By CARLOS ARIAS
LAS VEGAS --- Manager Al Haymon is a powerful man in boxing.
He represents Floyd Mayweather, Marcos Maidana, Amir Khan, Adrien Broner, Danny Garcia, Lucas Matthysse and Keith Thurman just to name a few. Where does Thurman fit into the mix?
"For the most part I say Al Haymon is doing a good job juggling around all of his fighters and positioning his fighters in competitive fights," Thurman said. "But my big question really is where do I fit in? Because I didn't fit in to the major leagues this time, this go around. But you can't count me out, man. It's time to put in the work. I put in the work. I made that hard work look like easy work and I plan on continuing to do that, man. I'm not threatened by any man in the welterweight division, and that includes our king Floyd "Money" Mayweather."
Thurman had some advice for Mayweather, too. He said Mayweather should fight him this year, because the 25-year-old is only getting better and gaining more experience with each fight.
"I definitely feel like I'm ready today, but I don't know if I'll get my shot today," Thurman said. "I've told other people this before that I can be patient. I got time on my side where he does not. If I fight him this year, he's 37. If we fight next year, he's 38. I'm more experienced. If I was Floyd Mayweather, I would do it this year. If you want to show the world that you are the best ever, I would do it tomorrow and not wait until next year."
Thurman has always said he's "willing to let my O go," because he's willing to take on any challenge to prove himself.
"Exactly, you don't see it in boxing nowadays," Thurman said. "It's been in MMA for a long time. They always put the best up against the best and I want to test myself. All these other guys just want to make money. i'm already making money. Could I make more money? Could I set myself up to make even more and more money? Yes I can. I can. There's been many fighters that lived their career that way. Floyd being one of them.
"But the thing is with me is my passion. I live through the blood that pumps in my veins. The blood in my veins desires a top-10 fighter. It desires a real challenge and real competition. If you could see my face after my last victory, I was displeased. My cellular structure was displeased. I want to be pleased. Please put me in with better competition. I trained really hard. I want to fight hard and I want to fight against another guy that's going to fight hard and bring the best out of Keith "One Time" Thurman, so I can show you guys who I truly am as a fight. And I'm not afraid to lose. I been telling reporters this lately that whoever beats Keith Thurman is a bad man, because I'm a bad man."
Contact Carlos Arias on Twitter at PunchyMcGee.
