LAS VEGAS – There are things about boxing Sebastian Fundora that Erickson Lubin recognizes will be difficult.

Landing flush punches on his 6-foot-6 opponent isn’t on Lubin’s list. The strong southpaw figures Fundora’s defensive flaws will work to his advantage throughout their 12-round fight Saturday night for the WBC interim super welterweight title.

“I think he does get hit a lot,” Lubin told BoxingScene.com. “I think his defense is very vulnerable and, you know, I got some real devastating power. So, we gonna see how that plays out.”

Fundora (18-0-1, 12 KOs) has shown a reliable chin during his ascent in the 154-pound division, but Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs) knocked out former IBF/IBO/WBA champion Jeison Rosario in the sixth round of his last fight. Lubin’s win June 26 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta marked his sixth straight victory since IBF/WBA/WBC champ Jermell Charlo knocked him out with one punch in the first round of their October 2017 bout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Lubin-Fundora winner will become the WBC’s mandatory challenger for whoever emerges victorious in the rematch between Charlo (34-1-1, 18 KOs) and WBO champ Brian Castano (17-0-2, 12 KOs). Showtime, which will broadcast Lubin-Fundora from Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, will also air the Charlo-Castano rematch May 14 from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

“I have worked hard, taken on tough opponents, and climbed back to where I once was, and the WBC noticed what I did,” said Lubin, who was Charlo’s mandatory challenger 4½ years ago. “By doing that, I am now able to take the next step to fulfill my dream when I started – which is becoming a world champion. Nothing in boxing is given to any fighter, and to become a world champion I must face one of the best emerging fighters in boxing. I’m ready.”

Fundora defeated Spain’s Sergio Garcia (33-1, 14 KOs) by unanimous decision in his last fight, which was also a 12-round WBC elimination match December 5 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Coachella, California, native is a slight underdog against Lubin, according to most sportsbooks.

The 24-year-old Fundora isn’t as accomplished as the Dominican Republic’s Rosario (22-3-1, 16 KOs). He is, however, the tall, rangy, dangerous man standing between Lubin and his possible shot at redemption.

“This is the next step in my career to secure my shot at the title, so I took my training to the next level,” Lubin said. “I moved my whole camp to Las Vegas, to avoid all distractions. This is a career-defining moment for me, and a chance for me to rewrite history after my first world title fight. I want to be a world champion and to do that, I must sacrifice some of my comforts. My trainer Kevin Cunningham has also made some major additions to my training regimen and the hard work will be on display when I step in the ring.”

Showtime’s three-bout broadcast Saturday night is set to start at 10 p.m. ET with a 10-round junior middleweight bout between Bryant Perrella (17-3-1, 14 KOs), of Fort Myers, Florida, and Mexican prospect Kevin Salgado (14-0, 9 KOs). Following Perrella-Salgado, Tony Harrison (28-3, 21 KOs), a former WBC super welterweight champ from Detroit, will square off against Garcia in another 10-rounder.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.