Keith Thurman is plotting his plan to return to boxing after nearly a one-year layoff.
The American fighter said he is looking forward to a fight outside of domestic soil if there is a real deal for him.
“Kell Brook is a great rival, and he’s done a lot of great things in the welterweight division,” Thurman PepTalkUK. “Send me the pounds, mate. Send me the pounds … I’m all about contracts and all about opportunities.
“[Brook is] not that active right now. I don’t know where his name stands now. But personally, there was a time and a place where I would have loved to take that fight. If there’s a real opportunity, show it to me, baby.”
The 31-year-old Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) has been sidelined since last July after dropping a split decision defeat to Manny Pacquaio in Las Vegas. Shortly afterward, Thurman underwent left-hand surgery.
Thurman wants to jump right to the top of the division again and fight a foe like Errol Spence Jr., but he most certainly will have to take a fight with a lesser caliber opponent because he is coming off a loss.
Brook (39-2, 27 KOs) could be the one. He defeated Mark DeLuca in a seventh-round KO earlier this year in Sheffield, the location of his last three fights. The 34-year-old former IBF welterweight champion said he'd retire if he’d lose the bout, a fate that he no longer has to consider.
Brook suffered a loss in his backyard the last time he hosted an American fighter on UK soil for a big-time fight, dropping his IBF title to Spence Jr. in 2017.
Although his bout with Brook would not be for a title, Thurman is still interested in raiding enemy territory to make his own personal history.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to fight overseas like a lot of greats like [Muhammad] Ali and a lot of greats throughout history,” said Thurman.” I would love to fight overseas or maybe even do an overseas tour before my career is done.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the LA Times, Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health and NFL.com. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com.