Errol Spence Jr. had a one-word answer of “Nahh” when asked if he asked he’d like to use Keith Thurman as his “comeback fight.”
The former three-belt unified welterweight champion Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) has no interest in fighting the 35-year-old ‘One Time’ Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs), which is understandable on two accounts:
Reason #1: Mr. Unreliable
Thurman can’t be trusted for Spence to use as his comeback opponent because the last thing he needs is to spend months training and then have ‘One Time’ come up lame after suffering a biceps boo-boo. It’s nothing personal.
Thurman is too brittle now, partly because of his advanced age but mostly because of his inactivity.
With just three fights in seven years, Thurman hasn’t stayed active enough, and his body can’t handle going from years of sitting on the sofa to suddenly being asked to slog through a grueling training camp.
Reason #2: Thurman’s Ducking History
Thurman ducked Spence like the plague between 2014 and 2018 when he was still at the top of his game and one of the best welterweights in the division.
Now that Thurman is needy, down & out, needing a pick-me-up from Spence, it’s too late. Thurman’s career is heading towards oblivion, and now he wants Spence to throw him a life preserve to keep him from sinking.
Spence needs a reliable comeback opponent, not someone who is going to pull out as soon as he suffers a hand nail. Thurman would be good for one of the younger contenders to use as a trial horse to get some experience.
A younger fighter can afford to have Thurman end up on the injured list and have their time wasted. Spence isn’t young enough to have Thurman postpone fights against him due to his various injuries. Thurman had his chance, and he didn’t take advantage of Spence’s offer.
— Errol Spence (@ErrolSpenceJr) March 19, 2024