Gabriela Fundora vs Jasmina Zapotoczna

I see this as a serious step up for Zapotoczna, but she’s earned her chance. She upset Chloe Watson by keeping her composure, finding her distance and making an advancing opponent pay. Fundora presents a much harder problem because she can reach you without first walking into your counters.

Fundora’s advantage is how she uses that long southpaw jab to set up straight punches. She makes opponents cover ground under fire. Zapotoczna needs to slip outside the jab, land her right and leave at an angle. Backing straight away will let Fundora follow her with combinations.

I rate Zapotoczna’s timing and body punching, but she can take time to settle into a fight. Against Fundora, conceding that early initiative could leave her struggling to recover control. She also needs enough authority in her counters to make Fundora hesitate.

For Fundora, the danger is reaching after a moving target and leaving herself open to the right hand. I expect her to stay patient, establish the jab and gradually force Zapotoczna into longer defensive spells.

Zapotoczna will make her think, but I’m picking Fundora by a late stoppage.