Keith Thurman’s Latest Setback

Keith Thurman’s fight with WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora is off after the latter suffered a hand injury, as Thurman’s career continues to take a hit. 

The bout was on course for Las Vegas on October 25, headlining from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It would have given Thurman the chance to secure a win against a big name, silencing the doubters who say he was not the same fighter who unified at 147. Combinations of injuries and inactivity have hampered him. And yet, he only has one loss on his record which came against Manny Pacquiao in 2019. Thurman’s last fight was a win over Brock Jarvis in March, as we look at the implications. 

Implications

Thurman’s career has been defined by extreme inactivity, having fought only three times since 2017. His last scheduled major fight against Tim Tszyu in March of the previous year was also canceled due to Thurman pulling out with an injury. This repeated failure to follow through on high-profile bouts diminishes his professional standing, with significant ring rust and questions about his reliability.

The fight with Fundora was a guaranteed WBC junior middleweight title shot. This represented the quickest and most direct path for Thurman to recapture a world title and secure a massive payday. This delay carries significant risk: Fundora could pursue an interim bout, or, more importantly, the WBC could mandate another challenger, potentially leaving Thurman without a title shot.

Fundora’s style may have helped Thurman, who is a slick boxer, while Fundora is prone to being hit cleanly. By the time Fundora returns in 2026, he will be fresh, fully recovered from his hand injury, and potentially an even more difficult target, giving Thurman less of an immediate competitive edge against a champion who will be well-rested.