ALL BUSINESS,
intent is clear the second she walks into the gym or ring. “It’s how I train, and I like to entertain,” she said. “Being a female in boxing, it’s show business. It’s an entertainment business, and if you want to gain fans and you want to gain the right to have that spot on TV, well, then you’ve got to prove yourself. And I think with the entertainment of getting these stoppages and stuff, it just elevates us to a different level.” After winning the IBF flyweight belt with a fifth-round knockout of Arely Mucino in October 2023, Fundora soared to that different level with her trio of 2024 victories over Christina Cruz, Daniela Asenjo and Alaniz. And when you couple that with her older brother Sebastian’s win over Tim Tszyu for two 154-pound belts in March, it’s been quite a year for a duo that seemed to have “settled all family business” last year. And if you were wondering, no, Fundora didn’t rib her brother about not having as many title belts as she does. “No, no, it’s all respect here and we motivate each other,” she said. “I’m pretty sure him watching my fight, like how I watched his, makes us just train even harder and be the best version of ourselves that we can be.” Every brother should be so lucky. And considering that boxing is in the Fundora family blood, with ex-boxer dad Freddy training them, stepmom Monique a former boxer as well and each of Fundora’s five siblings having some connection with the sport, there was little chance that Gabriela would go in any other direction. “This has been the dream since I was a little girl,” she said. “I knew what I wanted to do and where I was going to be at. I knew who I was going to be at a very young age, so now it’s just coming to fruition, and I always had the champion mindset. Now it’s just reality.” So there was no pushback from her parents? “I think it became more exciting
because I was a girl,” said Fundora. “It made it even more of a thing like, ‘OK, let’s see how far you’re going to really want to take it. And if this is what you want to do, go for it.’ My parents were in full support.” If it’s possible to be confident but not cocky, Fundora has pulled off that feat as easily as she’s compiled a 15-0 (7 KOs) record as a professional. And the rumors are true that the Fundora kids are as classy as they come in this sport, a testament to their parents and a desire to be role models for a new generation. “I think having my family involved with me makes me stronger, and I have a great mindset because of my parents,” she said. “It’s because of my family that we’re where we’re at today, and I say ‘we’ as a team, because it wasn’t just me in that ring; it was everybody. My father, who is also my coach, my brother, who was also in the corner, and my mom being in the background, always providing for everything, they give me that strong mentality that I can keep pushing forward and move mountains. And I do actually appreciate that the next generation of children are looking up to me and seeing that, OK, this is a cool person to follow or look up to and respect. So I appreciate that. And I always try to aim to give the next generation a good example.” I suggest that despite sporting the nickname “Sweet Poison” and leading the way for the “Golden Girl Era,” she might be better served using the nickname “The Unicorn,” because there aren’t many like her in any sport, especially not at 22 years old. That’s outside the ring. Inside of it, the prospect of her being an undisputed champion before her 25th birthday has to be intimidating to her peers in and around the flyweight division, because she’s just getting started. “I think right now I’m just five percent of what I can be,” Fundora said. “I think I’ll continue to grow, and this is only the beginning of the Sweet Poison Golden Girl reign. So there’s a
lot more to come from that.” And shockingly, she’s talking about going down in weight before going up. “Maybe I’ll go down to 108 and grab some belts over there,” she said. To confirm, I ask if I heard her right about 108 pounds. “Yeah, why not?” she laughs. Weight apparently isn’t a problem, then. “Nope.” As a 5-foot-9 southpaw with fight- ending power, Fundora is already a nightmare matchup for anyone at 112 pounds. At 108, she’ll be even scarier. Just don’t call her tall. “Honestly, I’m normal height,” she insists. “It’s not my fault people are shorter than me.” I tell her that I beg to differ, explaining that my wife is a five-footer. “I am normal height,” said Fundora. “Your wife is short.” I agree and we both laugh, at least about my wife’s height. And that’s what an interview with Gabriela Fundora turns into. From the Godfather trilogy (she thinks the second installment is the best) and my wife’s height to her boxing past, present and future, I answered my own question when I wondered out loud if she ever had to go through any bullying in school due to her height. “I hate to break it to you, but no,” she laughs. “My personality now is how it was back then. I’ve always been this nice person and I’m welcoming to everybody. And I went to school to learn, and I made friends. It was just a normal childhood.” I’ll give her the height thing, but Gabriela Fundora is far from normal. And that’s a good thing, because it looks like we’re going to be watching her unique talent in the ring for years to come. As for next year, she’s got some more business to settle, Corleone style. How she does it, well, that’s something you don’t discuss outside the family. “We'll see,” Fundora said. “This will be a new year. I actually want to go and conquer divisions, though.”
UNDISPUTED FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION GABRIELA FUNDORA IS THE NICEST STONE-COLD ASSASSIN YOU’LL EVER MEET By Thomas Gerbasi ALL PERSONABLE
while being dead-serious at the same time. “I think that mentally prepares me for a war.” When we spoke in early December, the 22-year-old was a month removed from the biggest win of her career and about to travel to Germany for the WBC convention, where those in attendance were waiting to kiss the ring of the Lady Don. She captured the imagination of the boxing world in a 2024 campaign that ended with three wins and five belts. And though many fighters have had impressive years like that before, few have done it with the style of the California resident, whose
W atch Gabriela Fundora fight and you’ll see just that – a fight. Sure, she has a technique level that has led her to undisputed status in the flyweight division and the size and power to baffle anyone at 112 pounds. But it’s her mindset that has set her apart from her peers, and that was never more evident than in her November bout
with Gabriela Alaniz, where she stalked and stalked her foe before knocking her out in the seventh round. Fundora wasn’t content with winning. She wanted the finish, and she got it. As for the root of this attitude, she doesn’t hesitate to reveal her secrets. “Just watching a lot of Godfather movies,” said Fundora, who laughs
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