The end to their press conference could not have more properly reflected where Sebastian Fundora and Keith Thurman are at in their respective careers.
As they went their separate ways, Fundora, 27, gracefully rose from his seat and prepared to take his place for the obligatory post-press conference staredown. He shook hands with the 36-year-old Thurman, who turned to walk around the dais before he tripped and fell to the ground.
The two eventually stood face-to-face, though only after the 5ft 8ins Thurman stood on a folding chair across from the 6ft 5 ½ins Fundora, who remained composed throughout the sequence.
Their WBC 154lbs title fight will headline an October 25 PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View event but represents more than just a premium main event. It is a true crossroads bout, as Fundora’s career is on the rise, while Thurman – even with just one career defeat – is believed to be on his last hurrah.
“Keith was a former champion, one of the pound-for-pounds back then, but it’s time for a change in the sport,” Fundora said during their kickoff press conference Wednesday at The Mayan in Los Angeles, California. “I think I can be the face for it. I’m just excited for all of this and I can’t wait to return to the ring on October 25.”
The two will meet at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the fourth straight fight in town for Fundora, 23-1-1 (15 KOs).
The run began with his first primary title win, after he outpointed an unbeaten Tim Tszyu to claim the WBC and WBO 154lbs titles last March 30 at nearby T-Mobile Arena. It marked his only fight of 2024, but he will now enter the ring for the third time this year – his most active campaign since 2020 when was making the transition from prospect to contender.
Fundora fought just once in 2023 and 2024, with two fights apiece in 2021 and 2022. The rate of activity he’s enjoyed this year is more in line with what he and his team prefer.
“That’s how boxing should be done,” noted Fundora. “That’s what the fans want to see. They want to see their favorite fighters, fight. I’m glad that I have a team that puts me out there constantly. They work with me, they work with my schedule.
“I said at the end of last year, I told my father [head trainer Freddy Fundora] that I want to fight at least two times this year. He said, ‘Three if we can.’ They gave us the three fights. If we’re asking, they’re [giving]. I’m grateful.”
His rate of activity comes in stark contrast to that of Thurman, 31-1 (23 KOs), who fights for just the third time since his lone career defeat to Manny Pacquiao more than six years ago. The former unified titlist has been hampered by injuries, dating back to the aftermath of his WBC/WBA welterweight title unifying win over Danny Garcia in 2017.
That said, Fundora will at least get the best available version of present-day Thurman, who enters his second fight of the year – his first such campaign since 2019.
Fundora opened up his 2025 with a fourth-round knockout of Chordale Booker on March 22 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Vegas. He then produced his most complete performance to date in a seventh-round stoppage of Tszyu in their July 19 rematch at MGM Grand.
The impressive run trails his lone career defeat, a stunning seventh-round knockout to Brian Mendoza in April 2023. Fundora was well ahead through sixth rounds before he was put on the deck and counted out in one of the year’s biggest upsets.
More than two years later, Fundora has not only stormed all the way back but is now poised to become the class of the 154lbs division.
“It goes to show how far I’ve come along,” noted Fundora. “I’m here headlining as the A-side. I headlined a pay-per-view before against Tim, but I was the B-side. It just shows that I continue to do the right thing. I’m gonna keep doing my job and keep winning.
“I’m 27 years old, a full-grown man. There’s no more excuses. We’re in a different position now. I was learning [earlier in my career]. We were taking pretty tough fights, learning on the job. Now we’re getting there, we’re at the top where everyone’s tough. We learned along the way and we’re very happy to be headlining this card.”
