Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman | PBC PPV - March 28, 2026

[Les Norton]

The referee saved him from a really serious beating.
He looked like he was completely out of his depth and was just getting pulverised.
All that rubbish talk about the difference that another 4 or 6 minutes would have made was just crap.
Another 2 rounds of that and he could have really been hurt.

[MPW]

Yeah, the fight was turning all right. It was turning from an absolute beat down to a potential tragedy.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Keith Thurman Will Not Retire

Keith Thurman is not reaching its final chapter just yet, despite a sixth-round TKO defeat at the hands of WBC Junior Middleweight Champion Sebastian Fundora.

The end came at the 1:17 mark of the sixth round when referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to protect a bloodied Thurman, who was absorbing a heavy barrage of punches against the ropes. Though the record books will show a TKO loss, Thurman arrived at the post-fight press conference in Las Vegas adamant that he was denied the chance to go out on his shield.

Thurman argued that because he remained on his feet and was never “buckled” or dropped, the intervention was premature. Interestingly, Thurman revealed that referee Thomas Taylor had visited him before the walk, specifically warning him that he needed to “show something” to stay in the fight if he fell behind. Despite the official wave-off, Thurman insisted his faculties were intact.

Thurman Reacts
Thurman confirmed that he still possesses the hunger to compete at the highest level, citing his performance in the early rounds as proof that he can still hang with the division’s elite. “One Time” indicated he plans to remain in the junior middleweight division, looking for “legacy” matchups that can propel him back into title contention later in 2026.

“Fundora’s a tremendous champion, but whoever the f**k that referee was, don’t hire him for fing main event s*t again, real talk. I never got dropped in the whole fight. I’m getting caught on the back end of punches. The referee told me in the locker room, ‘show me something, move your feet, duck your head – I won’t stop the fight.’

“The fight was getting fun. People were getting on their feet. We were just getting into the grind. I’ll be back, man. I want to do great things in boxing once again, and I’m gonna come back hard, I’m gonna come back strong,” Thurman said

[Sweet Dick Willie]

Who do we want Fundora to fight next? He could go for the "legend" killer moniker and take on lil Charlo!

[Sweet Dick Willie]

And then Pacquiao

[Sweet Dick Willie]

Who actually are the relevant names in junior middle now? I have no idea

[Ruthless-RKO]

Who do we want Fundora to fight next? He could go for the "legend" killer moniker and take on lil Charlo!

He mentioned Jermell..

Said he should next fight the last undisputed champion

[Sweet Dick Willie]

Who do we want Fundora to fight next? He could go for the "legend" killer moniker and take on lil Charlo!

He mentioned Jermell..

Said he should next fight the last undisputed champion

That would be an interesting fight. If 'mell hasn't retired

[Sendo Takeshi]

Mell didn't fight for 2 1/2 years, probaly 3 years when he fights again. Fundora should stop fighting these basically retired fighters for easy defences and fight an actual prime contender.

[MPW]

Mell didn't fight for 2 1/2 years, probaly 3 years when he fights again. Fundora should stop fighting these basically retired fighters for easy defences and fight an actual prime contender.

Agreed, stop with the retired or semi-retired fighters. Fundora shouldn't even talk about them as potential challengers.

Leaving out the three current champions along with Ortiz Jr and Ennis, there are still plenty of legit "active" boxers for him to fight, including Madrimov, Murtazaliev, Adams, Baraou, Tellez, Sosulin, Samake, Katzourakis, Alejandro Silva, and even Conwell (who somehow managed to lose a SD to Garcia Perez).

[Thomastearns]

Full respect to Thurman but I don't think he realises just what happened in there.

He probably did intend to stay in close like Mendoza did, the usual recommended strategy against taller more rangy opponents, but getting tagged by Fundora's left like that in the first 10 seconds probably put paid to that plan.

[Yuzo]

where you hit fundora is when he is turning into his next punch. then and only then.

[gilgamesh]

Future opponents of Fundora would be wise to listen to this advice. This man be knowing ^

[Ruthless-RKO]

Thurman Refuses To Accept Fundora Stoppage

Keith Thurman is refusing to accept his Sebastian Fundora loss, citing a premature stoppage and a skewed broadcast narrative.

“Fundora’s a tremendous champion, but whoever the fk that referee was, don’t hire him for fing main event s*t again, real talk. I never got dropped in the whole fight. I’m getting caught on the back end of punches. The referee told me in the locker room, ‘show me something, move your feet, duck your head – I won’t stop the fight.’ … The fight was getting fun. People were getting on their feet. We were just getting into the grind,” Thurman said

Upon reviewing the tape, Thurman’s frustration has expanded to include the ringside commentators. He alleges that the television crew “sold” the stoppage. Thurman claims the announcers were obsessed over his facial swelling and blood.



Despite Thurman’s viewpoint, others have made their stance clear. Tim Bradley hit out at Thurman for speaking out against the stoppage, stating that the referee did him a favor by preventing him from suffering more damage.

“You need to be thanking the referee. Send him some flowers, some candy, or something for saving your ass. Referee saved your ass. You was going to be a highlight reel. You ain’t win one round. You was getting blown out,” Bradley said

[MPW]

Thurman Refuses To Accept Fundora Stoppage

Keith Thurman is refusing to accept his Sebastian Fundora loss, citing a premature stoppage and a skewed broadcast narrative.

“Fundora’s a tremendous champion, but whoever the fk that referee was, don’t hire him for fing main event s*t again, real talk. I never got dropped in the whole fight. I’m getting caught on the back end of punches. The referee told me in the locker room, ‘show me something, move your feet, duck your head – I won’t stop the fight.’ … The fight was getting fun. People were getting on their feet. We were just getting into the grind,” Thurman said

Upon reviewing the tape, Thurman’s frustration has expanded to include the ringside commentators. He alleges that the television crew “sold” the stoppage. Thurman claims the announcers were obsessed over his facial swelling and blood.



Despite Thurman’s viewpoint, others have made their stance clear. Tim Bradley hit out at Thurman for speaking out against the stoppage, stating that the referee did him a favor by preventing him from suffering more damage.

“You need to be thanking the referee. Send him some flowers, some candy, or something for saving your ass. Referee saved your ass. You was going to be a highlight reel. You ain’t win one round. You was getting blown out,” Bradley said

Don't disagree that commentators typically favor the house fighter, but seeing what Thurman's face looked like after less than six rounds of boxing seems to indicate their "obsession" wasn't entirely misplaced.

[agarca2014]

2026

Professional Boxing Referee Manual
https://tinyurl.com/rc5375yk

Referee Dressing Room Instructions Script:
https://tinyurl.com/39cz89s7

Armando Garcia