The bout between WBC super welterweight world champion Sebastian Fundora and challenger Keith Thurman was originally scheduled to take place in October 2025, but it fell through due to an injury suffered by the belt holder. The event is now being rescheduled and is expected to take place in the first quarter of this year. Despite experts and bookmakers giving him little chance of success, Thurman is firmly determined to shock the world by scoring a sensational knockout.
During a recent video interview, the former welterweight world champion said, among other things:
“You got 12 rounds to take care of this boy. And remind the people why you have the name Keith “One Time” Thurman. You know, so I’m definitely looking for that knockout. And you know how it is. Short term memory, baby. I create a new highlight reel, and then, you know, everyone is just going to be like yo, look what Thurman just did. And that’s all that matters. So you are asking babe ruth to step to the plate and hit one more home run? You know how many home runs I’ve hit? All I gotta do is hit one more home run. Tht’s all the motivation I need, man.”
Thurman, who turned 37 last November, has fought only three times in the past seven years. The last time he stepped into the ring, in March of last year, he knocked out local favorite Brock Jarvis in Australia in just three rounds.
Fundora, on the other hand, is coming off a superb performance last summer that allowed him to force Tim Tszyu into retirement after seven one-sided rounds, punctuated by a knockdown scored in the opening frame.
The rust he has accumulated, the long time since he last faced opponents of true international caliber, along with the move up in weight, are the main reasons why many are skeptical about Thurman’s chances of pulling off an upset.
Will the American be able to turn back the hands of his inner clock and return to former glory?