OCEANSIDE, California – In a commanding display of skill and power, Gabriela Fundora successfully defended her undisputed flyweight championship against Marilyn Badillo on April 19, 2025, at the Frontwave Arena. Fundora, who came into the fight with an impressive record of 16-0 (8 KOs), proved why she is regarded as one of the top female boxers in the world, stopping Badillo in the seventh round.
The fight, which headlined a Golden Boy Promotions card broadcast live on DAZN, marked Fundora's first title defense of 2025 and her first as the undisputed champion. At just 23 years old, Fundora is already making waves in the boxing world, having achieved the status of the youngest undisputed champion in the four-belt era.
From the outset, Fundora showcased her height and reach advantages, standing at 5-foot-9 with a six-inch height edge over the 5-foot-3 Badillo. Fundora's strategy was clear: use her jab effectively to keep Badillo at bay. By the end of the fight, Fundora had landed a staggering 118 punches compared to just 21 from Badillo, demonstrating her dominance in the ring.
"I think I'm maturing," Fundora said after the fight. "I knew the stoppage was going to come. It is how I wanted to place it. With this one, it was a relaxed tempo ... I just put the pressure on. It was almost like training. I stayed on her and stayed consistent and didn't give her a break for momentum. I worked hard for the knockout."
The match started with a feeling-out process in the first round, but Fundora quickly shifted gears, unleashing a flurry of punches that left Badillo struggling to respond. Despite a strong effort from Badillo, who entered the fight unbeaten with a record of 19-1-1 (3 KOs), she was unable to find her rhythm against Fundora's relentless attack.
By the fourth round, Badillo had begun to show signs of wear, suffering a hematoma on her forehead from an unintentional headbutt. Fundora capitalized on this, landing powerful combinations that left Badillo reeling. In the sixth round, Fundora's straight lefts and jabs continued to find their mark, further widening the gap on the scorecards.
As the seventh round commenced, Fundora received instructions from her father and trainer, Freddy Fundora, to finish the fight. She did just that, overwhelming Badillo with a series of lefts that culminated in a knockdown. Referee Rudy Barragan stepped in at 1:44 of the round, stopping the contest after Badillo opted not to continue.
"I knew I had her figured out in the first round," Fundora stated. "She was trying to duck and move inside, but I kept my jab active. I stayed on her, and I was consistent. I wasn't surprised that she didn’t want any more after the knockdown."
With this victory, Fundora has now knocked out four of her last five opponents, solidifying her reputation as a knockout artist in the flyweight division. Co-promoter Oscar De La Hoya praised Fundora, calling her the best female fighter on the planet and emphasizing her potential for future bouts.
Looking ahead, Fundora is eyeing potential matchups with notable challengers, including three-division champion Yokasta Valle, who was present ringside. "That’d be awesome to go to a different weight class and collect some more belts," Fundora remarked.
The event also featured an exciting co-main event, where Jorge Garcia Perez upset Charles Conwell in a split decision victory. Perez, who improved to 33-4 (26 KOs), secured his eighth consecutive win, while Conwell suffered his first defeat, falling to 21-1 (16 KOs).
In other notable results from the night, Tristan Kalkreuth defeated Felix Valera by unanimous decision, Ruslan Abdullaev won against Jino Rodrigo, and Joel Iriarte scored a first-round TKO over Marcos Jimenez.
As the boxing world looks to the future, Gabriela Fundora's performance has undoubtedly set the stage for more thrilling bouts ahead. With her sights set on expanding her championship collection, fans can expect to see much more from this rising star in the ring.
