by Carlos Boogs
WBA welterweight champion Keith "One Time" Thurman (26-0, 22KOs) is looking to fight every top name in his division. One name in particular that he removed from his target list is Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs).
On March 12th, Thurman returns to the ring against former IBF champion Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16KOs) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Mayweather announced his retirement from boxing last September after winning a twelve round decision over Andre Berto.
Although Mayweather is retired, he is still being pursued and mentioned by a number of the top name in the sport. Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and several others are still keeping a close eye on Mayweather's post-retirement activities.
Thurman was pursuing Mayweather at various points in the last twelve months. He promised to end his pursuit if Mayweather moved forward with his retirement plans. Mayweather did move forward with that path and retired. There are many in the business who still believe that he plans to return, but until he actually announces his return to the sport - Thurman is going to focus on everyone else in the division.
"As long as [Mayweather] announced his retirement, which he did, he is no longer on my mind. I stay focused on the game, on the sport and what's in the sport. He is no longer in the sport, so if he wants me to think about him he's going to have to come out of retirement. If he comes out of retirement and he doesn't mention Keith 'one time' Thurman, then what's the point of coming out of retirement," Thurman said.
After his upcoming fight with Porter, Thurman is hoping to unify with newly crowned WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia in the fall. Garcia still has to deal with a mandatory obligation to Khan.
