Thurman Defends Fundora Title Shot, Fans Aren’t Buying It

Keith Thurman says it was “almost right” that WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora gave him a title shot because his injury a year ago allowed him to take the fight he was scheduled for against Tim Tszyu.

How Fundora Benefited From Thurman’s Injury

Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) had been scheduled to challenge the WBO 154-lb champion Tszyu until suffering a bicep injury 12 days before the March 30, 2024, fight. Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) stepped in as the replacement and defeated Tszyu by a 12-round split decision.

“Because of those circumstances, it’s almost right to give Keith Thurman the fight,” said Thurman to YSM Sports Media, arguing that he deserved the fight against Sebastian Fundora because his injury a year ago opened the door for him to fight WBO 154-lb champion Tim Tszyu to dethrone him.

Thurman’s Long Layoffs

No, it’s not “almost right” that Thurman is being given a world title shot against Fundora. The three-year break he took from 2022 to March 2025 is just the tip of the iceberg. Before that, Thurman had been inactive from 2019 to 2022.

That’s another three years. He did not deserve a title shot against Tszyu in 2024 because he was coming off a long three-year layoff and a 12-round split decision defeat against Manny Pacquiao on July 20, 2019.

Thurman’s activity since 2019

• Brock Jarvis: March 12, 2025
• Mario Barrios: February 5, 2022
• Manny Pacquiao: July 20, 2019

Fans don’t agree with the idea of Thurman leapfrogging over contenders at 154 to get a title shot after fighting just once in the last three years since 2022. Last March, ‘One Time’ Thurman made a comeback, defeating the lower-level fighter Brock Jarvis by a third-round knockout.

“I feel not only is this right, because this will elevate him [Fundora] in his career, and has the potential to elevate me in my career. It is a great fight, period,” said Thurman.

For Thurman to get a world title shot after that victory and a three-year layoff is similar to how Manny Pacquiao is being given back-to-back world title shots after a four-year layoff.

Fans Question Boxing’s Broken Merit System

Those two are examples of the merit system of boxing being broken, allowing them to get world title shots that they haven’t earned.

Why Fundora Should’ve Faced a Top Contender

If the sport were regulated, Thurman, 37, would have to defeat top contenders like Jaron Ennis, Erickson Lubin, Brandon Adames, and Israil Madrimov to fight for a world title. As old and ring-rusty as Keith looked against Jarvis, he wouldn’t make it through any of those fighters without getting weeded out.