Keith Thurman Says Errol Spence Must Fight Him Or Leave The Division

Keith Thurman is ready to get back to fighting and says welterweight king Errol Spence will need to fight him or leave the 147lb division.

Thurman dropped to a decision defeat to Manny Pacquaio in June 2019. ‘One Time’ lost his WBA welterweight title and undefeated record in the process. He hasn’t fought since but is now ready to return to the ring and is eyeing fighting against the best fighters possible.

“I’m ready to get back in with all this competition,” Thurman told PepTalkUK. “My mind mentally would love a rematch [with Manny Pacquiao]. I think it’s a worthy rematch and a deserved rematch. It’s an epic fight … It’s whatever doors will open. If I have to fight a Shawn Porter, Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia. I’d be surprised if Errol Spence hops on the table right away, but there are so many opportunities.

“It’s hard for someone to show me an opportunity and watch me say no. I could maybe take a tune-up. But I like great fights and significant challenges. Whoever, I fight, I know there’s going to be a following. I want to make it worth my while … Those training camps are not easy. I want my opponent to be worthy of all the pain and suffering that is involved in the whole event for it to be really worthwhile.”

Spence is viewed by many to be  the best welterweight in boxing but Thurman says he will need to face him in order to prove it, he said.

“Everyone is gunning for him, and if he wants to stay champion, he’s going to have to answer to everybody or follow after his predecessor and dodge everybody and pick who he chooses. He’s faced some of my competition, but he’s never faced me. I did that with Errol when he fought Shawn Porter. I got a lot of people that think the way I beat Porter was better.

“[Errol is] going to have to give me my respect one way or another. If he doesn’t want to see me at 147, he’s going to have to leave the division.” (Transcribed by Boxing Scene)

Who wins if Keith Thurman fights Errol Spence?