Amir Khan bolstered his case for fighting Floyd Mayweather in 2015 by dominating Devon Alexander on December 13 in Las Vegas, but Keith "One Time" Thurman, another rising 147-pounder, believes he is the real force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division.
"My real issue with Amir Khan in the welterweight division is ... he has yet to truly fight a real welterweight because Devon Alexander is -- they are really 140-pounders moving up to welterweight," Thurman said.
Thurman has become one of boxing's most popular fighters-despite hearing boos during a mostly uneventful fight on Khan's undercard vs. Leonard Bundu-even though his frequent calls for Top 10 welterweights have gone unanswered.
Following a unanimous decision win over Bundu in which he won every round on all three scorecards Thurman called out Marcos Maidana to fight him next. In the ensuing days he brought up being ducked by Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero as well. Khan would be the biggest name he could fight though, and Thurman thinks he's ripe for the picking.
"I think a lot of people underestimate my ability to box and punch at the same time. He's a good boxer, but he gets caught," Thurman, who has earned 21 of his 24 victories by knockout.
He tends to open up and throw wide. Punchers throw wide, but when we connect, that's it. When he throws wide, we eat it. Skill-wise, I think I have all the skill and talent to dismantle Amir Khan in the same fashion or greater fashion than Danny Garcia."
Unfortunately for Thurman, his name likely won't equal the risk in facing him for Khan, who can likely bank on a huge payday in the U.K. against Kell Brook if Mayweather doesn't accept his challenge.
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