Timofei Konstantinovich Tszyu vs. Keith Fitzgerald Thurman, Jr.

March thirtieth at T-Mobile Arena. WBO junior middleweight title at stake, first defense of Tszyu.

The champ ascended to become the organization's full world titlist last October having previously been their interim and before that "Gold" titlist. He is a career 154lber and is undefeated, and the younger man by six years. To put things in perspective: he made his pro debut six months after Thurman versus Porter.

The challenger passed the landmark of two full calendar years of inactivity a fortnight ago. That day's work, a UD over Mario Barrios, had been preceded by nearly three years off after his lone career defeat to Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao. His last super welter contest was against Carlos "El Indio" Quintana in 2012.

 

Tszyu in 2

 

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I'm a Thurman fan but there is not a chance that One-Time, a 35-year old man who thinks of boxing as a hobby, is going to beat an in his prime fighter who lives and breathes the sport.

As much as I think @MidniteProwler has a bit of a blind spot for Australian fighters he is absolutely right about this one. Tszyu in two.

 

The WBO title is not at stake, so it won't be Tszyu's first defense. It's a non-title match as the WBO declined to sanction the bout.

 

Taking Tim late stoppage maybe 8

Thurman is going to show up in top form but is too old and inactive. Was going to say small but he's had 154 fights

Tim is very methodical and not a destroyer. I envision a prolonged beating then a stoppage.. I can't believe the amount of people online picking Thurman

 

Is this going to be a ppv? Price? Tszyu wide UD or late stoppage

 

Poor Keith. I hope he survives to spend the money he is getting for this because I genuinely like him. He's a proper dude and was an excellent fighter once upon a time.

But he's in serious trouble here.

 

Prime Thurman went to war with micro Guerrero and micro Pac. Tszyu hurts him bad.

 

Tszyu early stoppage. Thurman is old, shot and outsized here.

 

Thurman is shot to pieces and has boxed 12 rounds in the last 4.5 years.

I will be shocked if Tim doesn't get him out of there, I'm gonna put some spare change on Tim KO rounds 1-4

 

It is. Thurman can't win it, as he is inactive and unranked and the WBO didn't sanction him competing for it. It's still at stake for Tszyu, however - if he loses, it becomes vacant.

 

IMO Thurman is more talented and matches up well against Tszyu; if Keith's movement is still there then Tszyu will struggle to pin him down. Of course there is a distinct possibility Thurman is shot and Tszyu will walk through him.

 

Part-Time is getting pummelled.

 

Vince Phillips in 10.