Thurman Addresses Critics Ahead Of Comeback

Keith Thurman will return to the ring after a three-year break next month to face Brock Jarvis in a 10-rounder on March 12th at the Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia. Something brought the former WBA  and WBC welterweight champion Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs). Thurman doesn’t like the critics who have roasted him for navel-gazing with his inward focus and ignoring his once-promising career.

It could be money. He says he has a “good contract” for this year, which could lead to a fight against Tim Tszyu. If Keith can make it through Jarvis and his training camps, a fight against Tszyu is possible. Thurman was supposed to fight former WBO junior middleweight champion Tszyu last year on March 30th but pulled out due to an injury.

Rust and Rebranding

After three years, ‘One Time’ Thurman has likely lost much of his game from his last fight against Mario Barrios on February 5, 2022. He can’t blame that active spell solely on injuries because he could have returned to the ring if he loved the sport enough. The fact that he stayed out this long suggests that he’ll disappear again after one or two fights.

In Thurman’s first comeback fight, he takes on 27-year-old Jarvis (22-1,20 KOs) in a winnable fight for him. The last time Thurman fought in 2022, he’d have made easy work of a fighter like Jarvis, but now it’s unclear whether he will at 36.

“All we do is complain. We got the worst critics. We criticize everything. ‘He’s at this stage of his career. what does he got?’” said Keith Thurman to MillCity Boxing, reacting to the criticism he’s received for his latest comeback against Brock Jarvis. “Let’s just enjoy some boxing and see what Thurman has got. That’s what y’all want to know. That’s what this is all about.

“I’ve got a good contract this year. This is what I’m going to say. This is an opening act. I like the excitement and the build-up. I feel like a different man. 36-years-old. I’m not 26, I could rebrand. Initially, everyone saw the power when I was 22-0, 20 knockouts. I’ve done my seventh silent retreat,” said Thurman.

You can’t blame fans for criticizing Thurman for his inactivity, which has been a pattern since 2017. He’s only fought three times since his win over Danny Garcia eight years ago, and fans don’t like seeing former stars fight that seldom. It makes them question their ambition and willingness to work hard.