Erickson Lubin had a ringside seat to watching Sebastian Fundora’s growth — both as a boxer and literally as in height.
Both fighters are from Florida and Lubin recently revealed to FightHype.com that Fundora’s dad would even take him to youth boxing tournaments.
Through the years, Lubin has seen the six-foot-five Fundora use his praying mantis-like frame to prod and pierce his way to an 18-0-1 pro record with 12 knockouts.
Lubin has never fought someone quite as tall as Fundora but swears that he has sparred those who stacked up in height.
“Not as tall, but close to it,” Lubin tells DAZN News. “I definitely sparred guys that tall.”
Over the years, Lubin has also taken note of Fundora’s willingness to cram and entangle his 80-inch reach into the phonebooth with opponents.
That’s where “The Hammer” believes he can do damage and eventually unload the right hardware to chop “The Towering Inferno” down when the two meet Saturday night at The Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
“Jackie Sledge,” says Lubin, talking up an iteration of his in-ring moniker. “I feel like I’m a devastating puncher. I feel like he gets hit a lot, so it’s definitely going to work in my favor.”
With the WBC junior middleweight interim title on the line, Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs) believes producing an impactful win could line him up soon to face the winner of the May 14 undisputed championship rematch between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano.
“I feel like I’m definitely next in line for that when I take care of business Saturday night,” Lubin says. “I’m not overlooking Sebastian Fundora. I gotta take care of business Saturday and then we can get talking about the winner of Charlo-Castano. I’m excited for that fight, so we’re going to see how that plays out as well.”
Lubin counts a first-round knockout loss to Charlo back in October 2017 as the sole defeat on his pro ledger. However, he’s been coming into his own since then, rattling off six consecutive wins including a sixth-round KO of former unified junior middleweight world champion Jeison Rosario last June.
The 26-year-old Lubin had previously told DAZN News that this current win streak has him feeling like he’s getting close to entering his prime.
Hammering Fundora would fuel that feeling further, bringing Lubin closer to believing it’s his time to reign over the junior middlweight ranks. What “The Hammer” may lack in star power to a Charlo, he has made up for with diligence.
“I feel like a young vet. I’ve been at this for a long time,” Lubin offers. “I’ve been one of the names talked about in the 154-pound division for a very long time, so me being where I’m at, my confidence builds and just keeps building because I’m beating all these top guys. Everything is destiny, honestly.
“I’m going to be world champion real soon,” he vows. “I’m going to be running this division.”