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| Credit: Prime Video |
In March of 2024, the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters embarked on a new era following the end of its long-standing broadcast deal with United States premium cable network Showtime, which also coincided with the network not only exiting Boxing, but also shuttering its entire sports division as part of a broader corporate restructuring of its parent company Paramount. This led the PBC to its new home of Prime Video. The first event under their new deal was to feature then WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Tim Tszyu defending his title against former Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman.
An encounter that would not take place as Thurman pulled out of the bout days before it was to take place due to tearing his bicep in training. Rather than canceling the event, the PBC opted to bring in top Jr. Middleweight contender as a replacement for the injured former Welterweight cornerstone. In a grueling and bloody fight, Fundora, known as “The Towering Inferno” emerged victorious taking the WBO world title from Tszyu and also emerging with the vacant WBC crown in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division as well. Boxing is truly a sport of opportunity and there is no doubt that Fundora took full advantage of Thurman's misfortune in not only seizing the opportunity by becoming a world champion, but remaining a world champion since that faithful night of March 30, 2024.
After being stripped of the WBO portion of the World Jr. Middleweight championship due to the politics that be in the sport, the 6 '6 Fundora has scored two knockouts in defense of the WBC Jr. Middleweight world title, including forcing the always “Game” Tszyu to submit in a rematch in July of last year. This leads us to his third title defense, which will take place on March 28th, nearly two years to the day of his becoming a world champion at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, against the man he replaced in that title bout two years ago Keith Thurman in a twelve round bout that can be seen in the United States on Prime Video Pay-Per-View. The third defense of his WBC crown in just under two years, which is more active by present day standards for most world champions in the sport, has the dynamic of youth versus experience.
Fundora, a twenty-eight year old world champion who may be just entering his physical prime, against a thirty-seven year old former champion, who at one time was considered one of the best fighters in the entire sport. While the dynamic of youth versus experience is certainly not a new one, what this fight will center on will be the challenger. While Thurman ironically is known by the nickname “One Time,” which seems appropriate going into this fight given how he was once among the best in Boxing’s mythical pound for pound debates, he has become more known for much of the last decade for inactivity whether it be because of injuries or fights that were planned that for one reason or another did not come to fruition.
It is indeed true that Thurman has fought only twice since losing the WBA World Welterweight championship to Manny Pacquiao in July 2019. Although that loss remains the only setback on Thurman's record, having only fought twice since could be and probably should be viewed as a red flag as far as the odds he faces going into this fight. An old adage that this observer strongly believes in that is supported by years of seeing it with my own eyes is that inactivity is a silent killer and often does more harm to fighters in the long-term as far as the concept of “Ring Rust,” reaction time, and punch resistance than solely basing an opinion on what a fighter faces across the ring in an opponent. For his part Thurman got back in the ring in March of last year in scoring a third round knockout over a “Game,” but over matched Brock Jarvis in Australia.
Although Thurman looked good in that fight, his first in over three years at that point, and simply did what he needed to do, one might question whether the caliber of opposition in that fight as well as no further in-ring action since she Thurman is adequate preparation for this world title opportunity given both lengthy stretches of inactivity throughout his career as well as trying to come back from injuries and advancing age. Based on the above alone, it is not hard to understand why some would consider Thurman a significant underdog going into this fight. There are also things to consider with regard to what will be standing across this ring from him on March 28th.
The primary hurdle for virtually every opponent Sebastian Fundora has faced is he not only has been blessed with significant height and reach advantages over most, if not, all his opposition in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division, he is also a southpaw that has a good mix of hand speed, punching power, and tries to walk down his opponents with near non-stop pressure. The champion has won twenty-three of his twenty-five professional fights and the one loss on his record came in April 2023 when he was caught by a left hook, right hook combination from contender Brian Mendoza that dropped him in the seventh round and he was not able to beat the count. Though that knockout obviously showed that it is possible to hit Fundora if one can find a way to get on the inside of his 80” reach, it has proven to be a task that has been easier said than done for opponents outside of that one instance and to Fundora’s credit, he not only rebounded to win a world title in a short period of time after that setback, he has been able to withstand offense when he's had to since, most notably in his world title victory over Tim Tszyu in their first fight.
At his best, Keith Thurman was an exciting come forward fighter that brought the fight to his opponents with punching power and deceptive hand speed. The task at hand for the challenger will be to see if he can rekindle some of his prime form and be able to get on the inside of Fundora’s reach, though some will concede that he will likely have to take some punishment to get close to the champion in order to have a shot here. On the flip side, if Fundora chooses to box behind a consistent jab and keep Thurman on the outside with his reach, the question might be whether he boxes towards a potential lopsided decision victory or if he will try to gradually break Thurman down as the fight progresses.
It is logical to assume that if Keith Thurman is not successful in this fight that it could be the final time he steps into the ring. Meanwhile, if Sebastian Fundora succeeds in his third title defense, he could set his sights either on potential unification or possibly moving up to the 160lb. Middleweight division. A high stakes battle with no shortage of intrigue. We will find out who emerges victorious on Saturday, March 28th.
“And That's The Boxing Truth.”
Fundora vs. Thurman takes place on Saturday, March 28th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight as well as it's undercard can be seen in the United States on Prime Video pay-per-view for $74.99. The broadcast will begin at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT with free preliminary bouts with the pay-per-view portion beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT.
(*North American Times Only* *Check your local listings for availability internationally.*)
(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*)
To order this card download the Prime Video app on your streaming device of choice or click the following link: Fundora vs. Thurman.
Photo Courtesy of: Prime Video Used with permission.
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