SEBASTIAN FUNDORA is gearing up to defend his WBC world title against Keith Thurman on October 25, hoping to distance himself from a chasing pack of ferocious operators at 154lbs.
Their showdown, which headlines an Amazon Prime pay-per-view card at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, was officially announced via Premier Boxing Champions’ social media channels just yesterday.
It must be said, too, that Fundora, 21-1-1 (15 KOs), should enter their fight as a sizable favourite, especially given his dominant 7th-round stoppage victory over Tim Tszyu last month.
Back then, many felt that Tszyu, who displayed such gallantry in their first encounter, could exact his revenge, yet it was ‘The Towering Inferno’ who ultimately utilised every inch of his spindly frame.
Thurman, 31-1 (23 KOs), on the other hand, has hardly enjoyed the same degree of momentum.
In fact, the 36-year-old has only amassed one notable victory, albeit a third-round finish against an overmatched Brock Jarvis in his last outing, at super-welterweight.
Just over three years prior to that one-sided contest in March, the former two-time world welterweight champion outpointed Mario Barrios, the now-reigning WBC titlist at 147lbs, which followed a split decision defeat to Manny Pacquiao in 2019.
In other words, a lack of activity in recent years has seen Thurman’s career dip in and out of obscurity, yet nevertheless, ‘One Time’ clearly remains a household name when it comes to American boxing.
Elsewhere on the PBC card, O’Shaquie Foster will defend his WBC world title against Stephen Fulton, the WBC champion at 126lbs, in a super-featherweight contest that was supposed to take place earlier this month.
Joining them on the bill is top contender Jesus Ramos Jr, who has jumped up from 154lbs in a bid to claim the WBC ‘interim’ middleweight title against Shane Mosley Jr.
