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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 28: WBC super welterweight Sebastian Fundora (R) fights with Keith Thurman during a title defense at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 28, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
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HIGHLIGHTS
- The WBC super welterweight champion used his massive length advantage to control the fight from start to finish, battering a former champion's face beyond recognition over five-plus rounds.
- The 37-year-old former welterweight champion was game but simply overmatched by a fighter who is too tall, too long and too active for anyone at 154 pounds.
- A unification fight at super welterweight could be next, though network politics may complicate the path to the biggest possible matchups.
Sebastian Fundora successfully defended his WBC super welterweight title as he battered Keith Thurman from pillar to post for five-plus rounds before referee Thomas Taylor called an end to the fight in the sixth.
Fundora’s sixth-round TKO win punctuated a back-and-forth saga with the 37-year-old former welterweight champion and leaves no doubt who’s the premier 154-pounder in the world. From the outset, Fundora’s length was the story.
He smacked Thurman consistently with combinations from the outside, repeatedly beating him to the punch. By the end, Thurman’s face was battered, bloodied and swollen. We’ve never seen him dominated on this level throughout his career. Part of that is because Fundora is really tall and talented. The other piece is Thurman is 37.
How Fundora Dominated
Fundora's poise and relentless approach stood out in this fight. He seemed to be on a seek-and-destroy mission from the beginning.
At 6’5" with an 80-inch reach, Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) used the jab to establish distance and followed with sharp combinations that Thurman could not avoid. The southpaw’s left hand found a home early and often, and by the middle rounds, the damage was accumulating.
Thurman’s face told the story before the referee did. Thomas Taylor stepped in during the sixth round to stop a fight that was becoming increasingly one-sided. This was a more disciplined Fundora. He was measured, patient and devastating when the openings appeared. It was reminiscent of the approach we saw in Fundora’s dominant rematch win over Tim Tszyu.
What Went Wrong for Thurman?
This was simply a horrible matchup for Thurman. Perhaps a 27-year-old Thurman could have performed better, but quite honestly, the massive height and length advantage probably would have been too much then as well.
Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs) moved up from welterweight to face a 6’5" super welterweight champion. The 8-inch height difference and 11-inch reach disparity created angles Thurman had never dealt with in his career. His power shots -- the same ones that earned him the "One Time" nickname -- never found a clean landing spot.
Fundora's movement and range control neutralized Thurman's best weapon. At 37, the reflexes that once made him a unified champion at 147 were a step slower against a younger, longer, more active opponent. Thurman's only loss before this was to Manny Pacquiao in 2019 -- another fight where speed and activity overwhelmed him.
What's Next at 154?
With Xander Zayas seemingly ready to defend his two titles against Jaron "Boots" Ennis, perhaps a unification between Fundora and the other 154-pound champion, Josh Kelly makes sense. Unfortunately, that fight could get held up because of network issues. We'll see.
Fundora has cleared out the WBC side of the division with wins over Tim Tszyu (twice), Chordale Booker and now Thurman. Jermell Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs) remains a name in the conversation, but his return timeline is unclear. The 154-pound landscape is Fundora's to command.
Roy Jones Jr. HONEST REACTION to Fundora STOPPING Thurman
Full Card Results
The rest of the card probably won't move the needle for other fight fans, though Yoenis Tellez's victory over Brian Mendoza (a man who knocked Fundora out back in 2023) was noteworthy.
Tellez (12-1, 9 KOs) earned the unanimous decision over Mendoza (23-5, 17 KOs) in a 10-round super welterweight bout, putting himself back in position for another title shot. Gurgen Hovhannisyan improved to 10-0 with 9 KOs after stopping Cesar Navarro in five rounds at heavyweight. Brayan Gonzalez stayed unbeaten with a fifth-round TKO over Brandon Medina in the First on Prime prelims.
PPV Main Card Results
- Sebastian Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) def. Keith Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs) -- TKO R6 (WBC super welterweight title)
- Yoenis Tellez (12-1, 9 KOs) def. Brian Mendoza (23-5, 17 KOs) -- Unanimous Decision (super welterweight)
- Yoenli Hernandez def. Terrell Gausha -- middleweight
- Gurgen Hovhannisyan (10-0, 9 KOs) def. Cesar Navarro -- TKO R5 (heavyweight)
First on Prime / Prelims
- Elijah Garcia vs. Kevin Newman II -- super middleweight
- Brayan Gonzalez def. Brandon Medina -- TKO R5 (featherweight)
- Kaipo Gallegos vs. Julian Gonzalez -- lightweight
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