Thurman full of fighting words for Barrios
In boxing, that sound is the rhythmic cadence of the speed bag — and the staccato beat of smooth-talking Keith “One Time” Thurman.
The man who’ll be standing opposite San Antonio welterweight Mario Barrios on Feb. 5 in Las Vegas can talk as well as he can fight, which is why Thurman has been one of boxing’s most popular champions for the better part of a decade.
With fans and eager promoters. Thurman is never shy around a microphone.
“There’s always pressure for greatness,” he said during a recent Zoom conference call. “Pressure makes diamonds. Fighters like me, fighters like Barrios and all great fighters out there, we take the pressure, we take the media. We put our families on our back.
“That’s the life of a warrior. It’s a beautiful thing. Our heart pumps better when we face the struggle head-on, man.”
Although Thurman’s ring skills are being questioned now — he hasn’t fought in 2½ years — there is no debate when it comes to oration.
For Thurman, the pitter-patter of a boxer promoting a fight — his fight — is a full-time job. At 33, he’s one of the best self-promoters in the sport.
His rap often reads more like a short sermon, delivered with a wink of an eye. Thurman is a master at knowing when to talk trash and when to just talk.
Oh, yes, and then there’s his penchant for talking about himself in the third person.
“Ain’t no better test than the Keith Thurman test,” he said. “Props to Mario Barrios for stepping up and wanting this challenge. He wants to make a name at 147 (pounds). You don’t just step to Keith Thurman if you don’t want to make a name at 147.
“This is what we love. This is why you should be excited. We got two fighters coming off losses, which means they got to prove themselves. We both have to prove ourselves. This is the time, the time is now, 2022. Talk about the past if you want. Feb. 5, new stories are being created.”
When asked about Thurman’s long-winded ways, Barrios smiled.
“That’s one area (in which) we’re completely different,” Barrios said. “He knows how to hype himself up.”
Not that Barrios doesn’t, just not to the same degree as Thurman.
Inside the ring, the Clearwater, Fla., native is widely recognized as a must-see attraction with a crowd-pleasing style.
He turned pro in late 2007 and quickly caught the eye of promoters with his skills and outgoing personality.
He reached the big time when HBO put him on a televised card in 2012 and he defeated Orlando Lora in a sixth-round TKO.
He continued to impress with wins against former titleholders Carlos Quintana and Jan Zaveck, followed by knockouts of Jesus Soto Karass and Diego Chaves.
He won an interim title and later a full title with a one-sided decision over Robert Guerrero in 2015.
Since then, Thurman has been slowed by injuries to a hand and elbow but he still scored notable wins over former champions Luis Collazo, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia before taking a 22-month layoff.
He returned in January 2019 and looked rusty in beating Josesito Lopez before taking on Manny Pacquiao that summer. He lost his title in a close split decision but earned praise for his performance against a future Hall of Famer.
In the lead-up to the fight, Thurman was in vintage form, boasting that he was going to send Pacquiao into retirement.
“This is a big fight, bombs are being dropped,” Thurman said. “I waited 22 months to get back in the game. We have our ups and downs in this sport. Your boy Keith Thurman is back on the rise. You will want to be there, especially because this will be this man’s last fight.”
Thurman struck a similar tone in hyping his fight with Barrios, reminding the “world of boxing that Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman is a fighter not to forget.”
“What is it that fans are excited to see about Keith Thurman in the ring? It’s just great boxing, man. There’s a skill set I bring into the ring. I make adjustments. I’m tough. I fight through adversity. I’m here to excite you and you and you. On Feb. 5, your boy Keith Thurman is coming back.”