Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) plans on reviving his career at 37 to become a power player once again, much like he was as a unified welterweight champion nearly nine years ago.

At the time, Thurman was operating at the peak of his powers and chasing a Floyd Mayweather matchup while peers Errol Spence and Terence Crawford were getting muted whenever it was time to discuss a fight.

Now, Thurman, Spence, as well as Jermell Charlo, seemingly all need each other as they navigate in the advanced stages of their careers while seeking meaningful and lucrative fights in the junior middleweight division.

“People are wondering why I'm fighting Fundora and not Spence or Charlo,” Thurman told The Ring.

“Those are great fights, but you can't fight people when there are no contracts. Those guys have been inactive, similar to me, and we've had different timelines. So do they need tune-ups? Or are they ready to get in the ring with elite competition right away?

“They don't want to fight me because I don't have a world title. They don't want the bragging rights. But they are going to want to fight me after I beat Fundora. The risk-reward factor will be leveled once I become the champion, and it'll be easier for them to step up to me. We'll see what happens.”

Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) hasn’t fought since getting stopped by Crawford in July 2023. Spence turned 36 this month and should be making his long-planned 154-pound debut.

Charlo (35-2-1, 19 KOs), the former undisputed junior middleweight champion, hasn’t fought since getting dropped in a one-sided unanimous decision defeat against then-undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez in September 2023. Charlo turns 36 in May.

The oft-injured Thurman hasn’t been a poster child for activity, either, fighting just twice since the lone loss of his career against Manny Pacquiao in 2019.

But Thurman has been picked to spearhead another PPV show, this time in a title shot against Fundora that could lead to bigger and better things against his longtime PBC stablemates if he emerges victorious.

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan