SAN FRANCISCO – Junior middleweight titleholder Sebastian Fundora is targeting a return in the fall.

Fundora, 24-1-1 (16 KOs), has been on a meteoric rise over the past two years. After a knockout loss to Brian Mendoza, Fundora – as a last-minute replacement in a pay-per-view headliner – defeated Tim Tszyu in his next start. Since then, he has made three title defenses, including his March stoppage win over Keith Thurman. Beyond that, Fundora has become a quality main-event fighter with star power that measures up to his 6ft 7ins frame.

And now his team is close to setting up the next chapter for Fundora.

“He is fighting probably [in] September or October,” Sampon Lewkowicz, Fundora’s promoter, told BoxingScene.

When looking at the landscape of potential options for Fundora, a 28-year-old from Coachella, California, a few things come to mind.

On June 27, Xander Zayas will put his WBO and WBA titles on the line against Jaron “Boots” Ennis, and the winner would have the power to make a legitimate megafight with Fundora.

Josh Kelly, the IBF titleholder, has yet to fight since dethroning Bakhram Murtazaliev in January. Kelly could be an option.

Then there is the wild card: Vergil Ortiz Jnr. Ortiz, the WBC interim titleholder. is currently entangled in some legal issues with his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions. But If he could patch up that situation, Ortiz could be another viable option for Fundora.

When asked if anyone has emerged as a frontrunner to be Fundora’s next opponent, Lewkowicz said, “Not at this moment. We will see what happens.”

Lewkowicz, who was in San Francisco on Thursday to promote a special July 11 outdoor event, was buzzing after a big weekend. Another fighter he promotes, David Benavidez, made a statement in his cruiserweight debut, winning the unified titles when he stopped Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Benavidez now holds titles at light heavyweight and cruiserweight concurrently.

Lewkowicz is confident in where his fighters stack up in the sport.

“I have the best ones in super welterweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight,” Lewkowicz said.

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.