By Jake Donovan
Keith Thurman and Robert Guerrero have been blessed with the honor of serving in the main event for the first fight in prime time on NBC in decades. Their welterweight clash headlines the inaugural episode of Premiere Boxing Champions boxing series, which kicks off March 7 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Neither fighter seems particularly fazed by the pressure, nor do they feel compelled to drag the other into the gutter, which has sadly become the norm for pre-fight build-up for most big fights these days.
Guerrero’s camp – particularly his boisterous father and trainer Ruben – is no stranger to such tactics, but the fighter himself keeps it all class. In that vein, his first piece of business in promoting the fight following the initial send-off was to clear the air regarding his thoughts on his opponent.
Thurman has become a feared knockout artist during his rise to the top, but his most ring appearance traveled far in the opposite direction. An opening round knockdown of Leonardo Bundu had fans hopeful that the unbeaten Floridian would close the show.
Instead, 12 rounds of dull boxing action followed in their welterweight clash last December in Las Vegas. Thurman (24-0, 21KOs) offered far more ring movement than had been the case in any given fight thus far in the pro ranks. The tactic prompted the Guerrero side to dub him “The Running Man.” When asked to clarify on the remark, Guerrero was quick to clear the air.
"I respect everyone who comes in the ring with me. I didn't say that about Keith Thurman; my dad said he's the running man ('Run Time' Thurman - a play on his "One Time" ring moniker)," Guerrero (32-2-1, 18KOs) clarified during a recent media conference call. “He’s quick on his feet, has quick hands. You have to respect that.”
Guerrero ended a 13-month ring absence last June, scoring a 10-round decision over Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai in their non-stop thriller. The bout was his first since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their May ’13 Pay-Per-View event.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
