'One Time' wants 'The Special One'
Thurman wants to bounce back from Manny Pacquiao defeat and eyes a bout out of his comfort zone against Sheffield fighter
Keith Thurman (29-1-0 22 KOs) has called for Kell Brook (39-2-0 27 KOs) to step up and make the fight happen between the pair and is keen to fight on foreign soil if an opportunity arises, to seek redemption for his defeat to eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao.
The 31-year-old wants to return to the ring and take control of the division once again, but after a year out remains keen to tear away any ring-rust before taking on potentially huge fights against Errol Spence Jr or Terrence Crawford to become a champion once again.
Brook himself returned to boxing earlier this year, defeating Mark DeLuca in Sheffield via a seventh-round KO, and may be a perfect option for Thurman after having vowed to retire if he had been defeated, but now appears to be ready to compete with the stars of the division once again.
Thurman insisted he was ready to fight now, despite the extended lay off and undergoing hand surgery after his defeat, and is raring to go providing the financial deal was worthwhile for him to take a substantial risk fighting abroad.
He told PepTalkUK: “Kell Brook is a great rival, and he’s done a lot of great things in the welterweight division. 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 34-year-old Briton held the IBF welterweight title from 2014 to 2017 and challenged for a unified middleweight title back in 2016 and has been highly successful on home soil, holding the British welterweight title from 2008 to 2010. Right now, he holds high positions with all of the governing bodies – WBC #7, WBA #8, IBF #10, WBO #10, IBO #3 – as well as holding the WBO Inter-Continental super-welterweight title.
But now he is looking towards the future and a return to glory in the near future maintaining a strong interest in a contest with Terence Crawford, and has maintained his fitness ahead of a return in the near future.
He said to Boxingscene.com: “I am very interested in the Crawford fight as are my team,” “It’s a genuine proper fight and will capture the imagination of the transatlantic audience.
It’s been a testing time for all of us globally during the coronavirus pandemic and when (major) boxing does return, with the safety aspect being paramount, it’s big nights like these that the fans will crave and get the fans excited. I’m the strongest and best boxer he will have faced and once I beat him, he can have a rematch and we can always do it all over again in England.
I boxed in February. I’ve been ticking over during lockdown and I’m back in the boxing gym training. By the fall time, I’ll be more than ready. I will make the weight. Then I’ll make the wait worthwhile! 147 and strong on them scales and then stood right in front of Terence Crawford, in the centre of the ring, ready to dance under all of them lights! Let’s get it done!”
Sheffield's ‘Special K’ remains a strong contender in the welterweight division despite his threat at retirement before his bout earlier this year and will want to return to the heights of his past after showing so much promise before the pandemic halted his comeback to the sport.
Aged 34, with high rankings and notable names, such as Keith Thurman, Liam Smith, Terence Crawford – no mentioning Amir Khan anymore! – willing to fight if the price is right, Kell Brook is in a perfect position for one last roll of the dice before drawing the curtains on a illustrious 16-year career.
HÖRFA are proud sponsors of British Boxing News