Keith Thurman calls out Leonard Ellerbe
Former unified welterweight champion Keith “One-Time” Thurman (29-1, 22ko) has been staying in the gym and patiently waiting to return to the ring. The former champion was in attendance at a media event supporting WBA ‘super’ champion Yordenis Ugas and living legend Manny Pacquiao. Everything was going well until the name of Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions CEO came up, and the former unified champion went ballistic.
Keith Thurman has not been in the ring since suffering the first loss of his career at the hands of the Filipino senator back in July 2019. Furthermore, the Floridian’s career has been plagued with injuries, leading to inactivity. He was in the ring once in both 2016 and 2017, and was sidelined all of 2018.
One-Time has been using this time away from the sport to fully heal. From time to time, his name would pop up inside the boxing circle. Thurman wanted to fight WBO champion Terence Crawford for a price tag of $10 million.
What really got the boxing media motor going was when Ellerbe named dropped Thurman as a potential fight for three-divisional champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis at welterweight.
“Tank is not a 47 pounder, and Keith can fight his ass off. He’s a guy I got a lot of respect for, but that fight I’d make in 2 seconds, Tank would knock him the fuck out, right now. Trust me, if he’s serious, which I highly doubt, that’s an easy phone call.”
THURMAN WENT HARD AFTER LEONARD ELLERBE
Of course, Thurman has kept this locked away in the back of his mind waiting to unleash a verbal assault on the Mayweather Promotions CEO, and 3kingsboxing affiliate Brawlers Sports Media was in attendance to catch the tongue lashing.
“I am insulted by Leonard Ellerbe, Tank did not say anything. Y’all need to understand something real quick. Gervonta Davis has not said anything, his team has said this.”
“I heard Ellerbe say he has a welterweight fight. When they asked me who it was, I said Danny. I was not thinking in the right mind but what I meant was Garcia, Mikey Garcia.”
“But the truth is when lightweights move up, and let’s just go over the history when lightweights move up, real talk, lightweights fight other lightweights that have already moved up into the welterweight division.”
One-Time used four-divisional champion Adrien Broner as an example of how he started taking losses against true welterweights. After that, the aforementioned fighter’s veins in his neck turned red as he unleashed every ounce of frustration towards Ellerbe.
“Do they really want to go in with Keith Thurman? That is why I am calling out Ellerbe. Don’t play me, nano-second! I’ve been here way more than a nano-second. I’ve been waiting on a phone call for way more than a nano-second. I don’t play games! Give me the contract, show me the date, show me the money, I am about to put in the bank, and you can see my name signed on the dotted line.”
Ellerbe attempted to save face by responding on social media.
By: Garrisson Bland
