In a heated post-fight press conference, Keith Thurman unleashed a fiery critique of referee Thomas Taylor following his sixth-round stoppage loss to Sebastian Fundora. The bout, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, saw Thurman’s ambitions of becoming a two-weight world champion dashed as Taylor halted the fight amidst a relentless assault from Fundora.
At the time of the stoppage, Thurman was trailing on all scorecards, with blood streaming down his face. Despite this, the former welterweight champion insisted he was capable of continuing and could have turned the tide of the fight. “Fundora is a tremendous champion,” the 37-year-old acknowledged, before launching into his scathing review of the referee’s performance.
“Whoever that referee was, don’t hire him for main event fights ever again,” Thurman fumed. “Remember Erik Morales vs. Marcos Maidana? Remember how many times people fought with broken orbital bones? This isn’t even broken. I never got dropped in the whole fight. I’m getting caught on the back end of punches.”
Thurman revealed that Taylor had advised him in the locker room to “show me something, move your feet, duck your head, I won’t stop the fight.” “I’m using my legs. I wasn’t buckled, he just jumped in like a white rabbit,” Thurman continued. “Those little hoppy referees, they’re not made for main event boxing. Four more minutes and he could have made a mistake right in front of me. I had that long-term vision and the ref didn’t let me get there.”
Fundora successfully defended his WBC super welterweight world title for the third time, handing Thurman the first stoppage defeat of his career. Despite the loss, Thurman, whose only other defeat came against Manny Pacquiao in 2019, vowed to continue his boxing journey.
“Keep looking forward to what I have to bring,” the Florida native stated. “37 years old. I’ve got some more fight left in me, especially because they stopped it early. I’m here, I’m talking, I’m not stuttering. I’m going to go back into the gym.”
The controversial stoppage has sparked debates among boxing enthusiasts, with many questioning whether the referee’s intervention was premature. Regardless, Thurman’s determination to continue fighting signals that we have not seen the last of ‘One Time’ in the ring.
Team_TBE Boxing
🛒 Premium Recommendations
eAhora Romeo Pro 3 Peak 5600W Electric Bike for Adults 50Mph, 60V 80Ah Battery 250 Miles,Long Range Dual Motors Ebike,26"*4.0 Fat Tire Full Suspension
2026 eAhora Romeo Dual-Motor Ebike – 50Mph 5600W 60-80AH 250Miles Long Range Electric Bike for Adults, Full Suspension Hydraulic Brakes Electric Bicycle, 26" Mountain Bike for Off-Road Commuting
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.