Sebastian Fundora recorded perhaps the most significant win of his career on Saturday, stopping Keith Thurman in the sixth round of their pay-per-view main event from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Fundora, the current WBC junior middleweight titleholder, made his third defense of his belt in emphatic fashion, becoming the first fighter to stop the former welterweight titleholder Thurman. The 28-year-old Fundora, notable for his 6ft 6ins frame in the 154lbs division, has now been featured on pay-per-view cards in three of his past four fights and is developing into a stand-alone boxing attraction.
So whom might he fight next? Here are five potential opponents:
5. Josh Kelly
Record: 18-1-1 (9 KOs)
Chance of happening: 5 per cent
Level of excitement: 5/10
Kelly, who holds the IBF junior middleweight title, is a mover who has maintained elements of his amateur style in the pros. He beat Bakrham Murtaliev in a career-defining win and could look to keep building momentum against Fundora. Kelly against any titleholder in a unification bout would be fascinating, but especially against this version of Fundora, who seems vastly improved.
4. Jaron Ennis
Record: 35-0 (31 KOs)
Chance of happening: 10 per cent
Level of excitement: 7/10
Ennis has looked the part of being one of the best fighters in the division, but without actually holding a belt. This theoretical matchup would pit a distinguished belt holder in Fundora, who has earned his spot, against a young phenom and former welterweight titleholder in Ennis. It would also answer questions about both fighters – and those are the best type of fights. But more than likely, Ennis will face Xander Zayas next instead.
3. Xander Zayas
Record: 23-0 (13 KOs)
Chance of happening: 12 per cent
Level of excitement: 9/10
Zayas is the unified titleholder of the division, holding the WBO and WBA titles. If he doesn’t fight Ennis, a unification bout against Fundora would be the next-best option.
2. Errol Spence Jnr
Record: 28-1 (23 KOs)
Chance of happening: 25 per cent
Level of excitement: 5/10
A lot still has to happen, but it would be fun to watch Spence back in a fight of this magnitude. Since his loss to Terence Crawford, Spence has been far removed from the sport. But he had a great run before losing that welterweight undisputed fight, and he is still close to the kind of premier fighter who can give Fundora a chance to keep building his increasing reputation as a marquee fighter of his era.
1. Jermell Charlo
Record: 35-2-1 (19 KOs)
Chance of happening: 45 per cent
Level of excitement: 9/10
Charlo, the undisputed junior middleweight titleholder until he lost to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, hasn’t fought since. Given Charlo’s resume and personality, this would make for an interesting fight and build-up as Fundora looks to beat the old guard of Premier Boxing Champions.
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
