Keith Thurman: “I would choose to fight Mayweather over Pacquiao, simply because Mayweather is undefeated!”

Recently I had the opportunity to interview interim WBA world welterweight champion, Keith “One Time” Thurman. A number of topics were discussed including whether Thurman feels he is now ready for the marquee names in the welterweight division, such as Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Thurman also discusses how he would go about fighting both Mayweather and Pacquiao if given the opportunity. Thurman also gave his thoughts on the much anticipated Pacquiao-Bradley rematch, his current goals for 2014 and much more so please enjoy this in depth and revealing piece on Keith “One Time” Thurman.

Robert Brown: Keith, you had a breakthrough year in 2013, what are your plans going forward?

Keith Thurman: Just get back in the ring and keep giving you the same exact action, knockouts. I’m looking forward to mixing it up hopefully with some of the top five people in the welterweight division this year. I just see a lot of exciting things in my future, we just gotta keep training the way we’ve been training and preparing for the competition and taking them out in a fascinating matter, like we have been doing.

Robert Brown: Do you feel ready for the top of the welterweight division, names like Marcos Maidana, Manny Pacquiao, and Floyd Mayweather?

Keith Thurman: Definitely. Maidana actually pulled out of a fight with me over a year ago, and ever since then, he’s been doing quite well for himself. His manager claimed that I was not a tune up fight, and he wanted to make sure he got a tune up fight after his loss to Devon Alexander at 147.

You know, I’ve been preparing my whole life for this, this is what I’ve been waiting for. I’m looking forward to a true test. I want to be tested, I want to know how good I really am, and the only way you truly find out is by being put in with the best in the world. You can go ahead and name off a whole list, it don’t matter if the list is 3 guys, 8 guys, 10 guys. If it’s a good fight, I’m down to make it this year.

Robert Brown: Keith, who is under the most pressure in the upcoming Pacquiao vs. Bradley rematch?

Keith Thurman: It’s a great fight, simply because Timothy want to win because a lot of people said he didn’t win last time and Pacquiao wants to win because he wasn’t given the win last time.

This is what I call a true rematch, that other one was just a dance, it was almost like a sparring session, both guys didn’t take it as serious as the probably should have. This time I’m hoping and expecting to have a better performance.

Robert Brown: Who do you think will win that fight?

Keith Thurman: Pacquiao, as long as he boxes smart and has a clear mind in his training camp. Both fighters have the ability to win, it really just comes down to the training camp and the choices that they make on fight night.

Robert Brown: Given a choice, who would you fight, Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather?

Keith Thurman: I would choose to fight Mayweather over Pacquiao, simply because Mayweather is undefeated. No one has beaten Mayweather. Pacquiao’s been beaten, he’s a true warrior, tremendous respect, he has a similar legendary status but he does not have Mayweather’s legendary status due to Mayweather’s undefeated record.

That’s why I believe Mayweather is considered the king in the ring when it comes to the welterweight division, because he’s never been defeated, and I’d like to get the crown of being the king, so I gotta go after “Money May.”

Robert Brown: Are people avoiding you because of your punching power?

Keith Thurman: Some say that, and it already appears that a lot of people are trying to avoid stepping in the ring and having to deal with my punching power. Apparently people don’t like power, they didn’t like power in the past, you know a lot of people were afraid of Tyson. People claim that no one really wants to step up to GGG (Gennady Golovkin) right now.

It’s just the fight game, at the end of the day, this is a man’s sport and there’s gonna be somebody out there that’s gonna be a true man, somebody who is gonna step up to the plate and do his best to hold his own, like Soto-Karass did in my last fight. There’s always gonna be somebody out there who is willing to put on a show.

Robert Brown: Does the fact that Manny Pacquiao has not yet resigned with Top Rank hold out more hope for the possibility of the Floyd Mayweather super fight?

Keith Thurman: Hey, if he beats Timothy Bradley and he’s out of that contract, I don’t see why not. Maybe Manny is trying to plan for the future, who knows.

Robert Brown: Could you give us your strategies for fighting both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao?

Keith Thurman: I’d do my best to get my respect early, control the pace if possible and look for the counter. Manny is susceptible to a counter, the way he jumps and hops right in. It would be a tough fight, I’d train real hard, I would make sure my stamina was tremendous for both fighters, they both really do come to fight, most of the time they’re in great shape, especially Floyd.

That’s how I feel about Manny, just get my respect early, look for the counter and hopefully get him out of there. I truly believe in my power, the nickname is “One Time” and I look for the KO all the time, that’s just how I do. I wouldn’t change my game plan against Manny Pacquiao.

Robert Brown: Is the way that Manny Pacquiao is fighting a direct result of the knockout against Marquez, or does he look after Bob Arum’s fighters?

Keith Thurman: Interesting, because I’ve had the opinion that he tries to look after Bob Arum’s fighters, but I believe that the knock out has something to do with it as well. I think he looked at it as an easy fight, and an opportunity to be a little bit more patient, an opportunity to just focus on winning and not doing the damage, not making Bob Arum’s fighter look as bad as he possibly could.

At the same time, the more you push yourself, the more susceptible you are to that one counter shot. I think he just fought that fight however he wanted to fight it, to dust off and to feel good about himself in the ring again after the loss that he took with Marquez. Now he got that and now he’s looking forward to a rematch with Timothy Bradley.

Robert Brown: Is a belt important to you or is it just currency to get bigger fights?

Keith Thurman: You know, how much a fighter cares about a belt I believe is a personal question, but those belts are what really makes you seen as a champion by the people. I’ve yet to acquire that true status among the people, and the world of boxing.

That is why I look forward to getting one of the four major titles, but in reality, fighting is really all about the fights, it’s about creating good fights, regardless if it’s a title fight or a non title fight. A lot of times we like to make it for a title, and the organizations like being a part of it as well.

I’m just always looking for a challenge and I see that there’s certain champions out there that are worthy challengers and there’s plenty of title fights that should be made and could be made.

I really enjoyed interviewing rising welterweight star, Keith Thurman, and wish him luck on his journey towards a title.