Is Thurman For Real, Or Was This One Last Dance

Michelob Ultra Arena, Mandalay Bay; Vegas:

For more than 900-days, the one-time welterweight champion, Keith Thurman has dealt with injuries and surgeries. Well; he had himself an impressive return against the stepping up Mario Barrios. Minus any noticeable ring-rust in a white-wash unanimous decision 117-111, 118-110 2x. So is Thurman for real or was this more of the heaven’s giving him one final day in the sun. After all, 147 is shark filled waters.

Let’s start with the positive. Thurman in the lead up kept saying how well his left hand felt finally. And with the torque and power of those hooks, the laser-like accuracy of those straight hands and combos it’s hard to argue against him. His foot work was more like the 27-year old Thurman, than the 33-year old that was in the ring. He set a high paced offense that stifled Barrios who’s now dropped two-in a row. And the way he controlled distance was classic.

Had it not been for “El Azteca’s” heart, he would have been out of there a lot earlier. You could say the fight went the way it did because Barrios has yet to fill into a welterweights body. And you wouldn’t be completely wrong either. Perhaps this is the loss that he needed to jump start him. Outside of maybe a fight with Cletus Seldin, there really is nothing left for him down at super lightweight.

Is Thurman For Real, Or Was This Smoke And Mirrors

Thurman said post-fight:

“I want the belts, baby, I want the champions. I grade this one a C+, B- for myself”.

Now is he ready for Errol Spence, or Terence Crawford? No. And that’s not to say he could handle Yordenis Ugas easily. But for him to get into the ring for a strap a little more is needed. What WOULD be really special is if Shawn Porter wasn’t retired and if they faced off once again. Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz are the next level young guns of the division, and you don’t want to risk busting their bubbles just yet. They’d both have a hand speed advantage, but Thurman would have the power one.

He already has decision wins over Danny Garcia and Josesito Lopez. So the one that makes sense right now is Mikey Garcia. Garcia’s still tough; although not as much as he once was. He’s gone to the scorecards his last five-fights and still has some firepower. Garcia himself wants to be in the ring against the top dogs. And with Barrios being the dog he was, it showed there’s still some left in Thurman.

It took seven-plus rounds for Barrios to have Thurman in any type of bad situation. Spence, and especially Crawford who’s an outstanding finisher would have ended the fight right there. And that’s assuming the fight would even get to that distance. That’s not throwing shade at Ugas, who’s solid; however Thurman would have a few less riddles to figure out against him. Yes, Thurman was on his bike, but the cream of the crop at 147 can do the same.

Post-fight Thurman also admitted early in the fight he thinks he reinjured that left hand, so that has to be watched closely. Every fighter always hopes for one last day in the sun. We’ll just have to wait and see if that’s the case with “One Time”. Or HAS the king returned for his crown.

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