Boxing

Thurman reveals Barrios’ fight as WBC 147 title knockout on February 5


Via Dan Ambrose: Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman revealed on Tuesday that his bout against Mario Barrios on February 5 will be an elimination of the WBC welterweight title to determine mandatory placement for the champion. Errol’ Spence Jr. This could be Thurman’s best year as a pro if things go right with him defeating Barrios and Spence.

This is terrible news for 147 lb WBO champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford because instead of Thurman facing him next, as he has done in the past, he will be fighting for the WBC title against anyone whoever held the strap at the time he fought for it.

Needless to say, Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) is happy to fight in the WBC title elimination match because if he beats Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) he will stand a chance. fight for three world titles against the Winner between Spence vs. Yordenis Ugas during their April war.

Spence holds the 147 lb IBF & WBC belt, while Ugas is the WBA champion. So the winner of that war will have three titles, which puts Thurman in a three-strap pullover later this year.

Thurman and Barrios will appear on FOX Sports pay-per-view on February 5 at the Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas.

This was the 33-year-old Thurman’s first match since losing the 147-lb WBA title to Manny Pacquiao in July 2019.

Thurman says Barrios fights = WBC title remover

“I would have to say he’s NOT on the list,” Keith Thurman told FOX Sports when asked if Terence Crawford is next for him. “I love the fight. I love fighting these undefeated welterweight champions.

Keith Thurman, Terence Crawford boxing photos and news

“I wanted a belt, but the WBC approached me to have my weight checked,” Thurman said. “I said, ‘Why is the WBC coming up to me to check my weight? I don’t have a WBC title. ‘

“Mario Barrios has no WBC title. They have no right to check my weight ANYWHERE this fight on February 5th is a title elimination, which I know will most likely be in the books.

“So if it hasn’t been fully published yet, here’s my way to announce it. I know that what they do in boxing is for a reason, and I know of the only reason that the WBC can ask for such a thing a week before a match. ‘Where’s your weight, champion?’

“That’s because this matchup will be a 12-title elimination round for the WBC,” Thurman said. “So whoever holds the WBC belt at the end of the year who is Keith Thurman going to fight [next], and I look forward to that challenge, I look forward to that opportunity.

“Then we can get other champions. Let’s say something happens politically, and I don’t have a chance to force the WBC champion to face Keith Thurman, then with a contract and a fight offer. In that case, I’ll be ready to fight Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford,” “One Time” Thurman said.

‘One Time’ Thurman wins the lottery with the World Boxing Council choosing to make his fight with Barrios a 147-lb WBC title knockout. It’s not just Thurman that can take advantage of this. Barrios can take advantage of it if he wins this fight.

You can imagine how happy Barrios would be if he defeated Thurman and then fought the winner in the Spence vs. Ugas? We’re talking about a big payday for Barrios.

The amount Barrios made last year against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis will not change from the amount he received against the winner Spence-Ugas.

Keith hopes to take on the winner of Spence vs. Ugas

“I would be lying to you if I didn’t say it would be a dream come true,” Thurman said of his ability to fight for three titles against the winner of a fight between Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas.

“I love all that I have achieved in my career, but since I was a young amateur boxer, the highest title is being called undisputed world champion.

“So I unified the WBA and the WBC the night I beat Danny Garcia. Being a uniform weight champion is the highlight of my career today.

“So for a chance to fight later this year for three belts, that would be the next level. That would be the chance I get for Pacquiao pay-per-view. It will just be. Dreams will come true. That’s what I want.

“I am truly grateful and I will work hard to achieve the best of my career,” Thurman said.

For Thurman’s sake, he should hope that he still has something in his tank because if he loses to Barrios, he can forget about fighting the winner of the battle of Spence-Ugas.

The point is, we don’t know if Thurman has anything left after leaving the ring for nearly three years. In his last two bouts of 2019 against Josesito Lopez and Manny Pacquiao, he looked terrible.

For those two games, Thurman will take two years off. Thurman’s shutdown from 2017 to 2019 took something from his game.

Sadly, now Thurman has done it again as he hasn’t left the ring OVER 2 years since his loss to Pacquiao in 2019.

Like I said, Thurman could lose to 26-year-old Barrios because of ring rust. Barrios is in his prime right now, but you can’t say that about Thurman much longer.

Thurman predicts explosive night on February 5

“It’s going to be explosive,” Thurman said of the fight against Barrios on Feb. 5. “You’ll see a really determined and revived Keith Thurman, ready to fight and take on all who come. as well as challenge and be the champion again.

“That’s the kind of performance I want to deliver; I want to steal the show. We’ve had great battles on that card, man. February 5 will be a great night for boxing in general.

“We had some great fights from welterweight to lighterweight. We have Leo Santa Cruz and a comeback for myself, Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman.

“I love all my fans. Everyone is excited about this fight, looking forward to seeing Keith Thurman. “Everybody is excited about Mario Barrios. I respect everyone. I love the sport of boxing. I know there’s controversy, and I know you won’t like every fight.

“But I just look forward to getting back in the ring and delivering a great performance for you, for myself and for boxing in general.

“So that’s what you can expect on February 5th. A great night of boxing,” Thurman said.

It will be interesting on February 5th to see Thurman fight Barrios with a lot of things on the line. There’s a lot for Thurman to lose in this fight.




Source link

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button