Keith Thurman? How?

How is this guy still getting priority over other active fighters?

I'm hearing rumors that talks are in for him to be getting the Tim Tszyu fight or maybe the winner of Fundora/Spence (if the fight is made) in front of Crawford.

Thurman has fought just once since the pandemic. And not once did he announce a retirement or even suggest that he is contemplating it. Actually he's said the total opposite. Claims he never left the gym. Stays in the gym, yet, dude has only been in the ring just 3x in the last 7 years.

Apparently he's going to be commentating the Tim Tszyu fight and expected to make an announcement before the night is up.

Don't get me wrong, I was a fan of "One Time" back when he was handling his business at 147. The man can sell a fight. He's made for TV. But since the Danny Garcia fight, he has taken multiple steps back in his drive. Every once in a while his name is thrown out there regarding match ups like vs Tank Davis or Jaron Ennis, etc... But nothing happens as he says "send the contract" and that all that comes of it. He was schedule to be fighting Tim Tszyu earlier this year, injury..........If I remember correctly, I believe his entire career has been at 147lbs. He also has had a world title since his loss to Manny Pacquiao in 2019. How in the world is he getting priority over not only ranked opponents at 154lbs but mandatories and other world champs?

 

Yea, I understand that but these fighters aren't the ones going after him. It's the sanctioning body that's putting his name on the table. The WBO were the ones who presented the fight to Tim Tszyu after they stripped Charlo of the title following his bout vs Canelo. Thurman wasn't interested in moving up to 154lbs, but didn't mind a catch weight. He got injured, then it seemed the focus went to Tim vs Sebastian to buy time for Thurman to get healthy. Tim loses and Crawford who was originally gunning for Tim, now tells Fundora he is the target only for Fundora to claim he's too injured to fight, Tim is too injured to fight.....yet Spence was the option for Fundora during the same time the Crawford fight was going to happen and Tim was scheduled to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. Obviously those two fights didn't occur....Crawford fights Madrimov and wins a title, you would think that unification fights would be a 'to do' now..... Tim has a fight for a different world title. I'm not into claiming any fighter on that level is afraid of anyone as fear doesn't allow them to get to the point they are at in their career, but it does seem like Tim is hesitant on stepping in Crawford's direction, being that it was recently reported that Turki has offered the Crawford fight twice now and Tim has done nothing but brush it off.

I don't understand how an inactive, forgotten champ from a different division is more desirable for a match up than a 2x undisputed 4 division champion in your division. It's a lose lose situation for Tim..... If he beats Tim.....he was too small and inactive. If he loses, it hurts his ability to market himself as elite with loses to Fundora and now Thurman.

 

Man, I agree. Dude was exciting to watch in the ring.... Still one of the smartest and hardest punching welterweights but he has become way too injury prone. Too many disappointments for his fans waiting on him to get back to the ring. I couldn't even get myself to anticipate a fight he is announced in let alone discuss my predictions because I'll have in my head, different names that will replace him ONCE HE GETS INJURED in camp.....lol.

 

I was with you all the way up til "even more than Bivol/Beterbiev"......lol.

Yea, the Tszyu fans and camp are a big weird to me. They honestly don't deserve the rematch simply due to the fact they were over confident. The cut happened at the end of the 3rd I believe, meaning they could have backed out and it would have been a NC then they come back and run it again, he doesn't lose his title. Instead they felt regardless of that ugly cut, they would be able to beat Fundora and came up short. Afterwards attempted to use the cut as an excuse, but still wasn't pressing a rematch......

All is void after what happen tonight, I guess. Back to the drawing board.