Gabriela Fundora might be women’s boxing’s next star.
Fundora dramatically stopped Christina Cruz in the last round of 10 in their IBF flyweight women’s title fight.
Despite Fundora being 20 years younger than Cruz, insiders felt the fight could be close. Cruz was one of the most accomplished amateurs of any era. An Olympic Trials silver medalist, behind Ginny Fuchs, Fundora was also a good amateur, but was more rugged and has a pro-style. The win might have started the ‘Fundora Era’ in the flyweight division.
“I think I did pretty good,” Fundora reflected afterward. “We went almost all of the 10 rounds. We did what we worked on, and it showed tonight.”
The bout ended dramatically as Fundora, 13-0 (6KOs), landed a clean punch that forced Cruz, 6-1, to turn her back and cover up. It appeared that Cruz, who is 41, might still be a bit green as a pro as her lack of professional experience might have been responsible.
Fundora was being cheered on by her brother, Sebastian Fundora, as well as Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
“He is an amazing guy, he was giving me some pointers,” Fundora said of Chavez, the Mexican legend. “That two [straight left-hand], that straight two [is] was what we were working on [in camp]. Monday we go back to the drawing board and get right back at it.”
Fundora will probably now hunt for unification bouts. Marlen Esparza, the 2012 US Olympian, currently holds the WBA, WBC, and WBO women’s flyweight titles.
Esparza is also signed to Golden Boy Promotions. If that fight could be made, it would be an undisputed bout, while another option could be Kenia Enriquez, who holds the WBC interim world title.
