family. I still live with my family. We do everything together. Just likemy sister trains with me every second of the day, my family is with me every second of the day so we are a very close family.

Favorite childhood memories?

We used to travel all over the United States for boxing tournaments. That was probably the biggest memory I always had.

Pick one word that describes you.

Champion.

What’s a famous quote that keeps you going?

Well, there’s a quote that my dad always says because we live in the mountains. He says, “This mountain will keep you honest.” Meaning, if you don’t work or you don’t do it right this mountain will show you why you need to stay humble or you need to work hard.

What would you say is your worst spending habit?

Food. It has to be food now because before it was sneakers but I have so many pairs that I don’t even wear anymore. We live in a mud place now so I can wear nothing nice like that so it’s definitely food now. 

What country/destination do you want to visit and why?

We were talking about maybe going to Italy maybe after my fight. We see life is always changing. Sardinia moreimportantly, it’s nice, it’s a different place, more of an island type of city. I mean of course we have the beach cities in California but it’s something different.

Who is your favorite fighter to watch, aside from family members?

Right now, it’s Artur Beterbiev. He’s a very strong guy perfect record with a 100% knock-out ratio.

For a closer look at Sebastian Fundora, check out his fighter page.