Keith Thurman turns down 6 million dollar offer from Roc Nation

Keith Thurman owns an interim welterweight belt and is one of boxing's potential future stars -- he has charisma, punching power and a fan-friendly fighting style. And Thurman is a wanted man. Roc Nation Sports, the company owned by music mogul Jay Z that opened a boxing division in August, is looking to sign fighters who have the goods in the ring as well as the potential to be marketed to the mainstream public outside the ring. Thurman fits the profile of what the company is looking for, and Roc Nation went after him in mid-October, offering him a three-fight contract worth $6 million. Thurman would have gotten a $2 million advance against the total package -- so he could have a nice chunk of the money up front -- followed by fight-night payouts of $1 million, $1 million and $2 million. Thurman was interested in the deal and even had Roc Nation Sports tweak the offer to give him payouts of $1.5 million, $1.5 million and $1 million. Ultimately, however, Thurman told ESPN.com that he passed on the offer before even bringing it to adviser Al Haymon to discuss. "For the most part, it's a move that I'm not willing to make right now," Thurman told ESPN.com on Monday. "It's nice to throw dollar signs in front of a young guy like me and I appreciate it. But I am a man of faith and I believe all that's coming to me in the future. As long as you have a '0' (on your record) it's like holding on to a golden goose egg." When the offer from Roc Nation Sports came, Thurman, who has been limited to one fight this year because of a shoulder injury, was getting ready for a Dec. 13 fight against Italy's 39-year-old Leonard Bundu (31-0-2, 11 KOs) on the Devon Alexander-Amir Khan Showtime-televised undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After weeks of speculation on the fight it was formally announced Friday. Thurman said he would make a seven-figure purse, but did not specify the exact total. "Jay Z's company is a young company. I haven't seen them make guys money yet in boxing," said Thurman, who turns 26 on Nov. 23. "I'm young. The offer came quick. I already knew I was getting ready for this fight and I'm satisfied with my purse for this fight and with another knockout victory next year my purses will multiply. "I want to see (Jay Z) do something with another fighter before I follow. I don't want to fly on the first airplane." Like most of Haymon's fighters, Thurman (23-0, 21 KOs), of Clearwater, Florida, is not under contract to a promoter, even though Golden Boy has promoted most of his fights. Haymon has rarely signed his fighters with promoters, preferring to maintain an element of leverage. Roc Nation Sports - which had no comment on the Thurman offer -- has been aggressive going after fighters. It also offered heavyweight contender Deontay Wilder, another Haymon client not under contract to a promoter, $2 million for his upcoming mandatory title shot against Bermane Stiverne. That would have kicked off the five-year contract Roc Nation Sports offered Wilder. Wilder, who I was told was very interested, did not take the deal because he couldn't unless Haymon approved, which he didn't. While Roc Nation Sports has made no secret of the fact that it is willing to do fights on HBO or Showtime -- or any other network interested -- an HBO representative told Roc Nation that it was interested in buying a Thurman fight for Dec. 20 if it signed him, according to a source with knowledge of the discussion. But Haymon would have had to sign off on Thurman's deal and he obviously is not interested in signing the boxers in his stable with a promoter. He also is no friend of Jay Z's. There is bad blood there (and with Beyonce, Jay Z's wife) going back to their paths crossing in the music business. Thurman said was "more than flattered" by the offer and wished Roc Nation Sports success in boxing, but said the timing of the offer was not right for him. "I listened. How could you not listen when they throw those kind of numbers around," Thurman said. "The way I felt at the end is I don't see how I'm not making $6 million next year anyway. It all came fast. I'm just a patient cat. I'm patient. If you keep a door open you can always walk through it eventually. Right now I'm comfortable with what I'm doing with Team Haymon. "I was more than flattered by the offer. It was a dream come true actually. I laugh at the fact that I didn't jump on board. I find it funny. I find it ironic because I was waiting my entire life to be offered a certain deal worth millions. And here I am saying no to a $6 million deal because I believe it's in my future, if not more, going into 2015. "I'm not sure if I want to tie down with any entity no matter what they plan to do. I want to learn about this sport - the business aspect of the sport. Maybe I should have jumped. Maybe some other fighter will. What if I lose to Bundu? But I'm a man of faith and I can be patient. I'm looking forward to 2015. Time will tell if I made the right decision." http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id...n-sports-offer

Comments (15)

it's common sense. use it. roc nation has no problem working with anyone. manny, bradley, marquez, brook are all good fights waiting for thurman had he accepted the deal. we already know haymon's game plan which is to give thurman no hopers. Man you are full of crap. Im literally laughing at your post. Unlike you im just a fan and dont know what you know so ill sit back and let you spew more of this crap.

11y ago

Ray

A manager shouldn't be able to have the final word on whether or not they can sign with a promoter. Like you said - they manage , not promote. They ADVISE - not DECIDE. Haymon is a self-serving scumbag who would have you believe that his fighters "fight for the big money," when all they do is fight for the easy money. He's an old turd like Arum, so he'll eventually go away. There is a difference between "Manage" and "Promoter"... Just because you manage your fighters which includes advising them it does not mean you promote them, Moreover Thurman himself claimed he turned down the offer before it even had time to inform his Manager, so as you can see not all fighters are uneducated.

11y ago

HanzGruber

Brook nor Bradley aren't fighting or going to fight Thurman. Maybe JMM but not those 2. juan ducked provo cause he 'didnt want to be a stepping stone' no way he would fight thurman either

11y ago

Fetta

bradley, brook, marquez are three top names already. 2 million vs bradley 2 million vs brook 2 million vs marquez 3 fights 6 million. roc nation is not afraid to work with anyone. but haymon is afraid to work with roc nation. Oh then im sorry. Didnt know they offered those 3 fighters. Good fights now can i see where you got this from. Not an assumption but actual fact. i like the fights

11y ago

Ray

bradley, brook, marquez are three top names already. 2 million vs bradley 2 million vs brook 2 million vs marquez 3 fights 6 million. roc nation is not afraid to work with anyone. but haymon is afraid to work with roc nation. Brook nor Bradley aren't fighting or going to fight Thurman. Maybe JMM but not those 2.

11y ago

khald

Can they try to sign a non-Haymon fighter? I mean it's clear that no Haymon fighter will sign to Roc. Outside of Rigo, all I hear are Haymon names. How about prospects? Up and comers? Gifted amateurs? You know, doing what a promoter should be doing. Roc will be in a world of trouble if they think all they need to do to take over boxers is sign up established fighters when they themselves are nowhere near established. They think that their first show will be HBO Championship Boxing level :nono: Start somewhere and build.

11y ago

arraamis

damn dude, you've been defending haymon nonstop on this site. i figured you for a pretentious tin foil tard but not a floyd/al haymon shill. smdh.... What your feeble mind can't possibly grasp, is that there is a difference between defending facts against stupid and immature ramblings coming from no-nothing forum rats, and jumping aboard some idiot lynch-wagon full of fools. The latter seems to fit you well, since you clearly have a warm seat on that wagon.

11y ago

HanzGruber

damn dude, you've been defending haymon nonstop on this site. i figured you for a pretentious tin foil tard but not a floyd/al haymon shill. smdh.... its not about 'defending haymon' its about using facts. using a quote from thurman now means someone is a shill lol ok

11y ago

Fetta

exactly lol who are these best hes gonna fight with roc nation? haymon has all the best guys Who needs facts when you have assumptions. Im out

11y ago

Fetta

11y ago

Ray

That's his business. He has a manager and what they do is "Manage"

11y ago

HanzGruber

Dude!!! :pat: Not that I'm defending Haymon ...... But did you even read the freakin article??????exactly lol wooooooooooooow smh. haymon is the absolute worst. thurman could have been making millions fighting the best since roc nation willing to work with anyone to get the best fights made. who are these best hes gonna fight with roc nation? haymon has all the best guys

11y ago

arraamis

wooooooooooooow smh. haymon is the absolute worst. thurman could have been making millions fighting the best since roc nation willing to work with anyone to get the best fights made. Here's another classic example of guys who parrot themes, and don't read for themselves ....:doh: "Ultimately, however, Thurman told ESPN.com that he passed on the offer before even bringing it to adviser Al Haymon to discuss." i.e. Haymon had nothing to do with Thurman's rejection of the offer.

11y ago

arraamis

Al Haymon doing what he does best, ruining the sport of boxing :nonono: Dude!!! :pat: Not that I'm defending Haymon ...... But did you even read the freakin article??????

11y ago

Deevel916

Isnt this the guy who's been crying that nobody wants to give him a shot? Here Roc Nation throws a $6mil 3 fight deal his way and he turns it down. I like Thurman but I wont feel sorry for him if he stays in the shadows.

11y ago