Keith Thurman Leaning into a Fight with Yordenis Ugas
Well it would appear that former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (30-1, 22 KO’s) is heading back to the ring. Currently, Thurman has remained on the sidelines for the last year and a half since he fought Mario Barrios last February. Prior to that, One Time hadn’t fought since his 2019 duel with Manny Pacquiao. Now, according to Thurman, there is a strong possibility that he’ll face one-time welterweight champion Yordenis “54 Milagros” Ugas (27-5, 12 KO’s). One Time dropped the news on the Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer.
“It’s a great fight, so we’ll talk about it as a great fight. So [if] we get the fight, we get things to manifest, that’s a great fight. Ugas, he’s done big things. He beat Pacquiao, I lost to Pacquiao, right? Pacquiao’s retired, Thurman never gets to punch Pacquiao again, right?
But there is a little redemption, right? If I beat someone who beat the guy who beat me . . . that’s when eventually you can say not only do styles make boxing, but athletes at certain parts of their career’s they’re either more closer to that 100% or they’re not quite at their optimal performance.
My body is feeling great, everything is good this year. I believe that I am optimal and I look forward to showcasing my skills and talent once again and I believe that it makes a good fight!”
NO TIME TO WASTE!
Many moons ago, Thurman was the man to beat in the division. Yet, injuries and some questionable business decisions have kept him very inactive for a staggering amount of time. If given his way, the native Floridian would love to achieve championship status once again. After a quick appraisal of the 147-pound landscape however, that may not be the easiest goal to accomplish at 34 years of age and with 16 years as a pro under his belt.
Luckily for Thurman however, Ugas has been out of action for the same length of time. Even worse for 54 Milagros, he is coming off a costly loss to unified 147-pound champion Errol Spence Jr. who took his title and stopped him in the tenth. Suspended in these professionally precarious situations, if signed, this upcoming duel has “must-win” written all over it for both men!
