Keith Thurman has stepped inside the boxing ring 30 times in his career, with 29 of those ending with his hand raised.
Thurman, the reigning WBA welterweight champion, defends his title and unbeaten record against Manny Pacquiao this July 20 from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The bout headlines the Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports pay-per-view card.
“We’re ready. This is a blessing to be here and a dream come true. I started boxing at the age of seven. I worked hard to be a champion and I’ve always wanted to fight the greatest names in the sport,” Thurman said. “Pacquiao wants a challenge and I’m very grateful to be sharing a ring with a legend. If you understand boxing history, you know that times change. I believe boxing is in a new era. Come July 20, Pacquiao will disappear. He’ll always be remembered in the sport, but I’m doing to Manny Pacquiao, what he did to Oscar De La Hoya.
“This is a big fight. I’ve waited 22 months to get back in the game. We had our ups and downs, but Keith Thurman is back on the rise. I’m going to make a big statement.”
The lone blemish on the record of Thurman is a no-contest from his ninth pro bout with Francisco Garcia after an accidental head butt ended the contest in the first round. He has held some form of the WBA welterweight title since 2013 and was promoted to “super” champion in 2017.
“This training camp is going to start this Saturday. Once I get home, it’s grind time and on July 20, it’s going to be my time,” he said. “July 20 is 23 years in the making. I’ve dedicated myself to this beautiful sport of boxing for so long and my first trainer Ben Getty told me that I had what it takes to be a great champion. I’m truly looking forward to having another chance to show it.
“We definitely had a stretch with a lack of activity. Not everyone knows who Keith Thurman is today. You could see that I wasn’t at my best in January. But on July 20, ‘One Time’ is back. I’m getting ready to have one of my best training camps for this fight.”