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Fundora says he’s the best 154 pounder as Thurman fight looms
Ring Magazine
ARTICLE
Manouk Akopyan
Manouk Akopyan
RingMagazine.com
Fundora says he’s the best 154-pounder as Thurman fight looms
LOS ANGELES – Sebastian Fundora is doubling down on what others have already said on his behalf – that he’s the best junior middleweight on the planet.

Fundora will get to prove his claim once again when he defends his WBC title against Keith Thurman on October 25 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to headline a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view card.

“Keith was one of the pound-for-pound best, but it’s time for a new champion, and I believe I can be the face of this sport,” Fundora said during a recent press conference. “I do believe I’m the best at 154 right now. I’m focused on continuing this reign and doing what I’ve been doing.




“A win would continue to show that I’m doing the right thing. We’ve come so far headlining a pay-per-view as the ‘A-side’, and it shows how blessed I am. I’m gonna keep doing my job and keep winning.”

Although Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) is ranked No. 2 by The Ring at 154 pounds behind Vergil Ortiz Jr., many of his contemporaries believe that “The Towering Inferno” is the top dog in the division, especially after he violently stopped Tim Tszyu in a July rematch.

“The fans want to see their favorite fighters fight. I’m glad that I’m in the ring constantly, and I’m grateful for the opportunities,” Fundora said.

“While I was coming up, I was taking tough fights and learning on the job. Now at this level, everyone you fight is tough. But we learned on the way, and it’s got me prepared for this moment.”

Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs), a former unified welterweight champion, is promising a turn-back-the-clock-like performance at 36 after fighting just twice since suffering the lone defeat of his career to Manny Pacquiao six years ago. A string of injuries and long stretches of inactivity have stalled Thurman’s career in recent years.

He made his 154-pound debut in March, stopping Brock Jarvis inside three rounds in Australia.

“This is gonna be a great fight,” Fundora said. “I’m happy that I have an opponent like Thurman who comes to bang and is ready to make it an exciting night. In boxing, anything can happen. But we train very hard to win, and that’s the only thing we plan on doing on October 25.”

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.



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