By Keith Idec
Keith Thurman is more than willing to work around Manny Pacquiao’s Senate schedule.
Thurman wants to fight the Filipino icon and however Pacquiao can make that happen, Thurman says he will accommodate the WBO world welterweight champion. The unbeaten WBA/WBC world welterweight champ wants to prove he is the best 147-pound boxer in the world, a goal that would require defeating Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) and the winner of a May 27 bout between IBF champion Kell Brook (36-1, 25 KOs) and mandatory challenger Errol Spence Jr. (21-0, 18 KOs).
“Let’s get that work, man,” Thurman told TMZ Sports regarding a Pacquiao fight in a video posted Wednesday morning. “I think it’s kind of ironic. You know what I mean? I’m the only welterweight in the world that holds two world titles, and he’s still ranked above me. So at the end of the day, man, we want that Pac-Man fight.
“I would love to negotiate that fight. Shoot, he can pick the date. He can pick anything he wants, man, because I’m ready to put hands on him and show the world who Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman truly is, man. I want the best fighters that the world has to offer right now at 147, hands down. We ain’t worried about nobody out there. We’re ready to do this work, man.”
The 38-year-old Pacquiao is scheduled to defend his WBO title against Australia’s Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs) on July 2 in Brisbane, Horn’s hometown.
Promoter Bob Arum has repeatedly indicated Pacquiao will return to the ring in November if he beats Horn. Thurman typically fights no more than twice per year, thus a November bout would work within his usual schedule.
The 28-year-old Thurman, of Clearwater, Florida, also is open to a rematch with former champion Danny Garcia. Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC) defeated Philadelphia’s Garcia (33-1, 19 KOs) by split decision in their 12-round welterweight title unification fight March 4 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“It’s easy to negotiate, man,” Thurman said. “Just negotiate. Start talking, act like you really want it and we can make it happen. I did it one time, I’ll do it two times. I ain’t worried about him.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
