By Jim Dower: When asked about how some see interim WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman (24-0, 21 KOs) as the new Mike Tyson, Thurman said that he feels he’s got most of the things that Tyson used to do covered.
Thurman still doesn’t have the experience at welterweight for anyone to compare him to Tyson. If Thurman’s last fight against Leonard Bundu is any indication, he’s heading more towards becoming the next Amir Khan or Erislandy Lara rather than the next Tyson.
Thurman does not like to get hit, as you can see with the way he immediately dashes backwards if his opponents look to engage with him. Thurman is able to score shots while moving backwards because he’s always looking to throw his left hook while in retreat. But his lack of desire to stay in the pocket against his opponents makes him less than thrilling to watch at times unless his opponents fall over after he nails them.
Thurman believes that he can box and figure out his opponents, and then land his big shots to break them down. Thurman does have excellent power, but he doesn’t seem to have the mindset that Tyson had in his prime. Tyson was willing to fight the best guys and put himself in danger in order to win.
“Besides eating children, I think I got most of that covered, man,” Thurman said via Dontae’s Boxing Nation. “We box smart and we throw devastating punches. I’m always going to try and find a way to break them down, sometimes mentally or physically. I like to call myself a chameleon, man. It doesn’t matter what you do, I’m going to figure you out. I’d say a lot of people would say I’m feared,” Thurman said.
Thurman has fought Bundu, Jesus Soto Karass, Julio Diaz, Diego Chaves, Jan Zaveck and Carlos Quintana. Those are the most notable guys on Thurman’s resume thus far. Chaves and Soto Karass had success with Thurman, and even appeared to hurt him at one point. Based on those performances, it’s difficult to see Thurman as the next Mike Tyson or even the next Marcos Maidana.
Thurman just appears to be a boxer/puncher who seems to prefer to box rather than punch if his opponent is willing to engage with him. If his opponent stands still or backs up, then Thurman will come forward at times and look to pot shot them to see if he can score a knockout. It’s when Thurman is backed up is where he looks vulnerable and not particularly Tyson like.
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