Lonnie B. Thompson predicts that WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora will knock out Keith Thurman when he attacks him to the body in their fight on October 25th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The dormant super middleweight Thompson states that the former WBA and WBC welterweight champion Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) hasn’t been active enough for him to have a chance of beating the young 27-year-old Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs).
Fundora’s Body Shot KO Plan
“Fundora rips to the body. I just can’t see Keith Thurman keeping him off. As soon as he touches him to the body, it’s over,” said Lonnie B. Thompson to Fighthype, talking about the Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman fight. “No,” said Thompson when asked if Tim Tszyu was a tougher opponent for Fundora in their two fights than Thurman will be on October 25th. “Yes, I believe [Thurman is a step down].”
The body attack from Fundora will test Thurman’s ability to withstand those types of shots. He had problems with body punchers in the best, getting hurt by Manny Pacquiao, Luis Collazo, and Diego Chaves. Thurman beat Chaves and Collazo, but he was still hurt in those fights.
Thurman’s Inactivity Puts Him at Risk
“He hasn’t been active. Fundora is a tough fight. To come right out of the gate and go ahead of him. That’s tough,” said Thompson about Thurman taking a difficult fight with so little activity in the last six years.
Even in Thurman’s prime nine years ago, Fundora would be pure trouble for him because of his high volume, size, body punching, and relentless style of fighting. The hit-and-move style that Thurman used when he was younger wouldn’t hold Fundora off. He’d cut off the ring on him like he did against Nathaniel Gallimore and force him to exchange.
Sebastian’s Style Beats Thurman
“He’s [Fundora] like 9’11”, throwing shots from everywhere. Keith Thurman, I never thought he was nothing special. I don’t see what possible chance he has of beating Fundora. How is he going to box someone with arms [really] long? How is he going to hit him with a jab?” said Thompson.
The last high-level opponent Thurman has fought was then 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao on July 20, 2019, and he lost to him by a 12-round split decision. In Thurman’s two fights since, he has fought the unranked Brock Jarvis and Mario Barrios. Without Keith taking some tune-up fights to get him, it’s going to be a hard fight for him.
“He’s going to have to get in close, keep it aggressive, and get into a fire. Absolutely. You saw with Brian Mendoza. He was right there, mid-range in close, and he ended up catching him,” said Lonnie B. about Mendoza, who knocked out Fundora in the seventh round in 2023. “It seems like his chin got stronger. Now, he gets hit with shots and it doesn’t even phase him,” said Thompson about Fundora.
Thurman, 36, hasn’t fought the kind of opposition in his last two fights to prepare him for a fight against the 6’6″ Fundora. Moreover, ‘One Time’ Thurman’s inactivity will put him at a big disadvantage fighting a younger, high-volume fighter like the 27-year-old Fundora.
Thurman’s last four fights:
- Brock Jarvis: March 2025
- Mario Barrios: February 2022
- Manny Pacquiao: July 2019
- Josesito Lopez: January 2019
Last Updated on 08/19/2025
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