'Real-life Rocky' Chordale Booker already defied the odds once. Can he do it again against Sebastian Fundora?
The emotional toll Chordale Booker’s behavior took on his mother and grandmother hit him harder than any opponent ever could in a boxing ring.
Booker was 18 years old, just before he turned to this sport in 2010. He stood in a Stamford/Norwalk District Superior Court in Connecticut, where he faced 13 years in prison on multiple gun charges and another for possession with intent to distribute. Booker had been arrested for the fourth time, and in a school zone, which would’ve added years to his sentence. About to become another cautionary tale, an awakened Booker began the most important comeback of his life.
Whether he wins, loses or draws with unified super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora in his first world title fight Saturday night, the reflective fighter is thankful that boxing, however cliché, quite literally saved his life. He wound up being sentenced to three years of probation, which enabled Booker to embark on a professional career that thus far has resulted in a 23-1 record, including 11 knockouts.
“I was a product of my environment,” Booker told Uncrowned. “I looked up to the guys in my neighborhood because they had the girls, they had the cars, they had the money. And they played sports, too. I loved sports and they loved sports, so I thought that was the way to be until I got arrested, until I was going to court and my mom and my grandmother were crying their eyes out, man.
“I was seeing how I was destroying them. I started to realize, these things don’t only impact me. I think that was the real eye-opener for me, seeing how distraught they were and I was kind of, like, killing my mom and my grandmother. I just wanted more for my life — and it’s crazy to be here, given that.”
By here, Booker referred to his 12-round bout with Fundora, who will defend his WBC and WBO 154-pound titles against the WBO’s No. 5 contender on Saturday. It is literally and figuratively the tallest order of Booker’s nine-year professional career, as Fundora, who answers to “The Towering Inferno,” stands 6-foot-6, highly unusual for the super welterweight division.
“It sounds crazy, man,” Booker said, “every time I say that I’m about to fight for two world titles.”
Crazy because less than three years ago, Austin “Ammo” Williams, another southpaw who was unbeaten at that time, stopped Booker in the first round of what, to that point, was Booker's most meaningful fight as a pro. Williams’ left hand rocked Booker with 1:15 to go in the opening stanza and he never recovered. A barrage of punches later left Booker seated on one of the ropes.
Referee Charlie Fitch began to count, but then halted the action only 2:25 into their 10-round fight in April 2022 at Madison Square Garden because a buzzed Booker couldn’t stand up straight.
“It wasn’t so much what went wrong the night of the fight,” Booker recalled. “It was more just leading up to it. I had a lot of things going on. I never make excuses, so I don’t want to start now.”
The 33-year-old contender doesn’t make excuses for the criminal activity that nearly ruined his life, either.
These things don’t only impact me. That was the real eye-opener for me, seeing how distraught they were and that I was killing my mom and my grandmother. I just wanted more for my life — and it’s crazy to be here, given that.
He instead praises the judge who handled his case, Gary White, for affording him the second shot he desperately needed. White wasn’t just a district court judge — he was also an amateur boxing judge.
The Harvard-educated White had watched Booker compete in the New England Golden Gloves and realized he was committed to turning his life around. Just as important, Booker wanted to mentor kids in his hometown, so at least some Stamford adolescents didn’t succumb to the same temptations that set Booker back.
White followed Booker’s career, which included over 100 amateur matches from ages 19-24, including a national Golden Gloves title in 2015. White also attended several of Booker’s pro bouts.
The understanding judge’s role in Booker’s first comeback has weighed on the skillful southpaw’s mind during the buildup toward a main event this weekend that Amazon’s Prime Video will stream from Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas (8 p.m. ET; 5 p.m. PT).
“When he came to one of my fights,” Booker said, “I just remember saying to him, ‘Man, I gotta thank you for giving me a second chance.’ I was so happy that he was there to see that. I was proud to say I was glad he gave me a second chance, and look what I did with it.”
Beyond boxing, Booker works as a personal trainer at Revolution Training in Stamford, where he typically prepares for his fights. He also gladly serves as a big brother of sorts to kids who seek guidance there after school and trains several amateur boxers.
The second half of Booker’s camp for the Fundora fight was spent at DLX Boxing in Las Vegas, where better sparring options were available. It is almost impossible, as one might imagine, to replicate the rangy Fundora, thus Booker brought in heavier opponents who at least came close to Fundora’s stature.
Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) will end a long layoff that has lasted almost one full year. The Coachella, California native hasn’t boxed since he edged then-unbeaten Australian Tim Tszyu in a 12-round bloodbath last March 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The gangly Fundora was more cautious versus Tszyu, whose nasty gash near the middle of his hairline blurred his vision for 10 rounds, because Brian Mendoza had violently knocked Fundora out in his prior appearance in April 2023. Fundora led Mendoza comfortably on all three scorecards when Mendoza drilled him with a three-punch combination that left Fundora flat on his back and out in the seventh round of their bout in Carson, California.
BetMGM still lists Fundora as a 10-to-1 favorite because he has beaten a much higher level of opposition than Booker. The decided underdog understands his role in this promotion, but it has helped him relax because Booker feels like all of the pressure is on Fundora.
If Fundora wins, his options likely will be higher-profile fights against WBC interim champ Vergil Ortiz Jr. (23-0, 21 KOs), WBC No. 1 contender Sergii Bohachuk (25-2, 24 KOs) or Xander Zayas (21-0, 13 KOs), who is ranked No. 1 by the WBO and No. 2 by the WBC. Booker loves that no one outside of his camp has said much about his potential opponents if he were to pull off an upset.
“[Winning] would almost be like a movie ending, honestly,” Booker said, “where you have these struggles and this character who goes through so much turmoil, and just keeps showing that they won’t give up and ultimately reached the goal. I’m living the real-life ‘Rocky’ moment right now. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win this fight.”
With very little time left until he steps into the ring for the most important bout of his career, Booker hopes his detractors do more to realize he is more than some prop in Premier Boxing Champions’ showcase of Fundora.
“People hearing and understanding what I went through,” Booker said, “maybe they’ll take back some of what they said,” Booker said. “Because how do you become somebody if you never fight anybody? So if we’re going to just only let the popular guys fight each other, well, how did they become popular? How would Fundora become champion if Tim Tszyu never gave him a chance? How would Floyd Mayweather become Floyd Mayweather if [Oscar] De La Hoya never gave him the chance?
“I could go on and on. How would [Muhammad] Ali become Ali if Sonny Liston didn’t give him a chance? Right? You never become somebody until you beat somebody. And you can only do that if somebody gives you the opportunity. … Hopefully people will change their mind about writing people off so easy and so fast, before they give a guy a chance, see what a person is all about.”
If they don’t believe Booker, they can ask Gary White.
-
Sebastian Fundora vs. Chordale Booker: How to watch, full fight card and more
Sebastian Fundora defends his WBO and WBC junior lightweight world titles against Chordale Booker this weekend.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Sebastian Fundora vs. Chordale Booker fight prediction, odds, undercard, start time, preview, where to watch
The unified junior middleweight champion is back in action with some big fights on the horizonCBS Sports - 15h -
Boxing schedule for 2025: Sebastian Fundora vs. Chordale Booker, Mikaela Mayer vs. Sandy Ryan on deck
The calendar for 2025 already has a ton of big matchups set in the first three months of the yearCBS Sports - 3d -
The fighting Fundoras: For siblings Sebastian and Gabriela, gold is the family business — and business is booming
Brother-sister duo Sebastian and Gabriela Fundora share six current major boxing titles between them. Is the sport witnessing its greatest fighting family of the four-belt era?Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Suns' owner Ishbia says Devin Booker trade will 'Never happen,' Booker says he doesn't want one
Ishbia says a "pivot and reload" around Booker — meaning a trade of Durant — is possible this summer.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
He Was Once the ‘Subway Ninja.’ He Would Like to Explain.
In the lowest moment of Selwyn Bernardez’s life, he attacked a stranger with a sword. It was another transit horror story, but with a different ending.The New York Times - Mar. 13 -
Real or not: Fundora undisputed, Boots will unify, and Ryan will solve Mayer in rematch
Our experts discuss notable upcoming fights, Keith Thurman's return, the next American heavyweight and more.ESPN - 20h -
Class 5A boys basketball: Tulsa Booker T. Washington cruises past Lawton for 17th title
Tulsa Booker T. Washington boys basketball defeated Lawton on Saturday at State Fair Arena as the Hornets claimed their 17th championship.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Super Micro’s stock has its doubters, but it just got a vote of confidence
Super Micro is a “show-me story,” says a Rosenblatt analyst, but he sees room for gross margins to expand as the company sells more to enterprise customers.MarketWatch - Mar. 11
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Chargers sign Tyler Conklin
The Chargers signed their veteran pass-catching tight end.Yahoo Sports - 32m -
Groundbreaking but controversial - new IOC president Coventry
Kirsty Coventry will become the 10th International Olympic Committee president - but why is she both a groundbreaking and controversial choice?Yahoo Sports - 1h -
No March Madness here: No. 1 seed Florida rolls past Norfolk State 95-69 for 7th straight win
First-team All-American Walter Clayton Jr. scored 23 points and Florida defeated Norfolk State 95-69 on Friday, ensuring all four No. 1 seeds made it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament ...Yahoo Sports - 7h -
Jiri Prochazka open to facing winner of Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg at UFC London
Jiri Prochazka will have his eyes peeled for the UFC Fight Night 255 co-main event. Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) meets rising contender Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in a pivotal ...Yahoo Sports - 11h -
QB Aaron Rodgers leaves Pittsburgh without a contract
Aaron Rodgers left Pittsburgh without a contract in place.Yahoo Sports - 13h
More in Sports
-
St. John's Red Storm and Arkansas Razorbacks meet in NCAA Tournament second round
Arkansas Razorbacks (21-13, 9-11 SEC) vs. St. John's Red Storm (31-4, 21-2 Big East) Providence, Rhode Island; Saturday, 2:40 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Red Storm -7.5; over/under is 144.5 ...ABC News - 38m -
Ejim leads Gonzaga against Colorado after 24-point outing
Gonzaga Bulldogs (23-10, 17-4 WCC) at Colorado Buffaloes (21-12, 11-10 Big 12) Boulder, Colorado; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Gonzaga plays Colorado after Yvonne Ejim scored 24 points in ...ABC News - 38m -
Women's March Madness 2025: Printable bracket for NCAA Tournament with first round action underway
The race for the national title is well underwayCBS Sports - 54m -
Queens, Northern Arizona square off in CBI Tournament
The Queens Royals square off against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in the College Basketball InvitationalABC News - 54m -
2025 Women's March Madness schedule, scores: Games, dates, locations, tip times, TV channels, bracket
The Big Dance is officially upon us as the women are taking the courts all across the countryCBS Sports - 1h