Key points:
- Keith Thurman wants to return to welterweight in December and has named IBF champion Liam Paro as a target
- His last fight was a sixth-round stoppage loss to Sebastian Fundora at super welterweight in March
- Thurman, 37, previously held the unified WBA and WBC welterweight titles
- No fight has been agreed yet; Thurman floated the matchup unprompted in an interview
Keith Thurman is eyeing a move back down to welterweight before the year is out, and he didn’t hesitate when IBF champion Liam Paro’s name came up as a potential opponent.
“For 147, I would prefer a December date just so that I can really focus on the longevity of the cut at this age and just keep cutting nice and slow and work with my nutritionist, and I believe we could probably get there,” Thurman told Fight Hub TV. Pressed further on Paro specifically, he doubled down: “You want to start me off with Paro? Will you start me off with Paro? I’ll run through that. I’ll run through that at 147.”
The proposal comes off the back of a rough outing. Thurman’s last fight, a sixth-round stoppage loss to Sebastian Fundora at super welterweight in March, saw him stalked around the ring and battered with little return fire, despite his own disagreement with referee Thomas Taylor’s decision to step in. Two judges had Fundora ahead 50-45 at the time of the stoppage.
Thurman, 37, held the unified WBA and WBC welterweight titles at his peak and remains a recognisable name in the division even years removed from his best form. Whether that version of Thurman is still available at 147 pounds, after a rough loss and a move up in weight, is the question his own proposal doesn’t quite answer. No fight with Paro has been agreed, and the suggestion for now remains just that.