Sebastian Fundora is incapable of delivering a boring fight. The WBC super welterweight champion successfully defended his title with a 12th-round TKO over Ermal Hadribeaj. The fight wasn’t just a KO in the final round, it was a buzzer-beating shot that appeared to land after the bell. Hadribeaj was hurt and reeling from Fundora’s last-ditch effort to get the stoppage when he went down from a long, straight left hand.
Hadribeaj got to his feet before referee Thomas Taylor’s 10 count. However, despite the fight being over, Taylor assessed Hadribeaj and waved off the rest of the count, scoring it a TKO win for Fundora. The reaction to the finish was as spirited as you might expect.
Fundora vs. Hadribeaj Key Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 |
| Venue | The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas |
| Broadcast | TNT and DAZN |
| Title | WBC super welterweight championship |
| Result | Fundora def. Hadribeaj, TKO, Round 12 (2:59) |
| Referee | Thomas Taylor |
| Point deductions | Hadribeaj, Rounds 3 and 11 (holding in Round 3) |
| Hadribeaj’s record entering | 23-0-1 (8 KOs) |
Did Thomas Taylor Get the Fundora-Hadribeaj Finish Wrong?
During the post-fight breakdown, Terence Crawford and Timothy Bradley made it known they believed Taylor acted incorrectly in that situation. Bradley said, “I love Thomas Taylor. He’s one of the best in the business. But just like fighters can have an off night, referees can too and he had an off night tonight.”
Crawford said, “What else was he supposed to do? He got to his feet. He deserved to go the distance.”
How Did Sebastian Fundora Look Against Ermal Hadribeaj?
Aside from that finish, Fundora was well in control of the fight and set to win a clear decision without the KO. While he was in line for a win, many pointed out his flawed performance. Hadribeaj had some success in the early rounds, landing looping power shots on the inside.
Hadribeaj entered the fight unbeaten at 23-0-1 as Fundora’s mandatory challenger. Taylor deducted a point from him for holding in the third round and took another in the 11th.
What’s Next for Sebastian Fundora?
To Fundora’s credit, the punches didn’t appear to have much effect. However, with a potential unification fight on the horizon against Jaron “Boots” Ennis (should he beat Josh Kelly), many believe Fundora was exposed on Saturday night. Crawford took to X during the fight and kept it simple and plain as he looked ahead to that fight.
Fundora’s height, stamina and heart make him one of the most exciting fighters in the world. Fight fans have their fingers crossed for a unification fight between him and Boots.
More Sebastian Fundora Coverage
This article was originally published on Forbes.com