For Keith Thurman, 2019 is proving to be eventful but not in the way he planned. July this year he got a taste of a truly huge fight, the biggest for him so far and it ended in defeat. It was the first in his career and courtesy of Manny Pacquiao. Then Thurman had to undergo surgery, forcing him out of action until next year.
In an interview, Thurman predicted he should be fully restored by middle of 2020 and ready to box again either in May or June. And there is no other man he wishes to face. The man wants revenge and is calling on Team Pacquiao to give him a rematch.
The last check on the Filipino fighter's camp, Pacquiao indeed is working on a rematch but not against the same foe he had just conquered. The boxing icon wants what the boxing world has been clamoring to see, and that's a second showdown with Floyd Mayweather.
Thurman, however, is convinced the next rematch to happen for Pacquiao has to be against him. He deserves a second shot.
"You know who I want. You should know who I want. I want that rematch, baby. That's all I really want," Bad Left Hook reported the American as saying.
He admitted though that meeting Pacquiao again on the ring will all depend on the latter's availability. As things stand now, Pacquiao has last say on the matter.
Looking at Thurman's credentials, the 8-division world champion has reasons to grant a rematch, but the possibilities out there are tempting since Pacquiao had won his last three encounters with younger and impressive fighters.
Suddenly, the likelihood of more lucrative prize-fights, including a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch, became even more real as boxing analysts observed that the Filipino senator is on his path to the renaissance. Then there's Errol Spence, or Shawn Porter, or any of the two Garcias, and all of whom are welterweights worth the sweat.
In other words, Thurman's wish for a rematch with Pacquiao will be quite unlikely, according to Bleacher Report.
In the event, however, that the opportunity arises, Thurman promises a fight that will make Pacquiao work hard, harder than the first outing.
There will be more movements, and the counters that Thurman said did frustrate Pacquiao. He added that he sees the opening to go for the kill, there will be no hesitation on his part. He'll take advantage of Pacquiao's invitation to brawl.
"If I had a second chance I wouldn't hesitate ... there will be some uppercuts," Thurman vowed.
