By Victor Salazar

Tampa, Florida - Following his victory over Luis Collazo, WBA 'regular' welterweight champion Keith Thurman (26-0, 22 KO’s) publicly stated on the ESPN broadcast that he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather or any top welterweight for that matter. In terms of the Mayweather fight, Thurman feels that Floyd Mayweather should fight him now before he gets better.

“If Floyd wants to take advantage, he should fight me now while I’m still learning,” Thurman told BoxingScene.com.  “But I would do it and fight him next in 8 weeks. I’m young. They used to fight each other every other week in the old days. I like my paycheck, I’ll go ahead and take another paycheck. He’s about to retire, I’m not retiring anytime soon. “

Thurman says a loss isn’t scaring him no matter who he fights next.

“I enjoy the fight game,” stated Thurman. “I have a 0, I’m not afraid to let it go. If you can beat me, beat me. My Momma used to beat me, My Daddy used to beat me so c’mon, I’m not scared.”

Mayweather and his team have stated through the media that Thurman should fight other young welterweights before they consider him as an opponent. Thurman responded by saying, “Floyd wants me to fight a young fighter because he doesn’t want me to beat up on the elders. TBE is to be extinct. Let’s wave good bye to the old man. I’ll be waiting as long as he’s here.”