There’s one top welterweight Errol Spence Jr. has clearly crossed off his list of potential opponents.
There was a time when Spence genuinely wanted to fight Keith Thurman, but the unbeaten IBF/WBC welterweight champion no longer is interested in facing a fighter he admittedly dislikes. Spence made his thoughts on Thurman known when asked about boxing him at some point during the newest episode of “The Last Stand Podcast, With Brian Custer.”
Custer relayed Thurman’s comments about Spence needing to “see” him or having “to leave the 147-pound division” that were made during the former WBA/WBC welterweight champ’s appearance on his podcast in August.
“I guess I’m moving up or going down,” Spence replied, “one of the two, because, I mean, that sh-t ain’t happening. F--k, Keith Thurman.”
Custer, an announcer for Showtime, then asked Spence to explain why Thurman obviously rubs him the wrong way.
“I don’t like him,” Spence said. “That’s just one guy I just never liked. Like there’s a lot of boxers out there that I really don’t care for. But him, I just don’t like him. I just feel like he’s just fake. Everything about him, I just don’t like him at all.”
The 30-year-old Spence (26-0, 21 KOs) is preparing to defend his welterweight titles against former WBC champ Danny Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) on December 5 at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Their FOX Sports Pay-Per-View main event will mark Spence’s first fight since he sustained damage to his teeth and cuts to his face and body in a one-car accident in October 2019 in Dallas.
The 32-year-old Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs, 1 NC), of Clearwater, Florida, has not fought since he lost a split decision to Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) in their 12-round fight for Thurman’s WBA “super” welterweight title in July 2019 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Thurman does not have a fight scheduled.
He had surgery in which metacarpal bones were fused in his left hand in September 2019. Thurman stated earlier this year that it had taken longer than he expected to regain full use of his left hand while training.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.