Sebastian Fundora successfully defended his WBC title this past weekend against Ermal Hadribeaj, securing another victory to further cement his status in the junior middleweight division. However, the performance left several observers and elite fighters less than fully convinced of his current championship dominance. Among those offering a critical assessment was pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford, who broke down what he witnessed during the bout and explained why he believes Fundora will need to make significant technical adjustments if he hopes to overcome the division’s other elite contenders at 154 pounds.
While Fundora ultimately got the job done and retained his championship belt, Crawford’s evaluation focused heavily on the flaws exposed during the contest and the tactical changes the towering champion must implement moving forward. As talks and expectations mount regarding a potential high-stakes unification bout against rising stars like Jaron "Boots" Ennis, Crawford’s analysis highlights the exact areas where top-tier opposition could capitalize.
Reflecting on the dynamics of the fight, Crawford pointed out initial struggles from the challenger’s corner as a major turning point that allowed Fundora to gradually take over the bout. In Crawford’s view, Hadribeaj put forth a tremendous effort early on, working tirelessly to keep the aggressive champion at bay and utilizing various defensive tactics to survive the relentless pressure.
However, Crawford expressed astonishment at the lack of intervention from Hadribeaj’s corner as the fight progressed into the later rounds. Pointing to moments when the challenger was visibly exhausted and leaning his feet against the ropes simply to snatch a brief moment of rest, Crawford argued that the corner should have stepped in to protect their fighter. According to the multi-division world champion, failing to bring the stool in to get an exhausted fighter off his feet during those critical moments displayed an inexperience and lack of decisive corner management that ultimately cost Hadribeaj a more competitive showing.
Crawford noted that Hadribeaj was executing his game plan effectively through the opening couple of rounds, finding success with movement and defensive positioning. Yet, as the bout wore on, that early success began to fade noticeably. The decline was largely driven by Fundora’s ability to pick up the pace, increase his work rate, and wear down the challenger through sheer volume and physical presence.
Despite pointing out the structural vulnerabilities and the nature of the fight’s progression, Crawford was careful to give credit where it was due. He acknowledged that Fundora did what he had to do to secure the victory, which is ultimately the primary objective for any reigning champion defending his belt. At the same time, Crawford admitted that as a high-level spectator and fellow elite fighter, he simply expected to see more from a recognized world champion facing that level of competition.
Delving into the technical specifics of Fundora’s performance, Crawford highlighted glaring defensive and offensive habits that could spell trouble against the upper echelon of the junior middleweight division. During the bout, Fundora found himself absorbing clean overhand lefts and overhand rights from his opponent. Crawford emphasized that against heavier-handed, more precise punchers, taking those flush shots without a proper defensive response or counter-strategy is a dangerous proposition.
More critically, Crawford zeroed in on an omission in Fundora’s offensive arsenal during the fight: the complete absence of the right hook. Expressing disbelief, Crawford recalled watching the champion absorb incoming fire while failing to return fire with one of boxing’s most fundamental and effective punches against an oncoming opponent. Throughout the entire contest, Crawford noted, Fundora did not throw the right hook even a single time.
This specific technical deficiency forms the basis of Crawford’s warning regarding Fundora’s future prospects in the division. As the boxing world turns its collective attention toward expected upcoming blockbusters—most notably a heavily anticipated unification showdown against unbeaten powerhouse Jaron "Boots" Ennis, as well as potential collisions with other top 154-pound elites like Vergil Ortiz Jr.—Crawford stressed that such tactical omissions will not go unpunished.
According to Crawford, elite operators like Boots Ennis and Vergil Ortiz possess the ring IQ, speed, and finishing power to exploit precisely the types of openings Fundora left against Hadribeaj. If Fundora continues to take clean overhand punches while neglecting foundational counter-punches like the right hook, those elite fighters will surely capitalize. For Fundora, emerging victorious from his latest defense was enough to keep his belt and maintain his position at the table, but Crawford’s critique serves as a stark reminder that staying at the very top of the 154-pound weight class will require a much sharper, more well-rounded execution when the division’s biggest fights finally materialize.
