If Keith Thurman didn’t already know just how tall an order this Saturday evening’s assignment against Sebastian Fundora is, spending a week in the company of the ‘Towering Inferno’ has given him a clear indication of the task ahead.
Much of Thurman’s press duties have been taken up by him assessing the sheer size of the 6’6” anomaly standing across the stage. Quite how the PBC puncher will manage to scale the stepladder and land his game-changing right hand in the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, remains to be seen.
David vs. Goliath
It’s not like Fundora is uncatchable. Early in his career, the Californian delighted in giving up his own height and reach advantages, opting instead to stand inside the pocket and slug it out.
That all changed in 2023 when Brian Mendoza landed a flush right hand that shook Fundora to his boots, leaving him sprawled on the canvas, soon realising that he had suffered a first career defeat. Lesson learned. It’s never happened since.
The current WBC king at 154 pounds spent three fights after that loss taking care of business. Using his rangy jab, standing off at distance, dishing out beatings for fun.
While the first win over then-undefeated Tim Tszyu came with an asterisk (the Aussie fought for the majority of the fight with a face mask of blood following a scalp gash), their second meeting was clinical and comprehensive. Fundora dropped Tszyu early and forced a seventh-round retirement.
In between those bouts, title challenger Chordale Booker fared little better, as he was crushed in four sessions. Now it’s up to Keith Thurman to try to turn back the clock and remind everyone why he was once nicknamed ‘One Time’.
That moniker came about because of his ability to land a single-shot finisher rather than the fact that he now appears once a year, if you’re lucky. Thurman has pretty much crawled his way to the grand old age of 37.
Sporting a receding hairline, he may have retained the power as well as the gift of the gab, but the version who was once knocking on the door of a Floyd Mayweather fight has long since departed the scene.
Thurman has now adopted the role of sage, teacher, and educator, claiming that Fundora has yet to encounter anyone with his subtle savvy and “OG” experience. “When he goes down, he’s gonna realise what a legend is. He hasn’t met one yet,” goaded the Florida fighter, who has been plagued by a catalogue of injuries in recent years.
Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman fight prediction
Thurman has actually only lost once as a pro, to Manny Pacquiao in 2019. This will be his third fight since. Yes, three fights in six years. It won’t be enough to topple the Tower. Fundora has been active, busy, and is in fine form. He will revel in his role as a PBC flag bearer, appearing on Amazon Prime PPV.
The entire Fundora family is buzzing right now. Sebastian’s sister Gabriela reigns as an undisputed champion in the female code. She hits hard and enjoys the frenzy of the fight game.
Her brother is no different. We’ve seen him fight with nose bleeds, taking matters into the trenches when it would be easier to jab and move. On Saturday night, competing in the heart of the Vegas strip, Fundora should weather any brief early storms to take over as the rounds progress and hit Thurman hard and often enough to force a late stoppage.
What the key players are saying about Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman in Las Vegas
Reigning WBC super-welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora: “I’m the younger guy and I’m the champion. Lots of things favour me in this fight. You can’t just rely on that, of course.
“But I’m extremely confident and more mature at this point in my career. I’ve fought a reigning champion and former champions. So I just have to see it as another fight. I have to go make the ring mine and make this fight mine as well.”
Former two-weight world champion Keith Thurman: “I picked up my first pair of gloves 30 years ago, and somehow I’m still hungry for more. On March 28, I have the opportunity to become world champion again and write my comeback story.
“I may be up against ‘The Towering Inferno’, but every cell in my body knows he’s not on my level. What I plan to do will be historical.
“This is a classic matchup of old school vs. new school, and it’s one fight fans don’t want to miss. I’m ready to rumble!”
Fundora’s veteran promoter Sampson Lewkowicz: “I’m looking forward to Sebastian putting on another exciting performance to further establish himself as the best super welterweight in the world today.”
Who is on the Fundora-Thurman undercard?
Yoenis Tellez vs. Brian Mendoza, 10 rounds, super-welterweight
Yoenli Hernandez vs. Terrell Gausha, 10 rounds, middleweight
Elijah Garcia vs. Kevin Newman II, 10 rounds, super-middleweight
Gurgen Hovhannisyan vs. Cesar Navarro, 10 rounds, heavyweight
Kaipo Gallegos vs. Julian Gonzalez, 10 rounds, lightweight
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