Thurman willing to prove himself against Maidana and Pacquiao to get Mayweather fight

By Boxing News - 07/09/2015 - Comments

EW5G4087(Photo credit: Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions) By Dan Ambrose: WBA World welterweight champion Keith Thurman (25-0, 21 KOs) appears to be disturbed that he’s not likely going to get the September 12th fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. no matter how good Thurman looks in his next fight against Luis Collazo (36-6, 19 KOs) this Saturday night at the USF Sundome, in Tampa, Florida, USA.

Thurman sees Mayweather more considered with making money than his legacy. He feels that if Mayweather were to fight him, he’d be showing that he’s concerned with leaving a great legacy.

Thurman says he’d be willing to prove himself by fighting the same guys that Mayweather has fought in battling Marcos Maidana and Manny Pacquiao.

Thurman’s message about Mayweather would be better received if Thurman were to lead by example. He talks of Mayweather not being concerned with his legacy for not facing him, yet Thurman has never fought a top quality contender as of yet. Thurman hasn’t fought the likes of Marcos Maidana, Manny Pacquiao, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan, Tim Bradley or even Errol Spence.

“As soon as that man nicknamed himself money, its apparent what his interest is, money, not legacy,” Thurman said to thaboxingvoice.com. “Karim Mayfield? Look as his record look at his resume and you want to say Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman not ready. Was Victor Ortiz ready? Was Robert Guerrero ready?”

Mayfield compares a lot with Thurman’s opponent for Saturday night Luis Collazo. Mayfield vs. Collazo would likely be seen as a 50-50 fight in the eyes of a lot of boxing fans. Mayweather might not even fight Mayfield though. He brought his name up but he might have done it in order to mess with the minds of boxing fans.

“C’mon now. Look what I just did to Robert Guerrero, I told ya’ll I was gonna destroy him,” Thurman said. “I’ll go fight Marcos Maidana; I’ll go the Floyd Mayweather route and fight Manny Pacquiao. I’ll fight the world.”

What’s interesting here is Thurman doesn’t mention Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s names. Those are two fighters that Mayweather beat not too long ago. If Thurman is really serious about wanting to prove himself by fighting the same guys that Mayweather has fought in the past, then he shouldn’t skip over two of the toughest fighters in Canelo and Cotto. I don’t think Thurman would be able to beat either of those guys. They hit too hard, and Thurman’s chin is too fragile. But if Thurman wanted to show the boxing world that he’s the guy to take over for Mayweather, he’d at least make an effort to put himself into the Cotto, Canelo or even the Gennady Golovkin equation.

Thurman rehydrates to the 160s, which makes him just as big as Cotto. If Cotto is expected to fight Golovkin, then Thurman should be able to do it as well. If Thurman beats Cotto, Golovkin and Canelo, he wouldn’t need to fight the likes of Mayweather.



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