Keith Thurman still creates ahead of the Battle of Sebastian Fundora

Thurman last fought in March 2025, stopping Brock Jarvis in the third round. The result read cleanly, but the performance raised questions. Thurman was shaken early, looked slower than in full swing, and carried more weight through the torso. He relied heavily on movement to survive exchanges and spent much of the opening round stabilizing rather than forcing himself. He has not fought since then, leaving his current state theoretically.

The jump in the opposition is steep. Fundora is 28, stands 6 feet 5 and a half inches tall, fights Southpaw, and owns the advantage of reach that changes how rounds are built. It stays busy, sets weight, and has shown the ability to wear down opponents with volume and power. For many observers, those features build up poorly for an older challenger who comes off limited activity.

That reality has informed the public’s response. A significant proportion of fans see Thurman spent, highlighting his concerns about durability and long absences as signs of irreversible deterioration. Some believe that the return is driven more by an opportunity than a belief, a final high profile match rather than a credible run of a championship.

“Defeat is something I have never tasted,” Thurman said in an interview with Power Show, Inc. “Come March 28, I don’t think I’m going to taste defeat either. We don’t see fighters coming back to beat a young champion very often, but I still believe it’s my time.”

Thurman’s confidence traces back to his loss in 2019 to Manny Pacquiao, a fight he still describes as competitive even though he was dropped and declined late. He insists that moving to 154 lbs offers one last chance to prove that belief. Against Fundora, that allegation will be measured quickly, and without much patience by those who already expect the answer.