Sebastian Fundora will defend his WBC junior middleweight title against mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj on 17 October. The bout forms part of Premier Boxing Champions’ non-pay-per-view slate on DAZN. Victory allows Fundora to target high-profile unification fights later this year.
The defense was confirmed following reports from journalist Dan Rafael that contracts have now been signed by both camps. A specific venue for the event has not yet been announced. The card will mark the second fixture under the new distribution agreement between Premier Boxing Champions and DAZN to air non-pay-per-view events.
Fundora returns to action after a hiatus dating back to March, when he stopped former champion Keith Thurman to retain his WBC 154-pound title. Standing far taller than typical junior middleweights, the champion presents significant tactical difficulties for opponents. His height and reach, combined with high punch output, make him a difficult target to outbox.
Facing Hadribeaj satisfies a strict mandatory obligation imposed by the WBC. Fundora had little option but to accept the fight before moving on to larger targets. Securing a win in October will leave him clear to pursue multi-belt unification clashes or high-money fights against the elite names in the division.
Hadribeaj earned his shot at the belt in May by defeating Bakary Samake via unanimous decision in an official WBC final eliminator. The Albanian fighter relied on his ring experience to outlast Samake over 12 tough rounds. In doing so, he handed Samake the first defeat of his professional career.
Despite carrying an undefeated professional record of 23 wins and one draw, Hadribeaj remains relatively unknown to broader boxing audiences. His record includes eight knockout victories, suggesting he relies on point-scoring and endurance rather than single-punch stoppage power. He will start as a sizeable underdog, but a victory would see him become the first world boxing champion in Albania’s history.
