Undisputed very much remains a short-term goal for Gabriela Fundora.

The scary part is that it was very much on the table headed into 2024 for the recently crowned IBF flyweight titlist. There were strong plans in place for the 21-year-old southpaw to next face lineal, WBA, WBC and WBO champion Marlen Esparza, who was instead hit with an ordered rematch versus Gabriela Alaniz.

Wins by both boxers could very much resurrect that fight for late spring or early summer.

“It’s exciting to know that it’s within reach,” Fundora told BoxingScene.com. “It was supposed to happen January 6, but Marlen has her mandatory. Hopefully soon, though. I have a job to do and so does she. If Marlen is still holding the titles, bring it on. Let’s go. We will be more than prepared.”

Fundora (12-0, 5KOs) refused to take an easy fight to bide her time. She is set to face unbeaten former amateur standout Christina Cruz (6-0, 0KOs) this Saturday on DAZN from Footprint Center, home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

The fight comes just three months after Fundora lifted the IBF title in a rousing fifth-round knockout of four-time flyweight champ Arely Mucino.

Her team—headed by legendary promoter Sampson Lewkowicz—didn’t waste any time to pursue her next fight. There were advanced talks to fight Houston’s Esparza (12-1, 1KO) in a full unification bout on the January 6 Vergil Ortiz-Fredrick Lawson DAZN card from Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. A deal could not be reached in time, however, which left Esparza on the hook to once again face Argentina’s Alaniz in a rematch to their July 8 thriller.

Fundora still opted for that same rate of activity at the highest level. Her fighting heart is similar to her older brother, former interim WBC junior middleweight titlist Sebastian Fundora. That motivation led to a dangerous title defense versus Cruz, a Nuyorican and former amateur standout now based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“We want to be as active as possible and against the very best,” insisted Fundora, who recently entered a co-promotional deal with Golden Boy Promotions. “We don’t overlook any opponent. We train hard for every fight and it shows in the ring.”

Fundora-Cruz is one of two major title fights on Saturday’s show, which is headlined by the Jaime Munguia-John Ryder super middleweight fight.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox