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Although there were countless speed bumps along the way, Errol Spence Jr. was convinced that both he and Terence Crawford could work out their differences and deliver to fans what they’ve been waiting on.
But, much to Spence’s surprise, negotiations broke down during the 11th hour, forcing him to scramble for a new opponent as Crawford took on and stopped David Avanesyan. While numerous names have promptly raised their hands in the hopes that they’ll be selected, all signs point to former unified champion, Keith Thurman, receiving the call.
Should Spence elect to move forward with the 34-year-old as his next dance partner, the powerful southpaw figures to be a sizable favorite heading in. With Thurman forced to spend protracted stints on the sidelines due to injuries, the former titlist has struggled with gaining momentum.
Still, even with his recent form suggesting that his better days might be behind him, Bob Arum concludes Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) is being supremely overlooked.
“That’s a good fight,” said Arum to BoxingScene.com. “Many people think that Spence has no problem with Thurman but I disagree. I think he’s got a good shot, he’s got a good shot. He’s a very skilled fighter, I give him a very good chance.”
Desperate to rid himself of any rust that may have accumulated following his two-and-a-half-year layoff, Thurman returned to the ring this past February to score a lopsided unanimous decision win over Mario Barrios.
Spence, similarly, ended his own two-and-a-half-year layoff in April of 2022. In his case, the hard-hitting star issued a violent performance against Yordenis Ugas, stopping the normally durable Cuban in the 10th round of their unification bout to become a three-belt welterweight champion.
At this stage in their respective careers, Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) has become a pound-for-pound stalwart. But, despite his worldwide fame and acclaim, the 91-year-old Hall of Fame promoter has an inkling that Spence will be in for a difficult night at the office against his longtime rival.
“I think that’s a very competitive fight. Spence probably will win but Thurman will give him a helluva fight.”