Keith Thurman is back this weekend after a big lay off and surgery and he fights in Australia.
It’s a big fight in Australia and around the world too — against Brock Jarvis.
Ahead of the fight in the face off speaking to Fox Sports Australia Keith Thurman said:
“You know, the rough part was dealing with everything post-surgery last year. The first three months were the most painful. Then you get into physical therapy, and about six months later, it’s moving a lot better. Six or seven months after the surgery, I was back in the gym—working lightly on the bag or mitts at first. Eventually, I got the green light to hit the heavy bag and stuff like that. It’s been good since last year, but it just feels great to be back in the ring, back in action. I got a phone call about the potential interest in this matchup right before the holiday season in December. Then January hit, and they told me in December that the promoter was pushing the dates back. They said, ‘Keith, don’t worry too much about rushing your weight,’ and all that. But then January came, and I didn’t get a follow-up call. I was nervous, wondering if I even had a contract. I called my people up and said, ‘Hey, do we have a contract in Australia?’ They said, ‘Oh, wait, let me get right back to you.’ Boom, boom—we worked it out. There was still interest in making this fight happen, and my main interest is getting back into action this year. So, I’m excited to be here, looking forward to sharing the ring with Brock. I applaud him for signing the contract against me. Obviously, I’m a fighter of a certain caliber he hasn’t faced many times in his career. But there’s no way you can have a record like Brock’s—you called him a rising star—and all rising stars want to be in the ring with the who’s who of boxing. Being a former unified champion, if he can outperform me and get the victory, that’s going to catapult his name to a higher status in the beautiful world of boxing. He’s got a lot to look forward to, and I’ve got a lot to look forward to—meeting amazing commentators, like we already worked side by side one night here. I’ve met terrific fight fans out on the streets of Sydney, just walking the blocks, trying to figure out where they dropped me off. It’s a beautiful township, and obviously, being spotted around town, they’ve got a certain love for boxing. I’m looking forward to showcasing my skills and talents right here in Australia.”
He later added with energy in the face off:
“What Keith Thurman brings into the ring is something you just haven’t seen before. Everyone who fights me underestimates what it means to be in that square circle with me as a dance partner. I’m not like any sparring partner you’ve ever hired or faced. I love that about my style, my technique—I’m very unorthodox in my approach. At the end of the day, my ring IQ, my poise, the caliber of fighters I’ve been in with—I saw Brock get knocked out in the first round. It’s hard not to see that as an easy win, coming from my level of fights. I got knocked down by Manny Pacquiao in the first round, got up with a smile, and started turning the fight back in my favor. He closed it out—I didn’t put my foot on the gas—but it was a split decision loss with the knockdown. That means one of the three judges said, even with the knockdown, Keith Thurman still won the fight. That’s what it means to always be in the fight, to always put yourself back in it. So, when I touch your chin, please don’t fall down. He’s top-heavy, built like a brick—but some bricks are fragile. I hope you’re not a fragile brick, Brock.”
He went on to further say at one point:
“Okay, Brock’s gonna come in straightforward—it’s the only thing he knows how to do. He’s gonna come in really hard. You’ll see all his muscles tense up—I’ll read it from 25 miles away. He’s gonna pump the jab, then come with the right hand. He’s thinking, ‘Mate, we’ve been working on this. We’ve got a game plan. This is how it’s gonna go down—we’re gonna get in there, boom, hit him with the right hand, then go right to the body.’ Because Thurman doesn’t like body shots—anyone who knows anything about boxing, from a few comments or an article, knows Thurman can’t take a body shot. So, they’re gonna go hard to the body—boom! That’s when he thinks he’ll get the big check, make all the money. I’ll see it from a mile away—catch it—and he’ll be standing there like a duck, not knowing how to move his head. Easy work—right uppercut, left hook. Has he got the game? Get ready for the KO, kid.”
Thurman is not short of confidence in this one this weekend despite the inactivity and surgery, things actually got a little more language-filled from Thurman after that — he is up for this — big time.
Thurman is a sensible boxer though and wouldn’t be this confident unless he was sure of the preparation, which he is.
He has put in the work and paid the price at this point.
He knows what it takes at this level as a former world champion too.
This is on a big network in Fox Australia too and it’s important to realize boxing in Australia is taking off not only on Fox but now on DAZN too recently after they acquired Foxtel in Australia.
Sydney will be buzzing this weekend for this one.
Jarvis is a lot younger than Thurman and has a lot more activity in recent years but Thurman will bring the heat as he always does.
