What the comeback fight showed
Thurman boxed twice on that team. His most recent appearance was a brief fight against Brock Jarvis in March 2025, his first fight in three years. While the break came early, it did little to settle doubts.
Many observers noted how quickly Thurman seemed to be laboring, even before the end. Against a limited opponent, it raised alarms rather than reassurance.
Age as a factor
Age sits at the center of those concerns. Thurman is 37. His opponent, Sebastian Fundora, is a decade younger. Fans question whether Thurman still has the legs to manage a long fight, especially given his injury history and lengthy layoffs. The belief is not that he has suddenly forgotten how to box, but that sharpness fades when it is not tested regularly.
Then there is the physical reality. Fundora is an extreme junior middleweight. At over six-foot-five, he brings size and reach that few fighters in the division can match. Thurman moves up from welterweight and gives away height, reach and volume. Many see the task as one of constant pressure and precise timing. Others doubt he can even get close enough to matter.
The question of placement
However, the loudest complaint is about access. Fans continue to question why Thurman is receiving a title opportunity after so little recent work. More active names like Vergil Ortiz Jr. or Bakhram Murtazaliev is often cited as more deserving. The phrase charity battle comes up frequently. So are jumps.
There are still believers. Some point to Thurman’s ring intelligence and timing. They argue that a focused version of him can disrupt anyone. But the delay caused by Fundora’s hand injury only prolonged the conversation. It didn’t relieve it.
