By Rick Reeno
Although Golden Boy Promotions has the bulk of the welterweight division in their stable, the company CEO, Richard Schaefer, tells BoxingScene.com that his matchmakers are having trouble finding suitable opponents who want to WBA interim-champion Keith "One Time" Thurman (22-0, 22KOs).
Last year, the Golden Boy matchmakers were unable to get Thurman in the ring with Robert Guerrero, Marcos Maidana, Paulie Malignaggi and several others. Some fighters price themselves out and others have no interest in facing him.
"There are always guys in boxing who have this title of 'most avoided.' He keeps putting in these 'One Time' performances every single time, and it's getting more people worried about fighting him, which makes it very challenging for our matchmakers to find proper opponents to fight him. He is steamrolling through the division," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com.
"Every year, you have this list of potential opponents for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and it keeps getting longer every year. A year ago, you didn't have Keith Thurman on that list. And now Keith Thurman is a part of that list. Who wouldn't want to see a fight like that? As a fan, I would love to one day see a fight between Mayweather and Keith Thurman."
As BoxingScene reported a few days ago, Schaefer is planning to stage a Showtime televised doubleheader on April 26th, with Thurman and top junior welterweight Lucas Matthysse in separate fights - possibly from the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
