He’ll be the first to tell you he wasn’t born a star.
The odyssey of WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman continues, after he successfully defended his title last night over a gritty Luis Collazo in front of 4.136 fired up fans at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa via 8th round TKO. The fight (which ended rather suddenly following a fairly competitive 7th round) was a thrilling win for Thurman – if you count the eruption of a partisan Bay area crowd as the contest was waived off by ringside physicians due to a nasty cut.
Collazo, a consummate warrior (who on this night- reminded no one of a young Cassius Clay against Sonny Liston), told his corner his that he couldn’t see due to the cut, and that it was “Up to y’all” as to whether he should continue or not. And with that, Thurman technically stopped Collazo. Ironically enough, it is the exact result I’d predicted a day prior- though I didn’t quite have that type of stoppage in mind.
Still, there was very much reason to place yet another asterisk* next to this win, as Thurman once again pursued the two things that have proven to be elusive thus far for him: Floyd Mayweather and the chance for superstardom. It almost seems as if every generational star has been given the torch as a result of beating the star from an era gone by- and Thurman wants the chance to do that with Mayweather.
“One-Time” came out in the opening stanza strong, as the champion immediately asserted himself as the alpha male and superior ring general over the slippery veteran Brooklyn born veteran. In doing so, Thurman bore the look of a star, possessing an “it” factor in presence, punch sequence and rhythm.
He was nuanced in more subtle ways in there last night; showing more polish in his foot game, better balance, in addition to a few pieces of hardware in his toolbox we hadn’t seen before. Collazo decided to advance Thurman after being out-everything’d in the first two rounds, and in so doing, forced the champion to work more from close range or in retreat– not Thurman’s best attributes.
Because he’s so athletic with a wall of youth to lean on, he could get away with it, as his shot variety and speed befuddled an on-rushing Collazo. But remember that “it” factor in presence referred to a minute ago? All of a sudden “it” would disappear as the pressure mounted, causing his star to fade somewhat in pockets of a fight he was clearly winning. This, because he’s developed a tendency to fight off of a back foot and square up too much.
He just seemed to be living a little on the edge against a fighter physically inferior – and though he was clearly winning, there was this sense that a disaster could unfold if he continued to make subtle mistakes in technique. In round 5, the champion extended his right hand just long enough at close range, to allow a titanic Collazo left hook to find his liver.
For perspective, it was the same type of left hook that left Oscar de la hoya writhing in pain on the canvas after being KO’d by Bernard Hopkins several years ago.
“That shot took about 95% of the air out of my body and I thought about taking a knee- I just couldn’t,” said Thurman, reflecting on the shot that put his body in Antarctica. “The 5% I had left allowed me to suck it up and find a way out of it. But it was a tremendous shot.”
His recovery and subsequent return to ring dominance over a seasoned pro who hadn’t been stopped, is why consensus in some circles are very strong that we’re looking at the next dominant welterweight of a new era. But if he’s not working from a power position in the ring, a place where he can operate from the pocket against truly elite welterweights without giving up his power, then that notion regarding a long reign of terror at 147lbs can be challenged.
Almost as hard as Thurman seriously challenged Mayweather during the post fight press conference in a video exclusive with Real Combat Media (it was very entertaining toward the end). Whatever he does, whether against the elite challenges of Shawn Porter, Kell Brook, Amir Khan or even Danny Garcia should a Mayweather fight prove unattainable, he’ll need to add more seasoning to his entr?e. At 26, with the requisite passion and intense dedication to be the best, “One-Time” will have more opportunities to showcase more layers to his game.
A few days ago, Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, told ESPN.com, “Keith Thurman is a very, very good young fighter who is extremely talented, but he doesn’t understand how the game goes. Ain’t nobody [on Team Mayweather] thinking about Keith Thurman.”
Oh.
More than likely, we’ll guess that feeling didn’t change over at the “big boy” mansion this morning. So… If not Mayweather, then who’s next up for Thurman and where? Given the reception in Tampa last night, there’s no reason to believe that another Florida product, former champion Randall Bailey, wouldn’t serve as an ideal opponent for the still developing champion in Tampa again.
The production from ESPN, in conjunction with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, was absolutely stellar, as the two worked seamlessly together on an overall solid card and a fabulous night of boxing for the fans in the USF Sun Dome.
Though an extremely dangerous puncher, Bailey would have to melt down to 147 at age 41 and could serve as spectacular cannon fodder for Thurman in a real gunfight. If not, then perhaps Haymon dials up Danny Garcia should he undress and spank Paulie Malignaggi in Brooklyn at the Barclay’s Center on Aug. 1 in a few weeks.
