WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) is looking to take it easy in 2019.
Thurman has been out of the ring since March of 2017, when he won a twelve round split decision over Danny Garcia to unify the WBC, WBA world titles. He eventually lost the WBC title due to inactivity.
He's finally back in the ring on January 26th, when he defends his title against veteran welterweight Josesito Lopez at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Thurman's inactivity was due in part to several injuries that were suffered.
The two biggest fights for Thurman at the weight, are WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford and IBF world champion Errol Spence.
But Thurman is not planning to fight either man in 2019. He's not going to rush his comeback and intends to face one or both in 2020.
“What I need to do is come back in the ring, stay healthy, be active, have some great fights — or some good fights — this year and I think, we’ll possibly still save some of the great ones,” Thurman told Sporting News.
“We’re still in our prime. There’s still a little bit of time on the calendar. I like the year 2020, man. It just sounds really nice. It’s the Olympic year. I like the year 2020 because ’19 is the get-back year. ’19 Keith Thurman has to remind you who Keith Thurman is, why Keith Thurman is one of the baddest men at 147, why you need to always mention me when you mention the others … and, hopefully, put my name first.”
Thurman is looking to stage at least two fights in 2019, possibly three. He doesn't rule out the possibility of facing WBC champion Shawn Porter next year - or the winner of next month's bout between WBA "regular" champion Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner.
“At the end of the day, I’m here to make a statement that ‘One Time’ is back,” Thurman said.
“I’m going to do hopefully two fights this year and because of the long layoff — if I’m blessed, if it does not go into deep waters, if we’re able to shut this show down early in January — there’s a lot of room for the rest of the year. I would love to deep down — two [fights] is enough — but I would love to sneak in three fights and just be back active, so that I know I can bring my best into the sport. I got one belt, I’m missing one belt. So, that’s on my mind this year, in 2019, is to re-establish my own accomplishments and then move forward from there.”
