INGLEWOOD, California – From fighting in small venues and halls to stay active, Gabriela Fundora never lost sight of her goal of winning a world title belt.

That goal was finally achieved on Saturday night.

Fundora dropped Arely Mucino twice en route to a knockout win in round 5 at The Forum. With the win, Fundora (12-0, 5 KOs) became the IBF Female world flyweight titleholder.

The southpaw Fundora was the aggressor from the opening bell. Not only did Mucino have to deal with Fundora’s aggression, but Fundora utilized her height and length to rain punches down onto Mucino, who looked befuddled during the first two rounds.

Mucino began to take the initiative during the third round. She attempted to get on the inside of Fundora’s reach, but Fundora countered well with jabs and straight left hands to the head. 

Despite the pace of the fight slowing down, Fundora maintained her high volume of punches thrown. Fundora was also able to move in and out of Mucino’s range.

The corner waves it off!! And GABRIELA FUNDORA wins!!#RochaSantillan | LIVE on DAZN pic.twitter.com/p8hHubGTPI

— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) October 22, 2023

Early in the fifth round, Fundora dropped Mucino with a left hand to the head. Mucino beat the count but was on wobbly legs. She continued to fight on but was taking several punches to the head. Another combination from Fundora sent Mucino into the ropes, prompting referee Jack Reiss to administer a standing eight-count. Although Mucino beat the count, her corner threw in the towel, prompting Reiss to stop the fight at 1:18. 

Final Punch Stat numbers were one-sided. Fundora threw 136 out of 305 total punches (45 percent), while Mucino only threw and landed 31 of 177 total punches (18 percent).

Mucino was no match for Fundora. Photo: Golden Boy / Cris Esqueda

The 21-year-old, who resides in Coachella, California, is the younger sister of junior middleweight contender Sebastian Fundora. Fundora last fought on April 8, defeating Maria Santizo by unanimous decision. She split her time fighting both in the United States and Mexico, fighting three times in 2022 and three times this year.

Mucino, who resides in Monterrey, Mexico, falls to 32-4-2, 11 KOs. Mucino had won the IBF title in her last fight on October 29 of last year, defeating Leonela Yudica by split decision. 

In a clash of unbeaten super middleweights, Joeshon Jones of Sacramento dropped David Stevens three times en route to a first-round knockout victory.

Jones improved to 8-0-2, 5 KOs. 

Midway through the opening round, a counter right cross to the chin hurt Stevens. Jones followed up, eventually dropping Stevens with a left hook to the head. Stevens beat the count but was dropped again to the canvas.

Stevens beat the count a second time but received a barrage of punches to the head. Another combination to the head dropped Stevens to the canvas, prompting referee Jerry Cantu to stop the fight at 2:52.

James rocks Stevens with a right cross. Photo: Golden Boy / Cris Esqueda

Jones recently fought on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo undercard in Las Vegas on September 30, fighting to a majority decision draw against Abilkhan Amankul.

Stevens, who resides in Reading, Pennsylvania, falls to 13-1, 9 KOs.

In the opening bout of the Golden Boy Promotions card, Iyana Verduzco defeated Clarice Morales (0-3-1) of Toledo, Ohio by unanimous decision. Scorecards were 39-37, 39-37 and 40-36 for Verduzco, who was making her professional debut. Verduzco resides in the Los Angeles area. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]

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