When you go to a Keith Thurman fight, you know you will get a couple of things regardless of who the opponent is.
You are going to get an entertaining fight.
There will be times in the fight where Thurman looks like the best fighter in the world at Welterweight, but there will be several times in the fight that Thurman looks like he is seconds from being knocked out. When that happens, somehow, Thurman always survives.
It was no different in his fight against Mario Barrios. There was a time when Thurman made Barrios look like an amateur, but he was also hurt by Barrios a few times in the fight. Body shots have always been Thurman’s Achilles heel.
Here is how Thurman described his comeback fight.
“This was a comeback fight after two and a half years away,” said Clearwater, Florida’s Thurman. “I wish I had my best performance, but I did the best I could under the circumstances. “I grade this performance a C+ or B- for myself.”
In his first fight in over 30 months, the 33-year-old Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) displayed the attributes that led him to the top of the 147-pound division. Thurman got off to a strong start and never relinquished control, at times punishing Barrios with hard shots.
We rocked him. We weren’t able to put him down and out, but we had a great performance and a great fight,” said Thurman.
“I want the belts. I want the champions. I want to be back on top, so whoever is willing to send Keith Thurman the contract, let’s go!”
Bud Crawford doesn’t have a lot of options, especially after filing a lawsuit against Top Rank. Thurman will likely be his opponent if he goes over to the PBC side.
It is a big name and could potentially lead to a Spence fight later in the year.
Hopefully, no new injuries for Thurman, and this is a fight that can happen in the summer.
Not many people would give Thurman a chance, but at least you can guarantee an entertaining fight.
Flip the pages for the highlights between Thurman and Barrios.
