By Dan Ambrose: Inactive WBA “regular” welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs) says he’s looking forward to 2016 so that he can show that he’s not afraid to lose. Thurman, 27, sees himself as the next generation of the welterweights, and he wants to test himself to see how far he can take his career.
Unfortunately, Thurman has been resting on his laurels for the past five months after beating past his best high level journeyman Luis Collazo earlier this year in July. Before that, Thurman beat another past his prime fighter in Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero in February.
Boxing fans want to see Thurman fight former IBF 147lb champion Shawn Porter or unbeaten Errol Spence Jr. in order to see if Thurman is serious about not being afraid to lose, but unfortunately the fans have had to sit through Thurman being matched against old lions for the entire 2015 year.
Fans can only hope that Thurman is finally matched up against a quality younger fighter instead of older guys. In 2014, Thurman fought 40-year-old Leonard Bundu and 36-year-old former IBF lightweight champion Julio Diaz. It was another year of Thurman being matched up against old lions.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for an opportunity like this,” Thurman said. “Before Floyd retired, we were trying to get a fight against Floyd Mayweather. I told everybody in the world that I’m an undefeated champion but I’m not afraid to lose. We’re the next generation. Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman represents the next generation. 26-0, with 22 knockouts. I’m not afraid to fight anybody. I’m really looking forward to it. I want to see how far I can go,” Thurman said.
Thanks for naming me PBC's 2015 Fighter of the Year. I promise even bigger things to come in 2016! #OneTime pic.twitter.com/Nuop6sLq5W
— Keith Thurman Jr. (@keithfthurmanjr) December 20, 2015
We’re hearing a lot of talking from Thurman, but not much in the way of action. There was talk of Thurman fighting Shawn Porter on December 12th, but instead of that happening, we’re only hearing Thurman talk about how he’s looking forward to 2016, and how he’s not afraid to lose. If Thurman is really not afraid to lose, then why is he still fighting old timers repeatedly instead of facing the younger guys like Spence and Porter?
It seems like Thurman’s tough talk doesn’t match his actions because he’s not backing it up in the ring by facing the younger guys. Thurman is doing a great job of cleaning up on the high level journeyman that are still hanging around the welterweight division, but he’s doing a terrible job of actually putting his unbeaten – and some would say inflated record – on the line against fighters that are actually good and in their prime.
At this point I’m starting to wonder whether Thurman will ever fight anyone good, because he’s had too many years where he’s fought showcase opposition designed to make him look good. Thurman has been a pro for almost nine years now, and he still hasn’t fought one good welterweight in my view. Thurman has been beating the fringe level and journeyman type guys, but not the top five quality fighters.
Comments are closed.