WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu isn’t worried about people picking him to lose to inactive former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman in their headliner on Amazon Prime PPV on March 30th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Thurman’s Challenge: Fighting Father Time
Tszyu (24-0, 17 KOs) likes the idea of fans picking sides, seeing that as part of the sport. Many sentimental fans remember Thurman during his heyday eight to ten years ago, and it’s difficult for them to grasp that he’s gotten old and lost the hunger he once had for the sport.
With only four fights in the last seven years, Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) will have to find the Fountain of Youth quickly before March 30th if he doesn’t want to be another knockout victim on Tszyu’s resume. Can Thurman rediscover his prime to avoid what many see as his destiny to be Tim’s next knockout victim?
It doesn’t help that Thurman has never fought at 154 and is facing one of the biggest punchers in the division.
Tszyu: Doubters Fuel His Fire
“There’s always going to be doubt in everyone’s mind. So, I don’t really pay attention to any,” said Tim Tszyu during today’s virtual press conference, reacting to being told that promoter Leonard Ellerbe is picking Keith Thurman to defeat him on March 30th in their headliner on Amazon Prime PPV.
Understandably, Mayweather Promotions CEO Ellerbe is siding with Thurman because he’s seen him so often and obviously hasn’t watched Tszyu in action as much.
“You don’t want one side going, ‘He’s going to steamroll him. You want people to pick a side, ‘He’s going to win’ or ‘He’s going to win.’ That’s what makes the fight more interesting, and all the questions will be answered on fight night,” said Tszyu.
“He said he’s going to knock me out in two rounds. It’s only going to take six minutes to prove him wrong. We’re both dreamers,” said Thurman. “Tim, I see the shiner. I got one, too, baby. You’re not untouchable. I’m not untouchable. This is going to be a great fight.”
Tszyu isn’t a fast starter, so the chances of his second-round knockout prediction of Thurman are unlikely to happen. It might be risky for Tszyu to try for an early KO, because Thurman will be at his best early, and he can still punch.
