American superstar Keith Thurman has confirmed he and Tim Tszyu will throw down in a hyped July blockbuster if the pair both win their upcoming headliners, laughing: “Do you think I’m here for Brock Jarvis … get the f*** outta here”.
Thurman vs Jarvis | WED 12 MARCH 7PM AEDT | Australia’s Brock Jarvis will take on former Welterweight World Champion Keith Thurman in a blockbuster event at the Hordern Pavillion. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Almost a year to the day since his hyped Las Vegas blockbuster against Tszyu was scrapped, 36-year-old Thurman is now looking to punch his way back into the bout via Wednesday night’s Sydney showdown with No Limit stablemate, Jarvis.
Should the future Hall of Famer win, as he is favoured to do, No Limit CEO George Rose has already drawn up plans for the two-time welterweight king to then face Tszyu on the Gold Coast come July 6.
Should Jarvis win however, the Shire prospect will be pitched straight into a bout against Nikita Tszyu – who is readying to make his own return from hand surgery in a June 11 showcase.
Of course, for the Tszyu/Thurman fight to happen, ‘The Soul Taker’ must also win his upcoming bout against promising American prospect Joey Spencer on Sunday, April 6 in Newcastle.
Full Press Conference Thurman Vs Jarvis | 13:58
This time last year, Thurman was forced to withdraw from a bout with Tszyu after suffering a biceps injury in sparring.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on the eve of his Jarvis headliner however, the American confirmed he and No Limit had effectively drawn up a two-fight deal, cackling: “Why do you think I’m here?
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“Do you think I’m here for Brock Jarvis?
“Get the f*** outta here.
“They (No Limit) have given me something exciting.
“They’ve said ‘hey, we can give you a Tszyu fight, but let’s get you out here first, let’s get the fans to see you on an Australian pay-per-view’.
“So that’s what Wednesday is about.
“I didn’t pick Brock Jarvis.
“It’s not my fault his name fell onto the contract.
“I didn’t even know who Brock was. I had to Google him after I signed the contract …”
You Googled your opponent after signing?
“I said ‘OK, it’s some guy, whatever’ and then signed,” Thurman insists.
“Keith Thurman has fought the best guys in the world … I’m not suddenly going to be scared of Brock Jarvis.”
No Limit boss Rose also confirmed during Tuesday’s weigh-in broadcast that Tszyu will fight Thurman next, so long as both men win their upcoming pay-per-view headliners.
“If Keith Thurman wins this fight he will fight Tim Tszyu in his next fight,” Rose said.
“If Brock Jarvis wins this fight, he will fight Nikita Tszyu next.”
Rose quickly added however, that the older Tszyu sibling remains “very much zoned in” on Spencer who looms as “a massive fight for him”.
Thurman roasts Jarvis in WILD exchange | 02:19
He then continued: “We’ve got Keith Thurman out here fighting and the fact we’re going to bring him back for another fight after this, should he beat Brock Jarvis, I’m stoked for that.
“Brock and Nikita, I think it’s (also) a great match-up for Australian boxing.
“A big win over Keith Thurman here, it’s him and Nikita next.”
One man already throwing his heavyweight support behind Thurman/Tszyu is retired world champion Shawn Porter, who has jetted into Sydney this week to work in commentary for Wednesday night’s fight.
“It makes sense,” Porter said of the proposed showdown.
“I think it’s the number one reason why Keith is over here fighting right now.
“It’s an opportunity to get in the ring with Tim Tszyu.
“I think that’s what’s next for Keith, and should Tim get past Joey Spencer, that should be what’s next for him as well.
“I think they are really trying to give a premonition of what’s to come later on this year.”
Porter said to really sell that showdown however, Thurman needs to look spectacular against Jarvis.
“It’s got to be more than boxing Brock,” he continued of the fighter dubbed ‘One Time’.
“It has to be hitting Brock hard and putting Brock on the canvas multiple times.
“If he does what we’ve seen from him in the past, he puts Brock on the canvas and Brock doesn’t get up.
“That’s the type of fight that would make Australia go, ‘Tim’s got something tough ahead of him’.”
Elsewhere, Thurman said he knows there are still plenty of critics questioning how he will fare against the much younger Jarvis.
“Especially after three years of inactivity, aged 36, and coming off a bicep tendon tear,” he said.
“Being at the top of any sport is tough.
‘He’s just a muscle bound bi*** boy’ | 01:52
“But coming off not just one, or two but my third surgery in boxing?
“As Brock said during our first press conference ‘I just want you to get on the plane Keith, I want you to get over here’.
“Everyone has been worried that, as I’ve prepared for this fight, I could get hurt again.
“I hurt myself getting ready for Tim Tszyu, two weeks out.
“I wasn’t taking a jog at Florida Beach though.
“I was sparring.
“Eleventh round of sparring, I go to throw a punch and – boom – my bicep tendon snaps like a guitar string.
“Incredibly unfortunate.
“And it has prolonged my inactivity.
“So now people want to know ‘what do I still have?’
“I’ve been at the top of boxing for many years, held world titles, unified world titles, and fought multiple champions.
“Yes I talk a good talk.
“But people want to know if the fire is still there? Is the skillset still there?
“That’s what we find out Wednesday night”.
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