Keith Thurman: Is he done for the year?

By Boxing News - 09/13/2021 - Comments

By Sean Jones: It’s looking like former WBA/WBC welterweight champion Keith Thurman has gone quiet after previously talking about wanting to fight in September or October.

Hopefully, Thurman isn’t injured yet again while getting in shape. He’s missed enough time as it is and can’t afford another two years of him sitting on the couch, licking his battle wounds, ruminating about it.

I hate to say it, but it’s now likely that Thurman won’t be fighting in 2021, which will make it extremely difficult for him to come back when he does eventually return to the ring.

Is it too late for Thurman?

Thurman has WAY too much time inside the ring, and it might be best for him to call it a day. I’m sure he wants to fight, but the injuries have done a number on him.

‘One Time’ last saw action in July 2019 in a loss to Manny Pacquiao, but he’s now been out of the ring for two solid years. If we don’t see Thurman until early to mid-2022, it would be three years between fights.

Image: Keith Thurman: Is he done for the year?

That kind of inactivity isn’t a big deal if you’re an older fighter coming back for a payday like we see all the time nowadays. But for someone that believes he’s going to retake his throne as the #1 welterweight on the planet, as Thurman has said, it’s not realistic.

Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) was a heavy presence during the build-up to the Manny Pacquiao vs. Yordenis Ugas fight, but he’s now bowed out of the limelight.

Keith got worked up when the media put his feet to the fire about his inactivity, and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis was mentioned.

Keith needs a get-back opponent

Thurman sounded like he was apoplectic at the mere mention of Tank Davis, and he wouldn’t shut up. The kettle was on the boil with Thurman, as he wanted to make it clear that he didn’t duck the unbeaten Davis.

Who knows what the real story is with Tank and Thurman. Maybe it wasn’t the right time for Thurman due to him trying to get the weight off and pick up the pieces of his career.

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If and when Thurman returns, he should probably aim low for a bottom feeder in the welterweight division rather than a decent fighter. I mean, we saw what happened when Thurman used journeyman Josesito Lopez as a tune-up opponent in 2019. He almost got knocked out by Lopez.