Welterweight titlist Keith Thurman and former titleholder Shawn Porter were deep into their respective training camps and just a few weeks away from their big fight, which was scheduled for March 12.
But one day in late February, Thurman got into a one-car accident during a rainstorm near his home in Clearwater, Florida. While he was not seriously injured, the airbag deployed and he got banged up.
The fight was postponed to give Thurman ample time to recover from the whiplash and the aches and pains that resulted from the crash.
?It was six weeks before I could go back to the gym,? Thurman said. ?And then we just had to take it [in] increments as far as recovering, as far as working hard. Didn’t want to push my body too hard right away. Didn’t want to re-aggravate anything. Just listened to my doctors, stay doing my regular checkup routines. And we’re good to go.?
Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs) and Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs), who have been friends since they were amateurs, are indeed good to go for the rescheduled and much-anticipated fight on Saturday (CBS, 9 p.m. ET) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. CBS said it will be the first prime-time boxing telecast on the network since Feb. 15, 1978, when Muhammad Ali lost a 15-round split decision and the heavyweight title to Leon Spinks in a massive upset.
Dan Birmingham, Thurman?s trainer, said the accident was just one of those things that happen sometimes, a curveball in life that you deal with.
“Life happens. Keith was involved in the accident and so we took the necessary rest,? Birmingham said. ?He saw the right doctors and we’re back now. We’re ready for Shawn Porter.?
Thurman said when he returned to camp after the six weeks of rest that the only real difference was that he began sparring a little later than usual in camp just to make sure he was 100 percent recovered.
?We couldn’t spar early in this camp for the safety of my neck and not to jeopardize or risk anything, and just follow my doctor’s instructions,? Thurman said. ?We had to build up and start off with cardio and shadow boxing, and then get into the mitt work and the bag work. This camp has just been a progression, nothing really out of the norm. Nothing really changed the pace of too many things. We just had to formulate it a little different so that we can get the job done and be prepared.?
Porter, out of the ring since his upset decision win against Adrien Broner last June, also took the delay in stride.
Not wanting to waste the training he had already done in preparation for March 12 and wanting to stay sharp for when the fight was rescheduled, Porter, 28, and his father and trainer, Ken Porter, arranged for Shawn to have a 12-round exhibition match against journeyman Lanardo Tyner, which was streamed online.
“Keith’s injury gave me enough time to make extra sure that I had everything I needed to get ready for this fight,? Porter said. ?Not to say I wouldn’t have been ready March 12, but it’s given me more time to reflect and visualize. On [Saturday], I know I will be 100 percent on every level.?
Because of the accident, Thurman, 27, will have been out of the ring since his seventh-round knockout of former world titleholder Luis Collazo 11 months ago. While he said he would have liked to be a bit more active, Thurman said he has no complaints about the schedule.
?It’s just the way that the chips fell, man,? said Thurman, who will be making his third title defense. ?You know, me and Shawn both could have probably put another performance in. But we’re happy to be making, instead of just a normal performance, putting on a great performance, even if we both had to wait for it. We’re both really getting what we wanted out of this fight. It was worth the wait. I’ve had ups and downs. I’ve had injuries several times throughout my career. My biggest layoff was about 14 months.
?So, it is what it is. It’s nothing to really complain about. We both feel good. I’ve had plenty of time to recover from my accident, get back in the camp and do what I need to do to perform for you guys on [Saturday].?
