By Chris Williams: Terence Crawford says he views former WBA/WBC welterweight champion Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman as a much bigger struggle than his November twentieth title protection in opposition to Shawn Porter.
Thurman has much more charisma than Crawford, and he’d do all of the arduous work of selling a struggle with him simply as he did when he fought Manny Pacquiao in 2019. Negotiating a struggle with Thurman wouldn’t be straightforward for the Prime Rank promoted Crawford as a result of he’s with PBC.
When Thurman lastly will get off the sofa, PBC will in all probability match him in opposition to WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas in 2022 if he makes it by their four-man match together with his belt.
Thurman will virtually certainly face the winner of the WBA’s match, and it’s dream stuff for Crawford to be assuming he’ll get a struggle with ‘One Time’ or ought to I say ‘Some Time?’
Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) states that Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) is one other high-profile former 147-lb champion for him to showcase his expertise in opposition to after he takes care of Porter subsequent month on ESPN+ PPV on the Mandalay Bay Resort & On line casino, in Las Vegas.
Thurman has fought ONLY twice since 2017
The issue with Crawford’s excessive reward of 32-year-old Thurman is he hasn’t 2 1/2 years and he’s rapidly being forgotten by boxing followers resulting from his lack of exercise. Newer boxing followers could have by no means seen Thurman earlier than, they usually received’t care if Crawford chooses to struggle him subsequent.
Regardless of Thurman saying he can be again this 12 months in October, he has no fights scheduled, and it’s clear he’s not going to be again in motion in 2021. Thurman will doubtless be again in motion within the first half of 2022, however you don’t know with that man.
For Thurman to sit down on his bottom for nearly three years, means that he can’t break away from the inertia that has acquired him caught and unable to maneuver.
“I don’t imagine Porter is the one welterweight on the market that I can showcase my expertise at a excessive degree with,” stated Crawford to Fighthype. “I imagine Keith Thurman is the larger struggle [than Porter] in my eyes, however Keith Thurman is doing no matter he’s doing,” stated Crawford in laughing.
“And I really feel Keith Thurman was thought of the #1 fighter within the division. Whether or not anyone likes it or not, Keith Thurman WAS thought of the #1 man within the division. Pacquiao beat him, however no person else beat him,” stated Crawford.
It’s been ages since Thurman was briefly thought of the #1 fighter within the welterweight division. After Thurman’s grueling struggle with Danny Garcia in 2017, he hasn’t been the identical.
‘One Time’ seems to be previous it
That struggle took so much out of Thurman, and unbelievably, he’s solely fought twice since then in opposition to Josesito Lopez and Pacquiao. That’s two fights in 4 years for Thurman.
One Time is seen as previous it by numerous boxing followers, as he appears to completely happy together with his inactivity and never exhibiting any sense of urgency to get again within the gymnasium to proceed his profession.
Some fighters hate being inactive however Thurman doesn’t appear to be one in every of them, and I’d be stunned if he fights subsequent 12 months.
Crawford wants to speak realistically if he desires to begin floating names to impress the media and the boxing followers. Extra sensible choices for Crawford in 2022 are these guys:
- Josh Taylor
- Jose Zepeda
- David Avanesyan
- Jose Ramirez
- Arnold Barboza Jr
- Vergil Ortiz Jr
It’s uncertain that Crawford will struggle Vergil Ortiz Jr subsequent 12 months as a result of he’s too harmful and the Nebraska native is getting previous with him about to show 35. The very last thing an getting old Crawford desires is to have Vergil chasing him across the ring, forcing him to make use of his previous legs to try to evade the younger gun.
