By Dan Ambrose: Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman says he’ll accept the fight with Terence Crawford for this summer if it’s offered to him next after he takes care of business against Mario Barrios on February 5th on FOX PPV at the Michelob Ultra Arena, in Las Vegas.
It’s a good selling point for Thurman’s fight with Barrios in letting the boxing public know that he plans on fighting Crawford next.
Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) thinks all he’ll need to be ready to challenge WBO welterweight champion Crawford is the one tune-up fight against Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) first.
It’s been almost three years since Thurman last fought in 20019, and there are a lot of questions on whether he has anything left.
Thurman’s punching power is likely to be the same as it was before his long break, but we don’t know if he’s lost speed and endurance.
Thurman will take Crawford next if offered
“If that’s presented to me, I will take the fight. I’m open to fighting all champions,” said Keith Thurman to The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer.
“False lies. Bob Arum is a notorious liar,” said Thurman when asked why he asked for $10 million to fight Crawford. “How do I know because we never asked for anything.
“We don’t put a number out in negotiations. You see what number they bring to you in the table, and I should have said $10 million. His number was so low. I got to bring it up somehow.
“I should have said $20 million just to piss him off, but we don’t say any numbers. We don’t like to say numbers. I never gave him a verbal statement. He came out with his own verbal statement.
“Maybe because we gave him no number, he’s assuming that I want to make 10 million dollars. I want a respectable contract. I want to be presented with a contract with a purse that’s respectable at the time of the negotiations.
Crawford has already made it clear that he wants to fight Thurman next, and he was ready to fight him in the first quarter of 2022.
When Crawford learned he had to wait until the summer; he asked why that was so.
Thurman being in a rush to fight Crawford is a foolish move, but it might show that he wants the money right away if he gets beaten by one of the contenders.
With all the time Thurman has been out of the ring, he could lose to almost anyone.
Keith thinks he can compete with Crawford, Spence &Ugas
Being out of the ring for such a long time will make it difficult for Thurman to compete with Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, and Yordenis Ugas.
If Thurman takes the fight with any of the welterweight champions, it will be tough on him due to the time he’s been out of the ring.
“I was not presented anything of that nature, and that’s why the fight didn’t happen,” said Thurman about a fight with Crawford.
“Of course, those are tremendous in the welterweight division,” said Thurman when asked if he can hang with Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, and Yordenis Ugas.
“It’s all about the skills, the tactics. I could go blow for blow with anybody, and from there, it’s boxing, baby. Hit and don’t get hit. It’s the fundamentals. I’m looking forward to stepping foot in the ring.
“I’m always willing to give a try to do my best. Win, lose or draw, I’m living a dream. For them to understand that you can’t be the best fighters in the world if you don’t beat Keith Thurman. Who are you?
“How are you the best fighter in the world if you have not defeated Keith Thurman? That’s honest. That’s not biased. That’s just real,” said Thurman.