By Chris Williams: Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman says he’s not happy that IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr is planning on moving up to 154 to campaign at that weight after his fight with WBO champ Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford failed to pan out.
#1 WBC Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) claims he’ll discover a way to capture a world title at 147 once again. Besides his #1 ranking with the World Boxing Council, Thurman is ranked #3 WBA, #3 WBO, and #6 IBF at welterweight.
Given the 33-year-old Thurman’s #1 ranking with the WBC, he’ll likely go that route to try and pick up a belt because it’s less risky than if he were to go after one of the other belts.
If Thurman attempts to win the IBF, WBA, or WBO strap, he could find himself competing against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, and that wouldn’t be a good idea for a fighter who has fought three times in the last five years since his grueling battle against the heavy-handed Danny Garcia in 2017.
Assuming Thurman fights for the WBC 147-lb belt after Spence vacates, ‘One Time’ would mix it up against one of these contenders:
WBC’s top 10 at welterweight
1. Keith Thurman
2. Vergil Ortiz
3. Jaron Ennis
4. David Avanesyan
5. Conor Benn
6. Yordenis Ugas
7. Thulani Mbenge
8. Cody Crowley
9. Alexander Besputin
10. Egidijus Kavaliauskas
It’s not a given that Vergil Ortiz Jr would accept a fight against Thurman if the WBC were to order that fight because his resume is so weak that it could be too much of a shock.
Ennis (29-0, 27 KOs) is already made it clear that he’s focusing on going after the IBF title, so Thurman doesn’t have to worry about him if he goes the WBC route to pick up a belt.
You got to rule out #4 David Avanesyan and #5 Conor Benn as potential opponents for Thurman for obvious reasons. Neither of them will be in a position soon to be fighting for the WBC belt.
“If he wants to move up and vacate the belts, I’ll find a way to become champion at 147 once again,” said Keith Thurman via Blueblood Sports TV about IBF/WBA/WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence potentially moving up to 154 and vacating his three 147 belts.
“My pride will dislike it because we want to compete with champions,” said Thurman.
