WBC junior middleweight champ Sebastian Fundora is readying for his re-scheduled title defense against former unified 147 lb. champ Keith Thurman at the end of March. He spoke recently from his training camp.
WBC junior middleweight world champion Sebastian “The Towering Inferno” Fundora is determined to retain his stronghold at 154 lb., when he faces former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman on Saturday, March 28. The showdown headlines a PBC Pay-Per-View event streaming live on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Originally scheduled for last October, the bout was postponed after Fundora suffered a hand injury. Now fully recovered, the imposing champion is eager to remind the division why he sits atop the throne.
The 6'6" southpaw has built an impressive run, sandwiching two victories over Australian star Tim Tszyu around a March 2025 stoppage of highly ranked contender Chordale Booker. His most memorable performance came last July, when he dismantled Tszyu in their rematch, delivering a brutal and decisive TKO stoppage that many consider the finest showing of his career. That dominant display reinforced Fundora’s reputation as one of boxing’s most relentless and physically imposing champions.
Fundora, (23-1-1, 15 KOs). spoke recently from his training camp about gearing up for the rescheduled battle with Thurman,
"Camp has been good since recovering from the hand injury. We never stopped training, we just slowed down on some things that we do. We always figure out ways to work, because this is an all year sport. This isn’t seasonal. I don’t think about this is a training camp, this is my job. This is a lifestyle.
“Having more time to focus on one opponent is always a blessing. We wish it didn’t happen this way with the injury, but we’ll take advantage of the extra time. It was disappointing to have to postpone the fight, but things happen in boxing and in life. You just have to roll with the punches. Not being able to use my hands as much as I wanted was challenging. For a period of time, we couldn’t do that. So I had to figure out a way to make sense of it.”
Standing across from him will be the most accomplished opponent he has faced to date. Thurman, (31-1, 23 KOs) enjoyed a lengthy reign as one of the elite names at 147 lb., unifying titles and earning marquee wins against top competition.
He officially launched his campaign at junior middleweight last March with a knockout victory in Australia over little known Brock Jarvis, signaling his intentions in a new weight class.
As anticipation builds, Fundora has pointed to one of Thurman’s signature victories—his decision win over then-unbeaten welterweight champion Danny Garcia—as his favorite performance of “One Time’s” career.
“Beating this former world champion will make a big statement,” said Fundora. “I still feel like I’m at the top of the division. I don’t think we’ve lost any momentum, we just had to reschedule. We’re not hiding from anybody. This is gonna remind everyone that we are at the top.”
In the build up to their matchup, Fundora named one of Thurman’s best victory, a decision over fellow then-unbeaten welterweight world champion Danny Garcia, as his favorite performance of his upcoming opponent.
“I liked Thurman’s performance against Danny Garcia,” said Fundora. “Garcia was also a top name and those two clashing together was a great fight and Thurman getting the victory showed how great of a fighter he was.”
On March 28, Fundora looks to deliver a performance of his own that leaves no doubt about who rules the junior middleweight division.