Keith “One Time” Thurman: “I’m more than just a puncher”

11/02/201311/01/2013 Joseph Herron

_MG_0970 Photo and video courtesy of Carlos Sacriste

Every fighter at the world class level gets tested, in which they’re forced to prove their mental and physical durability. It’s what truly separates the good from the elite.

Interim WBA Welterweight title holder Keith “One Time” Thurman was given that proverbial “trial by fire” in his last outing against hard punching Argentine Diego Chaves, and passed the toughest test of his professional career with flying colors.

On December 14th, in San Antonio, Texas, the 24 year old fighter insists that the boxing world will see even more from “One Time” when he steps in the ring with rugged fight veteran Jesus Soto Karass.

Keith “One Time” Thurman: Tale of the “Light-Skinned” Dark Horse

09/15/201608/09/2013 Vivek Wallace

Only a few weeks ago, welterweight Keith Thurman stepped into the ring against a contender who few had heard of, and even fewer had actually seen. Those hardcore fight fans in the game knew that it could be an interesting night, as the scouting report on underdog Diego Gabriel Chaves was that he’s under the radar, but above the rim. Although Chaves entered the night as the relative unknown commodity, to some, Thurman wasn’t exactly popular, himself. Sitting in front of a flat screen TV in a house filled with fight fans ready for some action, I can recall hearing one young lady ask “who’s the light-skinned guy with the long hair”?

A few rounds, several power shots, and a bloody nose later, she made a conscious effort to remember his name, as Thurman gutted his way to an effort she would make a conscious effort to remember. Stepping in the shoes of that young lady for a moment, we ponder the question out loud: “WHO IS KEITH THURMAN”? In the world of Boxing you have pretenders and contenders. In many ways he has shown enough ability to escape the “pretender” tag. But has he truly established himself as a “contender” in one of the sports deeper divisions? What makes the Thurman project such an interesting one is that he appears to have all the tools to do so. 19KO’s in 21 fights is an indelible print left in the minds of both fans and future opponents. Trouble is, practically all of those KO’s came against unproven talents.

Left-Hook Lounge: Duran/Mayweather, Andre Berto & Keith Thurman!!!

07/29/2013 Vivek Wallace

Kevin O. (Aventura, FL): Is it safe to say that Andre Berto is now done as a fighter? He has changed trainers and I don’t know of a way that any one out there can rebuild him at this stage to make him a top contender. What are your thoughts?

Vivek W. (ESB): I’ve been asked this question by almost every fight fan that I know and to be very truthful, it’s a very easy question to answer. For starters, when people ask me should he retire? I can address that one very easily in saying “NO”. There are several fighters around the sport who one can argue should, but the reason that I argue he should not is because he has a ton of heart, which means win, lose, or draw, he will make for competitive fights. Fight fans want to see competitive fights. You may enter that competitive fight knowing what the outcome is when he’s facing a perennial contender, but you know that he has just enough ability to land his shots and make it interesting before he ultimately gets bust up in the face and takes an “L”.

Post-Fight Press Conference: Berto vs. Soto Karass, Chaves vs. Thurman & Fight Summaries

07/28/2013 Steve Lopez

The city of San Antonio was treated to another excellent night of boxing with Knockout Kings II. Thurman, Figueroa and Soto-Karass scored impressive wins in fights that tested the will, heart and determination for all six fighters. After a night like this, it would be no surprise if fans are already looking forward to Knockout Kings III!

As with most contests, there are winners and losers. Thurman’s performance earned him the Knockout Bonus Prize as he dispatched Chaves in 10 rounds. The bonus was no easy task to win for Thurman as the Argentina fighter tested him early in the fight causing Thurman to adjust in the second part of the bout en-route to a 10th round knockout.

Photos / Video: Soto Karass knocks out Andre Berto, Keith Thurman KOs Diego Chaves

07/28/2013 Showtime Boxing

Jesus “Renuente” Soto Karass knocked out Andre Berto, Keith Thurman was dubbed Knockout King, but Omar Figueroa and Nihito Arakawa stole the show Saturday night on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

Soto Karass scored a 12th round technical knockout victory over a remarkably resilient Berto in front of 8,811 fans in the main event on SHOWTIME at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

In an event dubbed Knockout Kings II, Soto Karass came out of the gate strong, establishing and displaying his power against Berto, who injured his right shoulder in the early rounds of the fight and was essentially limited to his left hand for the majority of the bout.

Thurman targeting Maidana after win over Chaves

07/31/201407/28/2013 Jeff Sorby

Keith Thurman (21-0, 19 KO’s) won an impressive 10th round TKO victory over the tough as nails Argentinian Diego Chaves (22-1, 18 KO’s) last Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas to win the interim WBA 147 lb. title. Instead of targeting WBA champ Adrien Broner, Thurman wants to fight #1 WBA, Marcos Maidana next.

Thurman said as quoted by RingTV “If I had it my way, I would fight Maidana. He’s been ducking me for a year.”

In a way that kind of makes sense because it seems pointless for Thurman to seek out a fight against Broner because the chances of Thurman getting a fight with him in 2013 or 2014 are probably slim at best. Broner will likely vacate and/or avoid the fight by facing other guys.

Matthysse predicting win for Diego Chaves over Keith Thurman

07/31/201407/25/2013 Jeff Sorby

Keith “One Time” Thurman (20-0, 18 KO’s) will be losing this Saturday night in his fight against #1 WBA Diego Chaves (22-0, 18 KO’s) in their battle for the interim WBA welterweight title, according to Lucas Matthysse.

Matthysse thinks Chaves has the skills to defeat the hard-hitting Thurman and bring the interim WBA 147 lb. title back to his home country of Argentina.

Chaves and Thurman will be fighting at the AT&T Center, in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Matthysse said to RingTV “I know that Diego is an excellent boxer, and we’re hoping and expecting that he will come back to Argentina with the title. I have a lot of pride in him.”

Berto faces Soto Karass; Thurman battles Chaves this Saturday on Showtime

07/23/201307/22/2013 Bill Phanco

This Saturday night on Showtime, undefeated welterweight Keith “One Time” Thurman (20-0, 18 KO’s) faces off against unbeaten Argentinian Diego Chaves (22-0, 18 KO’s) and former IBF/WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto 28-2, 22 KO’s) takes on Jesus Soto Karass (27-8-3, 17 KO’s) at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Both fights are scheduled for 12 rounds and both have titles on line. Thurman-Chaves will be fighting for the interim WBA 147 lb. title, and Berto-Soto Karass will be fighting for the vacant NABF welterweight strap.

Keith Thurman battles Diego Chaves for interim WBA 147 lb. title on 7/27

07/16/2013 Jeff Sorby

Unbeaten Keith Thurman (20-0, 18 KO’s) will be looking to pick up the interim WBA welterweight title this month against Diego Chaves (22-0, 18 KO’s) this month in a fight on July 27th televised by Showtime from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

If the 24-year-old Thurman can win this fight he’s going to then be putting a lot of pressure on WBA welterweight champion Adrien Broner to make a big decision about whether he feels it’s worth it to hold onto the WBA title and face the dangerous Thurman or if it would be better off giving up the strap and looking for safer fights.

It’s an important move for Broner because if he takes the fight against Thurman, he’ll be taking a huge risk with his career because Thurman would have a big size advantage over Broner if that fight were to be made.

Thurman vs. Maidana possible for April, 2013

12/12/201212/11/2012 ESB

By Rob Smith: Golden Boy Promotions is looking to match former WBA light welterweight champion Marcos Maidana (32-3, 29 KO’s) up with junior middleweight Keith Thurman (19-0, 18 KO’s) in April next year. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer wants to put the Maidana-Thurman fight with unbeaten featherweight Gary Russell Jr. (21-0, 13 KO’s) against a still to be determined opponent in a doubleheader card. They wanted Jhonny Gonzalez, but that was a no go after he showed no interest in the fight. Russell Jr. is a good fighter and if they can find a quality opponent to put him in with then they’ll have a decent card.