A Gilded Return: Keith Thurman’s Comeback For Riches And Legacy Against Sebastian Fundora

Keith Thurman was in vintage form today at the kickoff Los Angeles press conference, vowing a “throwback” performance in his title challenge of WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora on October 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The former WBA and WBC welterweight champion, ‘One Time’ Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) briefly stood on a chair during his faceoff with the 6’5 1/2″ Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs). There were some concerns about Thurman, 36, potentially falling off the flimsy-looking chair. Given Thurman’s history of injuries over the last eight years, the last thing the PBC needs is for him to fall and break something.

Calling himself an “OG,” Thurman told the media that he’d accommodate them by giving them a Marvin Hagler vs. Tommy Hearns style of two-round war on October 25. Keith has never fought that way during his 18-year professional career. It’s unrealistic for him to start now.

“At 36 years old, you can call me an OG. The reason I’m still here is the same reason why the fighters are here today. It’s the love we have in our hearts for the sport of boxing,” said Keith Thurman during today’s kickoff press conference in Los Angeles for his fight against Sebastian Fundora on October 25.

Fans on social media believe Thurman’s reason for returning to the sport after a three-year absence is the smell of money. They think that with Turki Alalshikh paying fighters millions, ‘One Time’ Thurman wants to wet his beak in that money.

“I miss the action. I miss the excitement. You put Thurman’s name next to anybody. I guarantee you, it’s a fight you’re not going to want to miss,” said Thurman. “I’m about to conquer Mount Everest. The living, breathing mountain of a man this Fundora is.”

Keith is right. Fans would be interested in seeing him fight anyone. However, some of the top fighters at 154 would be difficult for Thurman to live with at this late stage of his career, with his advanced age and inactivity. He’s only fought once in the last three years, defeating Brock Jarvis by a third-round technical knockout on March 12, 2025. Thurman looked slower and older in that performance than he had in his previous fight against Mario Barrios on February 5, 2022.

“They like to call him ‘The Fire.’ You can put me in the fire. I’ve been 24k gold. Solid. No impurities in my heart,” said Thurman. “This is what I live for—championship boxing, world-class. I go back to the throwbacks. You want a 12-round fight? You want a six-round fight. You want a Hagler-Hearns, baby. You want two rounds of madness, where one of us got to go.

“When two greats go toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow, someone has got to fall down—Hashtag, timber,” said Thurman.

“It’s time for a change in the sport. I’m excited for everything. I’ll see you on September 25th,” said Fundora.