WBA welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman is looking to continue his momentum in his division, as he is coming off an impressive win over Shawn Porter in June. Thurman hopes that performance can launch him into a big fight with one of the superstars of the sport, as both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao seem set to return to the sport.
In part 2 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Keith Thurman, I discuss the possibility of meeting Floyd Mayweather in the ring if he returns to the sport. Thurman also talks about the chances of him fighting Manny Pacquiao. Additionally, Keith talks about his future going forward and his thoughts on the welterweight division. Here is what Keith Thurman had to say.
Jenna J: Floyd Mayweather says he’s interested in coming back to the ring if the money is right. Do you think there’s any chance that he may consider you as an opponent?
Keith Thurman: I believe so, I definitely would hope so. I believe that I am one of the most entertaining welterweights in the world today amongst the boxing fans. You can see when I’m in the ring, you can see it in the ratings, you can see it in the stadium.
For years and years I’ve been calling out Floyd, I’ve been wanting the opportunity, I fought my way to a mandatory position and then he got elevated to a point to where I couldn’t touch him politically with the super title. He was not obligated to face any mandatories and I was elevated to the regular champion of the world, that was a very frustrating situation for me to be in at that time in my career.
I look forward to all challenges, I look forward to Floyd coming back and I would love for him to see ‘One Time’ just one time. I’m not going to ask for two times, I just want to get in that ring one time, twelve rounds with your boy Keith Thurman.
Jenna J: In three of your last four fights, you have gone the distance. Is it frustrating to you that these guys aren’t going out?
Keith Thurman: I have thought intensely about what the issue is here, and I believe that it’s simple, we’re at another caliber and these guys are not going to simply fall easily. I believe that I’m going to have to push myself a little bit more if I want to be as devastating as I once was.
I believe that I do have the ability and I’m constantly going to talk about it because I believe in myself. I’m jut going to have to run some extra sprints, maybe get back on a weight training regiment and really bring it and not let up on these boys next time. I do my best each and every time but with every camp there’s a different approach and I’m just going to have to change things up a little bit to create those knockouts that I know I’m capable of doing.
Jenna J: Now that the Al Haymon and Top Rank lawsuit is over, there is interest in doing something together for a fight with Manny Pacquiao. Do you think Pacquiao’s name should be named in the same sentence with Keith Thurman?
Keith Thurman: I don’t see why not. Manny Pacquiao is an extremely exciting fighter, he’s an aggressive fighter similar to Shawn Porter. I think it would make a terrific fight.
Jenna J: Is there anything you want to say to the fans about the fight with Shawn Porter and your future going forward?
Keith Thurman: All I would like to say is thanks for the love and support from everybody that we got in the Barclay’s Arena. It was a terrific fight, I had a terrific night, I truly enjoyed performing there, I look forward to performing again later on this year.
Stay tuned, get at me at @KeithFThurman on Twitter and KeithOneTimeThurman on Instagram. This is your boy ‘One Time’ all the time, I’m trying to make these championship bouts happen for you guys, so lets talk about Danny Garcia, lets talk to his dad and lets try to make this fight happen. I believe it’s a well deserved fight for both of us and for the fans.
I hope PAC sticks to his guns and remains retired. He doesn’t need to prove anything. Plus, it seems pretty obvious Arum wants to squeeze every penny out of his contract before the end of the year, because that’s when it expires. Greedy man that cares nothing about Manny’s health!!
keith will be an easy prey for manny.
Manny said he’s still got it and boxing still in his heart. So let him fight!?
Jenna: “Do you think Pacquiao’s name should be named in the same sentence with Keith Thurman?”
There must be some kind of typographical error in there, Jenna. I guess, the names were badly interchanged.
In the meantime, Arum and Co. are fooling the public! Manny is not coming back! And the dates that Arum threw in the media were made-up. Manny just declared on Philippine television that there is no truth to the rumors. He and Arum has never spoken to each other. And that he will fulfill what he has sworn, and that is to focus on his duty as a Senator of the Philippines. Pls just stop using Manny’s name.
Thurman is a Junior Middleweight. Errol Spence is a Middleweight. Brook is aJunior Middleweight. Danny Garcia is a Middleweight. What is common among these big boxers fighting at a lower division. The always want to fight smaller opponents. And Manny is a small opponent, a blown up lightweight who has no time to get down to his true weight division.
Manny’s same size: JMM, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Mikey Garcia, Adrien Broner, Orlando Salido
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