Keith Thurman, the former unified welterweight champion, is getting ready to step back into the ring after a long break. He's set to face Australian fighter Brock Jarvis on March 12, marking his return to boxing after more than three years away.
Thurman, known as "One Time," last fought in February 2022 when he beat Mario Barrios. Before that, he hadn't been in the ring since losing his WBA welterweight crown to Manny Pacquiao in 2019. That fight against Pacquiao remains the only loss on Thurman's professional record.
At 32 years old, Thurman seems eager to make up for lost time. He's been vocal about his views on the current state of the welterweight division. In a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, Thurman shared his thoughts:
"Even with Boots Ennis, which is one of the top guys in the welterweight division, all these top guys just don't feel that special. But this is like how it feels in boxing to me right now, that these guys are good but is there anybody special?"
Thurman's comments suggest he's not overly impressed with the current crop of welterweight fighters, including rising star Jaron "Boots" Ennis. This perspective might be driving his comeback and his plans for the future.
Interestingly, Thurman hinted at a possible move up in weight class:
"I might as well just stay at a comfortable weight and move up in the division, so that when I get my chance to get a world title at 154, maybe there's potential for Thurman v Charlo later this year, we don't know."
This statement opens up exciting possibilities for Thurman's career, including a potential showdown with Charlo at 154 pounds later in the year.
Thurman's only career loss came at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino legend who's the only fighter in boxing history to win world titles in eight different weight divisions. Pacquiao's victory over Thurman in 2019 was a significant moment in both fighters' careers.
Now, as Thurman prepares for his comeback fight against Jarvis, boxing fans will be watching closely to see if "One Time" can recapture his old form and make waves in the welterweight division once again.
