The WBC super welterweight champion Fundora will face Thurman on March 28 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to headline a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view event. The headliners gathered at the Avalon in Hollywood to begin building interest for their fight.

Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs), of Coachella, California, and Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs, 1 NC), of Clearwater, Florida, were originally scheduled to square off October 28. Fundora was forced to pull out after suffering a hand contusion two weeks before the fight.

It was somewhat of a role reversal for the often-injured Thurman, who's been on the other side of the situation several times in recent years, snakebitten and sidelined due to a series of ailments. Thurman, a former unified welterweight champion, has fought just three times since July 2019, when he got dropped and suffered the lone loss of his career against Manny Pacquiao by split decision.

But at 37, “One Time” Thurman plans to tame the flame that is the “The Towering Inferno,” a lanky and sturdy southpaw nine years his junior.

“Sebastian was a man of his word and wanted this fight to establish himself as one of the great champions,” Thurman said. “My spirit has never been broken. He's going to have to do something brand new come March 28 to break me down.

“We have seen this man in absolute defeat [getting knocked out by Brian Mendoza Jr. in 2023], and that's what I mean with spirits being broken. Luckily he has the grit and has rebuilt his spirit and accomplished some victories.”

Thurman last fought in March 2025 and stopped Brock Jarvis in Australia in the third round. Thurman was getting aligned to fight Tim Tszyu, but the assignment eventually went to Fundora, who brutally beat Tszyu in a July rematch and made him quit in his corner after the seventh round.

Just like their initial kickoff press conference in September, Thurman explained how he was going to overcome an eight-inch height disadvantage against the 6-foot, 6-inch Fundora.

Only this time, Thurman didn’t step on a chair for the faceoff to show the massive size he’ll have to overcome. Thurman printed custom black T-shirts with “TIMBER” emblazoned across, featuring himself as a caricature axing down a tree.

“I already see the mistakes that he's unfortunately going to be making … all I need is one punch,” Thurman said. “Like David versus Goliath, I just have to hit him with one rock, and it's over. We're going to make American boxing great again. You already know, this is the Thurman show. I'm the professor, and he's going to learn. I deliver better than Amazon, I promise.”

While Thurman was boisterous and bombastic, delivering one zinger after another, Fundora was his usual mild-mannered self.

“It’s all talk,” Fundora said. “He's an experienced fighter. I am training hard for everything and when you do that, things will come out in your favor.”

Fundora can partly credit Thurman for things working out in his favor and becoming a world champion.

In March 2024, Thurman was supposed to face Tszyu, but Thurman pulled out of the fight a week before due to a torn biceps that required surgery. Fundora seized the opportunity and beat Tszyu in a bloodbath for the WBC crown he now carries.

But Fundora is still fighting with a chip on his shoulder, even while currently rated as The Ring’s No. 2 contender at 154 pounds.

“I think everyone underestimates me,” Fundora said. “It's part of the game. Sometimes they don't think you're that guy, and sometimes they do. I just have to go out there and show what I am made of.

“I'm going to be victorious and get the job done. I have the experience to do it. It will be another highlight in my career and show that I am going in the right direction.”

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