Keith "One-Time" Thurman still "has an 0 and is not afraid to let it go," after defeating Luis Collazo Saturday on the first Premier Boxing Champions card to be held on ESPN. Thurman was nearly knocked down by the veteran Collazo with a brutal body shot in the fifth round, but eventually recovered and won when Collazo said he couldn't continue after Round 7.
After the fight Thurman declared his desire for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to take him on in September; as of now Mayweather has not named an opponent, and only thrown out the names Andre Berto and Karim Mayfield as contenders to land that fight.
"If Floyd wants to take advantage, he should fight me now while I'm still learning," Thurman said. "But I would do it and fight him in the next eight weeks. I'm young. They used to fight each other every week in the old days. I like my paycheck. I'll go ahead and take another paycheck. He's about to retire, I'm not retiring any time soon."
Thurman's limited name recognition, mixed with his skill and power, have made it difficult for him to land high-profile bouts Thurman failed to score knockouts in his two fights prior to facing Collazo though, and found himself in serious trouble in Round 5 Saturday night. He may be a big puncher, but Thurman is far from invulnerable inside the ring; that vulnerability might make Mayweather more willing to face him and appease the boxing public that wants him to face as difficult a challenge as possible.
Before this fight, Mayweather had dismissed Thurman and suggested One-Time fight Errol Spence Jr., a young fighter in Mayweather's stable.
"Floyd wants me to fight a young fighter because he doesn't want me to beat up on the elders," Thurman said. "TBE is to be extinct. Let's wave goodbye to the old man, I'll be waiting as long as he's here."
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