Gabriela Fundora Embraces the Chance to Make History in Las Vegas

Gabriela Fundora had the perfect Halloween she imagined if she wasn’t preparing for her biggest fight yet.

“In the past, you would have stayed at home to watch the Dodgers win the World Series,” Fumora told The Ring. “Then we give out candy. He also takes my little sister out to get candy, maybe to the bully house. Try to scare him and I was a little scared too but I tried not to show it.”

For example this 22-year-old girl—known as ‘Sweet Poison’—was able to celebrate in her own way during fight week.

Local kids were able to meet and cross Fundora earlier this week in Las Vegas. The session came days before her undisputed flyweight bout against Gabriela Alaniz. The RING Championship and all four major belts will be on the line this Saturday on DAZN from the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Fundora-Alaniz is working in support of the main event of Floyd Schofield-Rene Tellez Giron.

A win would fulfill Fundora’s boxing life goal. A chance to give back outside the ring is that final piece needed to make history in the ring.

“These kids are the next generation,” said the always humble and charming Fundora. “It’s always good to give back and give them the time they deserve. You don’t have to be a certain way to be popular and famous.

“You can just be there to pass out candy and have a big smile. It is always very important to give back.”

Of course, winning in the ring helps too.

Fundora (14-0, 6 knockouts) has been perfect so far in that regard. The 5’9” ​​southpaw from Coachella, California has also been moved at a faster pace to gain efficiency. He knocked out IBF flyweight champion Arely Mucino by knockout in the fifth round last October 21 in Inglewood, California. The career-best feat at the time came in his thirteenth game.

Three fights and 53 weeks later, Fundora is now bidding for all the flyweight chips. Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs) holds the RING championship as well as the WBC, WBA and WBO belts.

Saturday’s winner will become the first woman in boxing history to fully unify the flyweight division. Fundora’s win would make him the youngest undisputed champion in the sport.

Doing it in the city that also saw his older brother, Sebastian Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs), become the WBC/WBO 154-pound champion earlier this year, is a kiss for the cook.

“It didn’t mean anything to me [where the fight took place],” said Fundira, but clarified. “But, there’s a but … this is the cherry on top to have it in Vegas. I said it when we first got this fight, Vegas was the place for the Fundoras this year.

“I am very happy for him. I won my belt last year and now he is the joint champion. It’s my turn to join him and win all these belts (on Saturday). My father [Freddy Fundora, Sebastian and Gabriela’s head trainer] you should be coach of the year.”

Of course, it has to win on Saturday for that to count.

Fundora’s target was Marlen Esparza, who was the RING/WBC/WBA/WBO champion this time last year. Esparza ended Alaniz’s WBO reign with a majority decision win last July 8 in San Antonio, Texas.

The decision was controversial enough for Alaniz to file a successful appeal for immediate reinstatement. ‘La Chucky’ went through the second round, defeating the overweight Esparza on April 27 in Fresno, California.

It paved the way to a non-conflict.

Both stars are brought together by Golden Boy Promotions. Alaniz is mainly managed by Georgina Rivero’s OR Promotions, while Fundora is signed to the legendary Sampson Lewkowicz.

Everyone involved understood the importance of this battle.

“To fight for the undisputed was always the goal,” noted Fundora. “It has been two years since it was established after we participated in this competition. It doesn’t matter who has the belts. As long as we fight for something that cannot be disputed, it will eventually be money for us.”

A win on Saturday would make Fundora a banker at lightweight.

That appointment was opened by the sudden retirement of Seniesa Estrada. This queen of the ring/unputted strawweight called it in October, seven months after she fully integrated the 105-pound division.

Estrada also won the junior flyweight title and second flyweight belt. The pound-for-pound entrant once considered going to Fundora one day but left the sport, and has a huge hole in the star level.

Fundora will gladly fill that void.

“Congratulations to Seniesa. He was a fighter,” Fundora admitted. “Now it’s about finding that center. This fight will make it more prominent.”

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