Gabriela Fundora Overwhelms Viviana Ruiz to Defend Undisputed Flyweight Crown
On Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, Gabriela Fundora, the towering undisputed flyweight champion, once again proved that height, reach, and patience can be just as damaging as raw aggression.
Facing Colombian challenger Viviana Ruiz, Fundora took her time before unleashing the storm.
By the sixth round, the end arrived quickly.
Fundora (18-0, 10 KOs) stopped Ruiz (10-3, 5 KOs) at 1:25 of the round when referee Ray Corona stepped in to halt the action, allowing the undefeated champion to retain the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO flyweight titles before a lively Southern California crowd.
For Fundora, the victory was another controlled performance from a fighter who continues to grow into her role as the dominant figure in the 112-pound division.
“She was a tough opponent,” Fundora said afterward. “Right away I think she felt my punches.”
A Calculated Start
At 5-foot-9, Fundora remains an unusual physical presence in the flyweight division. Ruiz entered the ring at a clear height disadvantage, and the contrast between the two fighters became apparent almost immediately.
The champion showed little urgency. For the first five rounds Fundora allowed Ruiz to press forward, studying the challenger while calmly defending and countering from the outside. Ruiz attempted to close the distance and let her hands go, but each success was typically answered with two or three punches from the champion.
“I wanted to do something different,” Fundora explained. “I wanted to showcase my boxing. It was just something I was working on.”
The strategy produced a methodical rhythm. Ruiz pushed forward with determination, while Fundora measured the action, picking her moments and controlling distance with her long arms.
The Fight Turns
In the fifth round Ruiz had her best moment of the fight. A sharp right hand landed cleanly and the crowd responded with a roar. For a brief moment the challenger had found the opening she had been searching for.
The response from Fundora was immediate. The champion shifted from patient observer to aggressive finisher, pressing Ruiz backward and trapping her along the ropes. Punches began to flow in heavier combinations as Fundora used her height and reach to keep the challenger pinned down.
By the sixth round the pressure had become relentless. Ruiz, determined but outgunned, was forced into exchanges she could not win. Fundora unleashed a sustained barrage of punches that forced the referee’s intervention. Seeing the challenger absorbing too much punishment, Ray Corona stepped between the fighters and stopped the bout at 1:25 of the round.
Still the Undisputed Champion
With the victory, Fundora retained all four major flyweight belts and improved her record to 18-0.
At just 23 years old, the undefeated southpaw continues to strengthen her position as one of the most prominent fighters in women’s boxing. Her blend of size, composure, and developing power has made her a difficult puzzle for anyone in the division.
Yet the champion appears to be thinking beyond flyweight. “I know every fight is going to be a different fight,” Fundora said. “I think I can make 108. Maybe at 115 or 108.”
Whether she remains at flyweight or explores new weight classes, one thing was clear in Anaheim: Gabriela Fundora’s reign remains firmly intact.
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