Sebastian Fundora retained his World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight title with a dramatic final-round knockout of Ermal Hadribeaj in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Standing at an imposing 6ft 6in (1.98m), Fundora made full use of his height and reach advantages to control much of the gruelling 12-round encounter against his Albanian challenger.

The champion sealed the victory in spectacular fashion just before the final bell, landing a devastating left hand that sent Hadribeaj crashing to the canvas with only seconds remaining in the fight.

Hadribeaj initially showed plenty of ambition, catching Fundora with a series of powerful jabs in the opening round and briefly putting the champion under pressure.

However, Fundora quickly responded in the second round, connecting with a sharp left hand that visibly hurt his opponent and forced him onto the defensive.

The American continued to dictate the pace as the contest progressed, landing consistently while frustrating Hadribeaj with his long reach and effective combinations. The challenger was penalised a point in the third round for excessive holding, adding to his difficulties.

Fundora strengthened his control in the fifth round, unleashing a series of uppercuts that left the 28-year-old Californian firmly in command. The champion maintained his advantage through the middle rounds, building a comfortable lead on the judges’ scorecards.

Hadribeaj’s situation became even more challenging in the 11th round when he received another point deduction for holding. With time running out and a points victory looking increasingly unlikely, the challenger needed a knockout to turn the fight around.

That urgency led Hadribeaj to adopt a more aggressive approach in the final round, but it also left him vulnerable to Fundora’s counterattacks.

The champion seized his opportunity, unleashing a crushing left hand that dropped Hadribeaj at 2:59 of the 12th round, securing a spectacular last-gasp finish and successfully defending his world title.

The victory improved Fundora’s professional record to 25-1-1, with 17 knockouts, further strengthening his position among the leading fighters in the super welterweight division.

Meanwhile, Hadribeaj suffered the first defeat of his professional career, falling to 23-1-1 after a determined challenge that ultimately ended in dramatic fashion.