Via Allan Fox: Former WBA/WBC weightlifter Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman said he will fight three times in 2022 to make up for lost time.
Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) is set to compete for 31 months on February 5 against former 140-lb WBA champion Mario Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
It is a bit hard to believe that the 33-year-old Thurman will fight three times in 2022 as he is injury prone and has been mostly inactive for most of the past four years.
Thurman hasn’t fought at all in 2018, 2020 and 2021. There haven’t been any fights during those three years and it’s hard to believe he’ll be able to fight more than once in 2022.
It will be the comeback of the year if Thurman can fight three times and win all of his matches. He wants to challenge 147 lb WBO champion Terence Crawford in 2022.
Winning over Crawford would be a huge achievement because most boxing fans would dismiss the 33-year-old Thurman, even though he’s the same age as Terence.
Keith Thurman:
“I am not injured anymore. I feel great and we’re so excited to be performing again for the fans in Las Vegas and just having a great night of boxing on February 5th,” Keith Thurman said during a virtual press conference on Thursday. Private.
“I had more time [during his 2 3/4 years out of the ring] Thurman said. “There are things the heart longs for, wants, but it may not come at that time.
“Barrios has said he hopes for an earlier date, but the date is set. We will be back to work on February 5th. I love this beautiful sport of boxing, and I can’t wait to swing.
“Of course, I was given a few options. I wasn’t sure exactly how committed we were to this comeback and then I heard he was interested in it. I said, ‘Well, he’s got the best record.’
“I know he is about to start an interesting fight. I like exciting battles and I thought, let’s just let it happen. If it’s easy to make and he’s on the menu, take him,” Thurman said during his fight with Barrios.
“Just COVID and as we were trying to bounce back this year and last quarter, I got in contact with COVID after working on the Pacquiao match in Las Vegas.
“I was doing some weight management and I had a routine at the time. I just pushed everything back and bounced back strong. Everything is going great now and we are in camp.
“February 5 is the date. This is not what I want, but this is what life has given me. A little push back, push back, push back and now we’re going to roll the ball.
“I have all the admiration to make three games this year if I can, to make up for lost time. See what your ‘One Time’ boy can do,” Thurman said.
Mario Barrios
“It was a long time for me. I have a big frame, and it’s getting harder and harder to make 140,” said Mario Barrios when asked what made him decide to go up to 147 from 140.
“Before the Tank fight was done, I was thinking about dipping my toes in the welterweight division. When the opportunity arises, I say yes.
“I don’t want an easy fight for my first fight to go forward. I told my manager Luis Decubas Jr that I wanted to fight someone who has been 147 for a while, someone who has fought the best and is in the ring with the best.
“When Keith Thurman’s name was mentioned, I said yes right away because I knew he was a great fight, and this fight has the potential to be one of the easiest of the year and it’s only February,” Barrios said.
Keith Thurman
“What happened in 2019, Keith Thurman fought Josesito Lopez and Manny Pacquiao. I think it was the most exciting thing I could do that year,” Thurman said. “So whenever I go back to my respectable comfort zone and then we don’t care about that zone anymore.
“We took it to the top, this is what we are here to do. We are here for greatness. We are here to be the biggest welder weight in the welder weight division.
“We fell from the ladder, we could see a few steps above. We’re looking, but that’s okay. We’re taking it one step at a time to get right back to where we once were in the 1st place in the welding weight class.
“Those are the goals, dreams and aspirations for your little boy Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman.”
Mario Barrios
“I don’t think it will affect anything. I think if anything were to happen, I’d be more agile, have better stamina now that I’m at a more comfortable weight, more natural in not having to squeeze myself to 140,” Barrios said. said when asked about the method. impact him to 147 from 140.
“I’m just happy to be able to showcase my talents and skills at a much more comfortable weight,” says Barrios. “I’m glad I was able to show off my boxing as well as my punching prowess, and I’m looking to do the same at 147 years old,” Barrios said.
Keith Thurman
“The fire burned my whole life. We can play tic-tac-toe. I’m just a competitor. I just love this sport and when you enter, you win.
“Why are you in there? You have to be in it to win it. So it was very natural for me. It doesn’t go anywhere. No matter how many layoffs I get, we’re thinking boxing. We are thinking about the next thing.
“My heart is in it and I am committed. So I’m really looking forward to this show. That’s a point of view. There is a group of people who have written for me in the articles you have read.
“But there are a lot of people who know better than that, and that is what I am here to do on February 5. I wanted to prove that Thurman is not the kind of fighter you can dismiss.
“I am not a one-minute champion. There is volatility in sports. “
