The current WBA “super” welterweight champion Keith Thurman is motivated to face off against the WBA’s “regular” champion, Manny Pacquiao, later this year in his third fight in two years.
Smoking hot Keith Thurman spent 22 months on the shelf due to an elbow injury and then a hand injury, both of which required surgery and rehab. In his first fight back in January, Thurman would shake off the ring-rust in a 12-round unanimous decision win over Josesito Lopez.
“I want to fight Manny Pacquiao,” Thurman told Premier Boxing Champions. “Imagine what Pacquiao-Thurman is going to look like? He looked well at the age of 40. He looked strong. By the way Broner was fighting, he was respecting the power. Pacquiao-Thurman is a good fight. And when’s the last time Pacquiao fought an undefeated fighter?
“I do believe that if Mikey Garcia beats Errol Spence Jr. on March 16, then Pacquiao-Garcia is a must for the sport of boxing. That’s my opinion. Why not take the momentum of this lighter guy who, if he beats Spence, is the new Manny Pacquiao? But I don’t think Mikey wins. I’ve known him since the amateurs and he’s a great fighter. But we have weight classes for a reason,” Thurman said of the fate of the welterweight division following their showdown at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“I’m hoping to hear some words from Team Pacquiao,” said Thurman. “We both fought early this year and I’d be willing to negotiate a fight for anytime he deems fit; summer, after the summer, September, October. I think it would be a great fight for the sport. Let’s make it happen.”