The WBA Super world welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman returns to the ring to defend his belt after almost two (2) year lay off due to injury.
Thurman 30, (28-0, 22KO) goes into the ring as the overwhelming favourite regardless of his ring rust and comes from the back of only two (2) fights since knocking out Luis Collazo in his defence for the WBA welterweight title on 25th July 2016 at the Barclay’s Center, Brooklyn.
He will be fighting Josesito Lopez this Saturday January 26. He beat Shawn Porter on a unanimous decision to retain the title and fought Danny Garcia in a unification bout for the WBC and WBA Super world welterweight titles on split decision.
Thurman suffered an elbow injury after the Garcia fight and undergone a surgery to get his elbow fixed. Just after ten (10) months when the elbow was almost healed, Thurman suffered another injury in his left hand. This got him out for another twelve (12) months.
When asked whether he is in the right condition to defend his belt Thurman said ” we took this fight because we are prepared, when I fought Robert Guerrero, I fought him with a haematoma, with Collazo, the body shot I took was hard to crack and I had bone pains whiles I was fighting Danny Garcia. So no matter what shape I’m in, when is time to go to war we’ll fight”.
Josesito Lopez who is very experienced comes in as an underdog but promises a lot of surprise having knocked Victor Ortiz out in 2012 for the WBC Silver welterweight title. He subsequently lost to Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana.
Lopez 34, (36-7, 19KO) has won his last three (3) fights by way of unanimous decision after losing to Andre Berto in March 2015. Lopez feels confident going into this fight based on his strict training regime under coach Robert Garcia. “I feel I’m at the championship level, I have prepared well for this fight and will have no excuse at the end of the fight no matter the outcome”. Lopez said confidently.
Both boxers came in on the scale at 146.5lbs and set the stage for the fight on Saturday January 26 at the Barclay’s Center. The fight is Promoted by Premiere Boxing Champions (PBC).
At the last presser Thurman had this to say ” I’m just happy to be on a new network, new platform, new condition, new health and I’m just excited. Twenty two (22) months out , I forgot what it feels like, I have been to several fight off my time but I feel like I have to get my own fight week to have you all guys come out. I know the fans have been saying when is the champion gonna be back, Saturday night baby, we are here Brooklyn I’m back.”
Also on card, heavyweight contender Adam Kownacki 29, (18-0, 14 KOs) will take on former world title challenger Gerald Washington 36, (19-2-1, 12 KOs)in a 10-round bout. Tugstsogt Nyambayar (10-0, 9 KOs) will lock horns Claudio Marrero (23-2, 17 KOs) in a featherweight world title elimination bout for the rights to become the mandatory challenger for the WBA featherweight title