Xander Zayas predicts that Sebastian Fundora will defeat Chordale Booker

Title-chasing Xander Zayas has backed Sebastian Fundora to beat Chordale Booker in their scheduled March 22 fight in Las Vegas.

Puerto Rico’s Zayas, a 22-year-old who also competes in the 154lbs weight class, is of the opinion that Booker will struggle to cope with Fundora, the WBC/WBO junior middleweight titlist.

“I feel like Fundora is more skilled and a better fighter on the inside and on the outside,” Zayas told BoxingScene.

Booker, 23-1 (11 KOs), has fought at both the junior middleweight and middleweight limits, including a third-round stoppage of Brian Damian Chaves last June. Ahead of his maiden world title fight, Booker – a southpaw just like Fundora – goes into the bout in high spirits on the back of a six-fight winning streak. Booker lost via first-round TKO to Austin “Ammo” Williams in April 2022.

But Zayas believes Fundora, 21-1-1 (13 KOs), will stand tall against Booker, especially when both fighters have the same stance.

“I just feel like both of them being lefty, it’s going to be a real chess match and Fundora is going to be able to pick him apart,” Zayas said.

Zayas said the onus lies on Booker to do something extraordinary to dethrone Fundora.

“He can; he’s a slick fighter,” Zayas said. “I’m not saying he can’t pull it off. I think he has an opportunity to pull it off. But he has to put it all together. That night has to be a very special night, and if he does something extraordinary, then he will come out victorious.”

Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at [email protected].