Thurman wants to fight Pacquiao or Porter in 2019 comeback year
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Dec 2018
It looks like there?ll be no Keith Thurman-Terence Crawford showdown nor a Thurman-Errol Spence Jr. in the ?One Time? comeback year in 2019 to determine who the best welterweight in the world is.
What is emerging as a possibility could be Thurman, the World Boxing Association 147-pound super titlist, pitted against WBA regular belt-owner Manny Pacquiao or Thurman against World Boxing Council title holder Shawn Porter.
This, Thurman himself, told Sporting News on Saturday when asked if he feels like he needs to fight Crawford or Spence in the New Year ? following his 22-month absence from the ring ? to prove that he?s still the best in the division.
Thurmans answer was a flat out said, ?No.?
?One Time,? that?s what Thurman is known in boxing circle, has always been interested in a fight with Pacquiao, but wonders how much longer the now 40-year-old wants to box and the level of competition he wants to face.
Still, the opportunity to add a legend like ?Pacman? as another mark on his belt would be hard to resist.
That will depend, though, on the outcome of the Pacquiao-Adrien Broner title scuffle on January 19 at te MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
Ditto to the result of the Porter-Yordenis Ugas bout on March 9. Either fight, it is believed, holds a level of high intrigue for 30-year-old Thurman.
As for a fight with Broner, should AB survive Pacquiao, ?One Time? said he?s not interested although the promotion alone leading up to the scrap would present high-level drama, considering both are easily two of the most entertaining talkers in the fight game.
?I?m not that interested, but if he starts running his mouth and depending on what happens with the Broner-Pacquiao fight,? Thurman said, detailing how quickly that feeling could change.
As for the winner between Porter-Ugas, let?s not forget that Porter was crowned WBC welterweight champion following a unanimous decision win over Danny Garcia in September and that the title was up for grabs in that bout only because Thurman voluntarily relinquished the strap in April to continue with his rehab.
?I told Shawn Porter in Fox studios, ?Don?t lose because you?ll get a rematch ? with Danny Garcia,? Thurman told reporters Saturday. ?You lose, I?m going after my belt, I?m going after Ugas.??
Thurman (28-0-1 NC, with 22 KOs) himself is fighting and is favored over Josesito Lopez on January 26 and perhaps fans could see Thurman in action against Pacquiao or Broner or possibly Ugas or Porter, who ?One Time? already defeated in June 2016.
Whether he keeps a perfect record at this time next year remains to be seen. But either way, 2020 for Thurman-Spence or Thurman-Crawford to decide welterweight supremacy is something ?One Time? might be plotting on his chess board ? even if Crawford and Spence fight each other before that.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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