By Dan Esch: During fight week just days before Thurman vs. Bundu and Bradley vs. Chavez across the street from each other in Las Vegas , a war of words between Keith Thurman and Tim Bradley transpired in separate fighter meetings and interviews. These interviews were caught on film by “Dontaes Boxing Nation” via YouTube in response to reporters asking Tim Bradley about Diego Chavez and his dirty tactics versus Brandon Rios.
Reporter: “Tim do you think Diego Chavez uses dirty tactics in the ring?”
Bradley: “I’ve seen him (Chavez) not use dirty tactics when he fought against Keith Thurman he didn’t use “dirty tactics “and he did very well in that fight and yeah he lost that fight against Keith Thurman and Keith found a home for that body shot and ended the night BUT Keith Thurman was having a tough time in there EVEN WITH ALL THAT “POWER” HE GOT”.
Reporter: “Tim so in what ways are you different and more dynamic than Keith Thurman”?
Bradley: ”Defensively , Speed, I’m faster than Keith Thurman and Defensively I think I’m better than Keith Thurman, Keith Thurman just has a lot of “POWER” he has a lot of boxing “ability” BUT his “boxing ability” is not like mine honestly I don’t see it like me. I’m far more elusive and hard to hit and hard to find.”
“Dontae’s Boxing Nation” caught up with Keith Thurman to get his response to Tim Bradley’s assessment of Keith Thurman since Tim would be fighting a former beaten opponent of Thurman in Diego Chavez who Keith Thurman knock down in the the 9th round with a hard body shot and then a knock out in the 10 round.
DB: “I talked to Tim Bradley at the workout/fighter meetings yesterday he says (Bradley) that he’s a better boxer than you and he says he has better foot movement than you he also thinks his defense is a little bit better than you so what do you think about that WHO IS A BETTER BOXER he said you only have the POWER edge over him?”
Thurman: (SARCASTICALLY) “Yeah umm let’s um let’s let him (Bradley) let US make that a true statement YEAH SURE YEAH SURE (sarcastically) Sure I can only punch and my feet are ugly as SH%T I mean I got some ugly feet (foot work) now I’m actually not too sure about my hand speed or my POWER I don’t know if my POWER is real or people just like to lay down for me.”
Thurman: (sarcastically) “Look Bradley I think that now, I AM the most “overrated” boxer you know so if you Bradley want to just go out there and out box someone nice and easy than you should just pick me. (Smile)
In my opinion I think Keith Thurman put on a great performance that was different from his “norm” because what he showed was that he is able to do it “all” at the young age 25 in the art & sport of “boxing” as far as showcasing true “boxing” skill instead of just “fighting”. Keith Thurman is separate and different from other “fighters” because his desire is to master the art of “BOXING” not fighting or just punching guys out but instead true “Boxing” in its finest “Skills Pays the Bills” and that is what Keith proved Saturday night and true boxing fans understand and appreciate real skills in the ring. Thurman showed focus to a game plan and patience when he knocked Bundu down in the first two minutes of the first round. In my view Thurman intended to make a case for a Floyd Mayweather fight but instead he made a case that Keith “ONE TIME” Thurman is NOT just a one trick pony that just gets by with his God gift of POWER but he is instead a true student of the game who aspires to be an “all around” Greatest of all time skillful “BOXER”.
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