Fundora’s Mandatory Locked In: Hadribeaj Fight Signed for October 17
The WBC junior middleweight title fight is locked in. Sebastian Fundora’s mandatory against Ermal Hadribeaj is officially signed for October 17.
Sebastian Fundora’s WBC junior middleweight title defense against mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj is officially signed. The bout is set for October 17 on a PBC/DAZN non-PPV card, according to sources close to the negotiations.
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The junior middleweight picture just got a little clearer tonight. Sources told longtime boxing reporter Dan Rafael that WBC champion Sebastian Fundora will make his mandatory title defense against Ermal Hadribeaj on October 17. The fight is signed, and it will headline one of the first two non-PPV shows under the PBC and DAZN partnership, with sites still to be announced.
Per sources, for the 1st two PBC/DAZN non-PPV events (sites TBA), Pitbull Cruz headlines Sept. 19 and on Oct. 17 WBC 154 titlist Sebastian Fundora will make his mandatory vs. Ermal Hadribeaj. That fight is signed. #boxing
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) July 29, 2026
Posted by @DanRafael1 on X. All rights belong to the respective owner. Embedded within the article for editorial illustration purposes only.
Fundora has been sitting on that belt after stopping Keith Thurman earlier this year, and the tall southpaw from Coachella keeps stacking solid names. At 24-1-1 with 16 knockouts, the Towering Inferno brings serious size and pressure to the 154-pound division. Hadribeaj, the Albanian-born Miami fighter known as the Sniper, comes in undefeated at 23-0-1 with eight stoppages after winning his final eliminator earlier this spring. This is a first-time meeting, and the styles set up an interesting chess match between Fundora’s length and volume against a compact, technical southpaw who likes to counter.
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
— Pound4Pound (@Pound4our4Pound) July 29, 2026
Sebastian Fundora will make his mandatory fight vs. Ermal Hadribeaj on October 17th the FIGHT IS SIGNED‼️
Looks like we will be getting Boots vs Fundora for UNDISPUTED IN SUMMER 2027‼️😳
Via: Dan Rafael #Boxing pic.twitter.com/2R0lnKyrrN
Posted by @Pound4our4Pound on X. All rights belong to the respective owner. Embedded within the article for editorial illustration purposes only.
For Fundora, this is the required step before bigger conversations open up. Fans already have their eyes on a potential clash with Jaron Ennis down the line, and clearing the mandatory keeps that door open for 2027. Hadribeaj has earned the shot the hard way and will look to spoil the party as a live underdog. Site and exact start time are still pending, but the date is locked and the contracts are done.
This is how title pictures are supposed to move. Clear the mandatory, stay active, and set up the bigger money fights later. October 17 is circled now, and both camps know exactly what’s at stake.
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