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Having to deal with a lengthy layoff isn’t anything new to Keith Thurman.
Being able to use it to his advantage, however, is a potential game changer.
The former unified welterweight titlist hasn’t fought since a narrow points loss to legendary eight-division and reigning welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39KOs) in their thrilling title fight last July. The bout was Thurman’s second of what was originally slated as a comeback year after having been out of the ring since unseating then-unbeaten Danny Garcia in their March 2017 title unification clash.
Injuries, surgeries and physical rehabilitation were the cause for the downtime, as was the case for his looking at another year-long layoff. It will likely extend longer given the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which have slowed boxing—and all forms of entertainment and mass gatherings—to a crawl.
With the likelihood of high demand for quality boxing once the sport resumes, the one fight that the Clearwater, Florida native most craved could very well come to light sooner than expected.
“When we’re talking about opponents when all of this is gone, when the veil has been removed from this virus, I’m looking at some entertaining fights,” Thurman (29-1, 22KOs) revealed to renowned commentator Ray Flores during a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC)-hosted Instagram Live interview. “Some decent matchups that the fans will enjoy and that I will enjoy.
“Every day that nobody is allowed to do anything makes me feel like I’m one day closer to the rematch with Manny Pacquiao.”
Well before the current health crisis, the timeline for Pacquiao’s next ring appearance continued to shift. Having once eyed an early springtime return, plans quickly moved towards a return in July. Thurman didn’t realistically expect a rematch at that time, as he was continuing to recover from surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow.
Depending on which previously postponed fights are reassigned the moment the sport is up and running, there now exists the realistic hope of an intended get-back year to instead become a direct path towards redemption.
“I understood after my hand surgery that he was most likely going to step in the ring before August,” points out Thurman. “Now we’re looking at a situation where we might be prepared to step in the ring at the same time. If that’s the case, the ball is in his court. But I just don’t see…someone else giving him a great fight.
“I also believe I deserve the rematch being an undefeated champion at the time. There wasn’t a (rematch clause), but that’s what I’m looking forward to. This gives me time to be prepared, to line up and be in sync with his future date.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox