When boxing insider Rick Glaser said, “It’ll be almost a miracle status if this fight ever happens,” many fans were skeptical. The long-anticipated clash between Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence Jr. seemed almost too good to be true. Fans were excited when the fight finally got a date in March—only for things to take a dramatic turn. Just when everyone was gearing up for one of the biggest matchups in recent years, ESPN boxing insider Mike Coppinger dropped a bombshell: “The title fight is now off.”

A week ago, Coppinger reported that the scheduled showdown between Fundora and Spence had been called off, citing a series of reasons from WBO president Gustavo Olivieri. But does this mean the fight is completely off the table even for Fundora? Actually, no—it’s far from over for the unified light middleweight champion who will now step into the ring against a new opponent.

Sebastian Fundora got a new opponent for the same date

The initial fight between Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence Jr. was supposed to take place in October of last year, but the matchup was postponed and rescheduled for March 29 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. So now, with ‘The Truth’ out of the picture, boxing fans were left wondering who would step up as the WBC and WBO World Super Welterweight Champion’s opponent.

To answer that, a few hours ago ESPN’s Mike Coppinger revealed on his X account that, “Unified junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora and Chordale Booker are finalizing a March fight in Las Vegas, sources tell ESPN. The fight is expected to be streamed on Prime Video. Booker has won six consecutive fights since a first-round KO loss to Ammo Williams in 2022.”

It seems Chordale Booker will be moving back down from middleweight after his last against Brian Damian Chaves in June last year. For the Towering Inferno, if he defeats Booker, it will solidify his reign at 154 lbs. And for Booker, a win over the southpaw from West Palm Beach could catapult him into the upper echelons of the division. For the record, the 33-year-old has a terrific record of knockouts in his last four fights. And it was just in February last year when he received the WBC USA Super Welterweight belt after a unanimous decision victory over Greg Vendetti at Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville.

However, ‘The Gift’ was not the only name circulating as a potential replacement. Several other boxers were in the lineup to fight Sebastian Fundora.

The rat race for title fight after Errol Spence Jr’s withdrawal

As the search for Fundora’s opponent continued, a few notable names emerged. According to Mike Coppinger, three other boxers were being considered for a potential shot at the title. The frontrunner was Charles Conwell. The undefeated Olympian had an unblemished record since he turned pro in April 2017, and with a series of knockout victories, including three in 2024, Conwell had proven himself as a formidable opponent.

Joseph Don Spencer with a record of 19-1, was another name that came up in the discussions. Spencer had recently won a fifth-round KO over Janer Gonzalez in August 2024. While not yet ranked in the top 10, Spencer’s aggressive style could have made him a dangerous challenger for Fundora.

Lastly, Erikson Lubin, who lost to Fundora on April 9, 2022, for the WBC Interim World Super Welterweight title had also expressed his desire for a rematch. After a couple of wins against Luis Arias and Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr. since that defeat, the Hammer seemed eager for redemption. But in the end, it seems like Chordale Booker won the race.

Of course, the question of whether Errol Spence Jr. will ever get a shot at Fundora remains. As fans, we are left wondering: What’s next for Spence Jr.? Will Booker prove to be a worthy challenger, or will Sebastian Fundora continue his dominance? Do let us know your thoughts below!