Keith Thurman Dares Terence Crawford to Send a Contract
At one point in time, hard-hitting Floridian Keith “One Time” Thurman (29-1, 22 KO’s) was unquestionably the man to beat at welterweight. However, injuries, large gaps away from the sport and suffering his first professional loss to WBA super world welterweight champion Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KO’s) has significantly dulled his luster.
Now, the common perception among boxing enthusiasts is that either WBC and IBF world welterweight champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr (26-0, 21 KO’s) or WBO world welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (36-0, 27 KO’s) is the real man of the division. In fact, for a lengthy period of time, there was intense public pressure to make the Thurman v Spence bout. Yet, it never came to be.
The prizefight floated around unrealized for so long that numerous people openly questioned if One Time was scared of the Truth. Naturally, Thurman dismisses all notions that he harbors any trepidation about facing Spence. For the former world champion, he believes linking up with Errol Spence Jr is merely a matter of timing.
SEND THE PAPER WORK!!
When it comes to the notion of Terence Crawford however, Thurman is extremely adamant that he can whip him now! Not only does One Time believe that he can take Bud, he’d be willing to fight him less than 100%, as he shared on the Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer.
“Right now I want Crawford more man, he got under my skin. Errol, that’s a timeline issue. I know how the game works, we got the same manager, that’s a timeline issue. Let’s say just for a story sense, he’s fighting in November. If I could get a fight in December, then early 2020 there should be no ducking Keith Thurman! We’re almost on the same calendar, you see what I am saying?”
“…this Crawford dude, send me a contract bro! Tell ESPN, tell them boys to send some zeros my way. They know an appropriate, respectful, and then I sign on the dotted line baby! Don’t act like I am going to run from you!”
“You never weighed 147, you never got respect in the game anyways at 147. You haven’t pushed the buttons at 147. You ain’t touched Shawn Porter, you ain’t touched Thurman, you ain’t touched [Danny] Garcia, you ain’t touched [Errol] Spence! I’m going to run out of fingers! I can name all my opponents you ain’t touched, I’m going to run out of fingers boy! Stop! Stop it! Send the contract, tell me when you want it! You want it before Christmas? Merry Christmas, I’ll take the check, merry Christmas!”
MAKE THE FIGHT
The best thing about this current mutual animosity is the fact that neither man has an assignment at the moment. So, if they really want to settle this, the only thing separating them is time and opportunity. And while Crawford certainly doesn’t want to hear it, Thurman has a very valid point that Bud has not toppled any of the marquee names in the division. Therefore, penning a bout with One Time would do wonders for his resume at 147. Let’s hope that they actually get this one done.
By: Bakari Simpson
