Keith Thurman Sets His Sights on Errol Spence Jr in 2021
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Humbled after his first career defeat against Manny Pacquiao in 2019, Keith “One Time” Thurman has taken the last year to recover and train. Now fully healed and fired up after a 6-month downtime from elective hand surgery, Thurman is ready to enter the ring in 2021 with a vengeance.
In a recent interview with The Last Stand podcast hosted by Brian Custer, Thurman says “I want to be champion of the world again, I want to fight the fighters that I haven’t fought.” Particularly referring to Errol Spence Jr, a fighter Thurman has called out on multiple occasions to no avail.
Spence “The Truth” Jr has addressed past call-outs from Thurman, stating “That’s just one guy I never liked...I just feel like he’s fake. Everything about him, I just don’t like him at all.” Seeming to actively avoid a match with Thurman, Spence Jr has started the year off targeting Thurman’s past opponents, most recently winning against Danny Garcia, a previous opponent of Thurman’s having lost by split decision in 2017.
But in boxing, actions speak louder than words, and Thurman is determined not to take “no” for an answer.
In Feb. 2021 rumors of changes in the possible upcoming match between Spence Jr and Yordenis Ugas began to circulate. Originally a fight meant to test the titles between the two welterweight champs has come to the attention of Thurman, and he wants in.
In a social media post by Ugas, he addresses Thurman’s offer, “Thurman has a great point in our conversation. His idea is to convince me of a fight, ‘supposedly’ I would defeat him and that victory of mine would elevate me and make a great PPV fight afterward against spencer.”
It’s unclear if this development will lead to a contracted fight, but it’s all eyes on Thurman who is already starting the year off with ambitious intentions.
Will Thurman and Ugas fight for a chance at Spence Jr? Or will his attempt to get back in the ring go unanswered?
Source: https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/keith-thurman