The welterweight division has quickly become one of the most talented divisions in the sport. Currently Floyd Mayweather Jr hold 3 of the 4 major title belts, while Kell Brook holds the IBF title. Keith “One Time” Thurman is currently the interim WBA welterweight champion, and while he does not yet hold a major belt, he is proving each fight out that he is among the very best in the division.
In part 2 of my interview with Keith Thurman, I discuss with him his options in the division and if he could ever see a Amir Khan or Floyd Mayweather Jr bout happening. I also get Keith’s thoughts on whether or not he thinks Amir Khan is scared of his power. Additionally Thurman shares his views on Mayweather vs. Pacquiao and the shoulder injury that Pacquiao came into the ring with. Here is what Keith Thurman had to say.
Robert Brown: Keith what are your thoughts on Amir Khan as an opponent? And do you think a Floyd Mayweather fight is possible for yourself if Khan does not get a shot?
Keith Thurman: Amir Khan is a great opponent, I would love to fight Amir Khan at 147lbs. I made a statement and I have no problem making the statement, Amir Khan has no business fighting at 147lbs. He just fought Chris Algieri and Chris Algieri has no business fighting at 147lbs. Now that I’m going to fight Luis Collazo, me and Amir Khan are going to have a common opponent.
Floyd Mayweather fought Robert Guerrero for his first fight on the Showtime contract, so me and Floyd already have a common opponent and the world knows that I was able to cause more damage to Guerrero than Floyd was. I look forward to doing the same thing to Collazo, giving him more damage than Amir Khan gave him.
After this, it’s going to be the same as everything, I’m ready for the world. I’m ready for the best fighters in the welterweight division and if that means Amir Khan, bring it. If that means Shawn Porter, bring it. If it means Floyd Mayweather, bring it.
Robert Brown: Amir Khan is calling out everyone except you, Kell Brook and Superman, why do you think that is? Do you think he’s afraid of your power?
Keith Thurman: Definitely. Amir Khan is a very scared fighter, he fights with a scared mentality. A scared fighter is a fighter who does not want to be hit. A smart fighter doesn’t want to be hit, but when you watch a fighter about to be hit and you look at his reaction, in the reaction moment, you should be able to tell the difference of a smart fighter and a scared fighter. Floyd Mayweather is a smart fighter, Amir Khan is a scared fighter.
Robert Brown: We talked a lot about the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight in the lead up to the event. Now that the fight has happened, did it play out how you expected it to play out?
Keith Thurman: Yeah for the most part. I knew Mayweather, as long as he was going to use the best strategy, I figured his best strategy was to use his footwork and to potshot all night, and that’s pretty much what he did. He controlled Manny Pacquiao on the outside and he never really stood in front of Manny Pacquiao, not being an easy target for him. It was a beautiful job by Floyd and it’s what I expected from him.
Robert Brown: Why would Pacquiao’s camp allow Pacquiao to go into a fight with a torn rotator cuff? Why would they allow that to happen?
Keith Thurman: Something like 80 million dollars can answer that question. The money, the money makes people make certain decisions. I believe Max Kellerman made a statement like a week after the Floyd fight on how he was supposed to get some form of a shot, some sort of treatment the night before the fight and it was supposed to be sanctioned by the Nevada commission. The problem was, certain paperwork didn’t get filled out and Nevada declined Pacquiao of whatever treatment he was supposed to be allowed to have for the fight.
Pacquiao expected to get treatment on the shoulder and that would have helped him perform in the fight, but instead he was unable to get the treatment due to some technicality, some paperwork backstage. Whose fault is it? Is it Freddie Roach’s fault? Is it the Navada Commissioner’s fault? Is it Pacquiao’s team fault? Whose fault is it?
At the end of the day, I believe that it’s the fighter and his trainer’s job to show up in the best physical shape possible and they didn’t do that, and that’s their bad. Mayweather came to perform. I don’t think he deserves a rematch, I don’t think anyone wants to see a rematch. Just like my nickname, sometimes you only get ‘One time.’
People paying to watch mayweather fight just to see how he react when he lost to a single fight. It’s not about because he is TBE..
on that fight we cannot blame pacquiao because he do his best while mayweather is not. he cannot fight pacquiao in front of him his scared his always running.
So you didn’t see the fight huh. Floyd fought Pac man in a box. Pac got in 2 or 3 good blows. Most of the night Floyd hit him with straight rights and check hooks. Didn’t dance around the ring and your lb for lb champ look like an amature. He and Roach live on fantasy island. Actually if points were give out on fantasy boxing, he would have lost that two. Everyone wants Floyd to stand and fight. He stood in front on Canelo, Cotto, Marquez, ect. and made all of them look like amatures. You don’t have to like him outside the ring, but between the ropes he’s the best out there! period.
Suck floyds dick already faggot
Nobody can win against Mayweather at MGM (NSAC) will do everything to protect FMJ there. Even you, Keith. You will fight 5 persons ( three judges, referee and FMJ).
Keith thurman is a beast! One of my favorite fivhters in the sport, he brings it evry fight. He iz a complete fighter, he can box when he needs to and has power in both hands. I would love to see a top fivhter at 147 lbs stop ducki g my man one time! Kell Brook, Amir kahn, Marcos Maidana even TBE would all be great for the sport of boxing.
im sure if keith thurman fight pacquiao he will badly lost, for this moment of time his not at the level of pacquiao and mayweather. another couple of years of training.
I agree, if not paying his opponent,paying the judges,what about if floyd accidentally knock out by his opponent he pays?I bet there will be a riot in the ring.
all of you STUPID AND DELUSIONAL mother fuckers, thank you for supporting me!!! KEEP UP WITH YOU STUPIDITY ‘COZ I LOVE IT ASSHOLES!!! THAT IS MY MAN KEITH! LOVE YOUR STUPITIY MAN FOR TELLING LIES IN SUPPORT OF MY FUCKING GLORY!!! LOVE YOU MAN! KEEP THAT UP YOU MORONIC IDIOTS!!! LOVE YOU ALL MOTHERFUCKERS!!!
You chicken scares to fight in front Pac.Dont run, hug and bad tactics. You paid around you to secure your winning.
You chicken scares to fight in front Pac.Dont run, hug and bad tactics. You paid around you to secure your winning. Out box does only in amateur. How come MW doesnt like rematch with PAC People were not satisfied and deserve to watch again as they paid too much.
You chicken scares to fight in front Pac.Dont run, hug and bad tactics. You paid around you to secure your winning. Out box does only in amateur. How come MW doesnt like rematch with PAC People were not satisfied and deserve to watch again as they paid too much.
He suddenly decided to fight PAC coz he knew PAC is being suffering shoulder injury.
A lot of people say Manny should have won vs Floyd, despite Manny’s right shoulder injury, what would it be, if Manny fought w/o injury in his right shoulder, Floyd could be knocked- out. Why Floyd as usual, refuses again to fight Manny in a rematch. Because, Manny is still a risk to beat Floyd, why he had ducked Manny 6 years ago, and just agreed after a years of ducking Manny, because of the pressure from the fans, media people, people around the world, etc. thus, he was nowhere to go but to fight Manny. If Leonard vs Duran fought 3 times, Ali vs Prasier 3 times Gaite vs Ward, etc also fought 3 times and alaso more because they were the best in their era, why Floyd refuses to fight Manny in a rematch, Floyd gave Maidana a rematch, Why not Manny when Floyd and Manny are the best and most popular fighter in this era. If possible they should fight in a triology fight to seal who is the best. Perhaps, Floyd still has in fear in his mind to fight Manny, despite his win in a controversial unanimous decision.
You can’t be serious???? With all the years of talk about how Manny would destroy Floyd if he ever got in the Rig with him and Floyd would run all night plus the Biggest insult to Pacquiao Fans is that they had 5 years to devise a plan to beat Floyd and that was the best they could come up with???
I like Manny and think that his accomplishments in the sport clearly place him in an Elite group of Boxers but in the Fight to determine the “Best” of our generation he lost! To be in the conversation as one of the best to lace them up is the dream of every Boxer, Manny’s dream was derailed by the Superior Boxer that Floyd Mayweather is! Its no more or less than that!
No so called Pay Offs of Referees, Judges or Doctors, a Disreputable Boxing Commission, Injuries Sustained or Alleged had any bearing on the outcome of this fight, Manny simply lost to the man he faced in the Ring on this night and there is absolutely no shame in that!
What is shameful though is everything that has taken place, alleged to have taken place and been said after the fight to somehow diminish the credit that Floyd earned in this victory!
Had Manny gracefully accepted the loss and congratulated Floyd there certainly would have been justification for a potential Rematch but I agree with Floyd that in this case that Manny dishonored himself, his Fans, Boxing and it’s supporters and definitely does not deserve a Rematch!!
As for Thurman, I’m not impressed!! Thurman hasn’t fought anyone to earn a shot at Floyd! He gets hit easily and while Floyd is not a huge KO threat, Thurman will see more leather than a Tannery!
Floyd beats Thurman easily on points and I wouldn’t rule out a late stoppage if Thurman got desperate and tried to mount a comeback realizing the insurmountable point deficit!
There is no one currently in the conversation at 147 that can beat Floyd period! There it is I said it!
The List:
Pacquiao
Bradley
Maidana
Marquez
Kahn
Thurman
Brook
Porter
Broner
Chavez
Berto
The Less Known or too late for the Golden Ticket future move ups and Stars!
Ali
Spence
Crawford
Pedroza
Verdejo
Najera
Wlalters
Barthelemy
Marriaga
thurman is right the money how you can argue on 160 million dollars for pacman not to continue mayweather pacquiao bout its all about money i blame both of them conspiracy mayweather doesnt wanhe biggest loser here is a boxing fans to pay 100 dollars PPV all you can see is running holding clinching not to press action and i blame also kenny bayless he didnt do nothing he let mayweather to do whatever he wants to lose pacman is ok with that he accept thats part of boxing sometimes you win sometimes you lose t not so the next they fight they have to boycott all of their fights if then shut the fuck up they both laughing right now theres no loser in this fight
Only a person who clearly has a biased opinion can say Manny won or would win a rematch. Manny lost horribly. It was an embarrassment to see that shit. His so called injury was an old one he’s fought through many times. The only excuse for the lost is. He fought a better fighter who controlled the whole fight. Like he does with everyone. All u fake boxing fans should that don’t understand the fight game should stand down. Take up golf, or simply shut the fuck up. Manny threw his right hand repeatedly just every time he did he met the check left hook. Which made him not want to throw. Manny was frustrated the whole fight. Watch it again
If Floyd Mayweather really has balls, then show the whole world that he is really TBE by giving his opponents fair unbiased playing field by changing the venue outside of UDA like Macao or Dubai and 3 independent respectable judges, no american judges this time. If he can do this and win, then I will really believe he is the TBE. But if he always insist on MGM Lad Vegas, I have no more faith onbhis boxing abilities. Look at Muhammad Ali, he fought in Manila (Thrilla In Manila) to prove to the world he is not cheating and the referee was a Filipino, not American.
To Arnel Santos,
Ali had the fight in Manila because that fight would not have been sanctioned here in the US, not to show the world he was not a cheater. Not denying that Ali was, and is TBE, that was not his reason for taking the fight there. As for Mayweather being a cheater if you’re a real fight fan, you would know that he has fought this way for the last 10 years or so… DEFENSIVELY. Hit don’t get hit. He made Manny look bad, a guy who normally this 800-1000 punches a fight only threw what 400-500. And that shoulder injury is one he has fought with before, Floyd just frustrated him with that check left hook.
everybody knows manny pacquiao is rhe best fighter and dangerous fighter thats why floyd mayweather he do everything he is going to pay the judges the all the employers of the MGM GRAND ,NEVADA STATES AND EVERYBODYS IMVOLVES EVEN THE CAMERA MAN IN THE ALL ACCESS OR 24/7 and also the one who do the DRUG TESTING…..BECO– USE FLOYD HE IS TERRIBLE AFRAID TO LOOSE OR Nock out to MANNY PACQUIAO …THATS THE REASON …BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS MANNY IS THE WINNER ….AND THE NUMBER ONE BOXER
Manny is a bought boxer. He is part of the syndicate. He easily fools his people and the American public by using GOD and declaring GOD will deliver Floyd into my hands. The people bought that. They sincerely bilieve what Manny said. So they bought PPV, betted money on Manny, coz they WERE made to BELIEVE that HE will PUT Floyd DOWN. When he can’t, its so EASY for them to make an excuse that FLOYD run like a CHICKEN so I failed. And add more lies with that shoulder injury. Chief to chef, Refs to Judges, and so even Doctors are part of the consspiracy. He made Millions, at the expense of his own Dignity. He and Chavit are laughing. We were all fooled. Count me out Mr. Pacquiao. You just lost a solid follower. I had it.
@Arch your stupidity amuses me..saying things out of that empty brain of yours.. Your opinion is conclusive, imaginary and presumptive..I’m a mayweather fan but he fought scared against a one arm fighter, he never really cared about entertaining his fans he only cared about the money he will get..But Pacquiao eventhough injured still fought valiantly in the ring against Mayweather who ran, who hugged, who headlocks and who cheated by pulling Pacquiao’s injured shoulder, is that a man of honor? Even Mayweather senior thought that floyd lost to manny..I personally thought that Manny won..
If there will be no rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao, Pacman should just retire and be a full time pastor. He will for sure beva winner there. If he stayed being a catholic, he probably still has his killer instinct
Big mistake. Letting those pastors brainwashed him. That is why Mommy Dionisia was frustrated with Manny. He should have followed the example made by Mayweather, get out of Top Rank, and be his own boss, replace Freddie Roach find a better younger trainer and replace all of his advisers and people around him with new team. If he cannot do this, he better retire, be just a full time pastor because he promised that he is going to beat Mayweather and he failed miserably.
I km
It doesn’t matter who fight the lil guy from Las Vegas they ll lose .mayweather great defense not much offence that’s not the I’d like to see thurman ,fight mayflower I’ve always said mayflower needs to fight a same speed great reflects black boxer .no not old mosley I never really seen mayflower box’s the black guys y is that .?
Mayweather is not tbe to me anybody who does 2 months in jail is not tbe oj would laugh at 2 months mayflower s a chump fools gold
You dumb ass. So i guess Ali isnt 1 of the best either since he was in jail for 5yrs huh? Fuckin idiot. Sit your dumb ass down somewhere…you clearly dont know shit about boxing.
All of you non boxing idiots. Why does Manny deserve a rematch. He couldn’t even hit Floyd , so who wants to see that. Your problem is you don’t like floyd, it’s got nothing to do with boxing. Put this in your memory bank. 2 Images that will never be forgotten, both climatic and game changers. 1. Buster Douglas knocking out an over rated mike tyson. Who did mike beat that was relevant. He lost twice to Holyfield, and once to Lennox Lewis. Mike knocked out a bunch of bums. 2. Manny being flattened by Marquez, they thought he was dead. If floyd would have fought Manny 5 years ago, it would have been worse. He was faster 5 years ago and is still fast 5 years later. When floyd fights his last fight, Im done with boxing. So keep Manny in your prayers because he won’t see floyd again. Peace bitches. Thurman, you fight in a phone booth, Floyd will pick you apart.
Lol !! Pac got hit MW soid shot youre saying not even hit. Try to stand with MW and punch him. He keeps pushing you away, run, hug and shivering to get bruiise.
Mayweather is good in the NASCAR his fast runing the little hen or in 100 meters in the Olympics
Hey, Keith! WATCH THE F******KING FIGHT AGAIN AND SEE WHO GOT HIT MORE SOLIDLY! Floyd was about to f*****king cry in the 4th and 6th rounds. Even hall of famers Holyfield and Mosley thought Pacquiao won. One word of advice: have your eyes check again. In Vegas, Floyd is protected by the gambling lords and he is their money cow. So if you are planning to fight Floyd, better fight him outside of Vegas. That is if he’s brave enough to fight anybody outside of Vegas. Because outside of Vegas, Floyd can not use his hit and run AMATEUR style of boxing.
THE ONLY THING I KNOW IS MAYWEATHER JR WAS FIGHTING SCARED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE ROUND UNTIL ROUND 12,HE AVOIDED KO COZ JUDGES WILL TAKE THE REST.
Now Mayweather is retired (?) the field is open for whoever has the guts to go for it. Would love to see Thurman line up against Khan but first Thurman has got to overcome Shawn Porter and Khan has got himself Canelo! Some nice clips of Thurman in action on his official web page http://www.premierboxingchampions.com/keith-thurman