Errol Spence vs. Keith Thurman - Being Finalized for 154

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GBP have said they gonna try forging an eliminator between Ortiz and Thurman.

Looks like WBC have other plans.

[Bandog]

WBC is a joke if they think they can mandate what they think they can.

Thurman, for example, has absolutely no right even being in the top 15.

[gregregegg]

Thurman vs Spence was a great fight 4 years ago.

I can not for the life of me see why Ortiz would turn down that eliminator. Thurman would be a decent name for him, and then be mando.

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This has been ordered now.

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Keith Thurman Has “Everything To Gain” Fighting Errol Spence Says Tim Bradley

“It’s going to happen,” said Tim Bradley to K.O. Artist Sports about the Errol Spence Jr vs. Terence Crawford fight. “These guys right now, it’s business. They fought the guys they needed to face, the champions.

“It’s business, and if the business isn’t right, the fight can’t happen. I do believe they need each other. Both of these guys need each other, and when the fight does happen, I’m going to be right there.

“I want to see this fight first hand. I’m going to be right there on site. So, fans, stay tuned. There’s a lot more boxing to look at. Don’t think about the fight; let it be, and when it plays out, be ready.

“Of course, it’s a good fight,” said Bradley about the WBC-ordered Spence vs. Keith Thurman fight. “Thurman still has some relevancy in the sport, and Thurman has got power. He can box and still has good feet.

“I just think it’s a bad style match-up for him. You’ve got a guy that’s relentless like Spence, and Spence’s specialty is the body. That’s Thurman’s weakness. We’ve seen Thurman get hurt to the body several times.

“He was hurt by a 140-pounder [Mario Barrios] his last time out. He was hurt to the body by Barrios. What do you think Spence is going to do? He’s going downstairs. He’s going to test that kitchen. He’s going to get some work.

“It’s a tough style match-up, but I do think that he stops Keith Thurman. I don’t know which round, but I’m telling you right now, he’s going to stop him. That pressure is too relentless. Yeah, that would definitely be a statement.

“It’s timing. I think Thurman is the right time for him now for Spence. He’s [Thurman] looking for that big payday, that big challenge. He gets to challenge for three straps. It’s a huge opportunity for him.

“He has everything to gain, and he can get paid in the process, too,” Bradley continued about Thurman. “If he doesn’t win the fight, I think he retires afterward. I don’t think there’s any reason for him to continue to fight.

“He’s right at the door, bro. He’s definitely right at the door, and it’s up to Spence to push him on out. Yeah, it’s a new crop of welterweights coming up, younger and faster. You’re not as fast as you once were.

“You’re reflexes are starting to go by the wayside a little bit. You’re starting to get hit a little bit more. Those punches start feeling different when you get hit on the chin. That don’t feel the same.

“These guys are young coming up, and they can fight. I’m telling you, [Jaron ‘Boots’] Ennis is a problem. [Vergil] Ortiz is a problem. I ain’t even messing with [Conor] Benn being on that juice. He needs to leave that juice alone.

“What the hell is wrong with you? You ain’t learned yet? Come on, son. Leave that alone, bro. You don’t need that. Sit that down. You need to stop hanging around those people in the gym. Persuading you to do some stupid stuff like that,” said Bradley about Conor Benn.

[tiny_acres]

WBC is a joke if they think they can mandate what they think they can.

Thurman, for example, has absolutely no right even being in the top 15.

The fact of the matter is they CAN mandate whatever they want. Tey are in charge of their title. It does not mean that Spence has to comply. But id Spence declines he could be stripped of the WBC belt.
They can do what they want. Even though it makes little sense for Thurman to be mandatory

[KiwiRider]

Thurman is going to get folded in half if this fight goes ahead.
Its a 90/10 and that's probably a bit generous.
Thurman was a great boxer in his day, but his day was unfortunately about four years ago. Against Spence it seems hardly fair.

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[Bandog]

Does anyone know if this fight will happen?

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Thurman wanted $10m to fight Boots.

[Syntax Error]

2018 has called and it wants its fight back!

This fight is past it's sell-by date, primarily down to Thurman's inactivity and Injuries.

Thurman hasn't really done anything to warrant a shot at Spence, other than being called Keith Thurman.

Anyway, comfortable points win for Spence, possibly even a TKO if he lays it on thick.

[Bandog]

2018 has called and it wants its fight back!

This fight is past it's sell-by date, primarily down to Thurman's inactivity and Injuries.

Thurman hasn't really done anything to warrant a shot at Spence, other than being called Keith Thurman.

Anyway, comfortable points win for Spence, possibly even a TKO if he lays it on thick.

Thurman wanted $10 million to fight Spence when Spence only had 15 fights. I wish someone would ask him why now? I think he just wants to cash out.

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2018 has called and it wants its fight back!

This fight is past it's sell-by date, primarily down to Thurman's inactivity and Injuries.

Thurman hasn't really done anything to warrant a shot at Spence, other than being called Keith Thurman.

Anyway, comfortable points win for Spence, possibly even a TKO if he lays it on thick.

Thurman wanted $10 million to fight Spence when Spence only had 15 fights. I wish someone would ask him why now? I think he just wants to cash out.

He wanted $10m just now to fight Boots as well

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WBA have approved this fight.

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WBA have approved this fight.

Smart move; Errol Spence will now have to pay them sanctioning fees for a fight they haven't even mandated.

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WBA have approved this fight.

Smart move; Errol Spence will now have to pay them sanctioning fees for a fight they haven't even mandated.

He’d have to pay it anyway.

All WBA have done is seconded the mandatory.

It could be like killing two mandatories in one go.

[Syntax Error]

WBA have approved this fight.

Smart move; Errol Spence will now have to pay them sanctioning fees for a fight they haven't even mandated.

He’d have to pay it anyway.

All WBA have done is seconded the mandatory.


It could be like killing two mandatories in one go.

[Bandog]

Better fight by far than Craw vs whats his name, or Chisora vs whats his name.

Thurman doesn't deserve it though. On the upside, he will help sell it.

Rather see Spence fight Boots or move up.

[Syntax Error]

That's true.

Thurman is a very good talker & I don't mean a trash talker, he's just very articulate & engaging & he will certainly talk himself into contention in people's minds.

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[KiwiRider]

The Spence fight no one wanted is also PPV?
Haha!
Good luck with that.
Four year past prime Thurman, fragile as a kitten, yeah that will be awesome

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Spence didn’t wanna give Thurman a shot.

Especially at 147.

But for him it’s better Thurman than Crawford.

Pretty sure we have have the belts at stake.

I remember the Mayweather-Mariana bout. Was at 154 and the 147 and 154 belts were on the line.

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Sources: Errol Spence, Keith Thurman finalizing junior middleweight fight

Errol Spence and Keith Thurman are finalizing a deal for a PBC on PPV fight that is expected to take place in April, sources told ESPN.

Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) holds three of the four major titles at welterweight, but this matchup will take place at junior middleweight, sources said. WBA president Gilberto Mendoza told ESPN that he granted Spence a special permit to fight outside the weight class without relinquishing his 147-pound title (he also holds the IBF and WBC belts.)

Spence will have 60 days from the fight, Mendoza said, to close a deal for a long-awaited undisputed welterweight championship bout with Terence Crawford (they were engaged in negotiations last year). If not, Spence must defend his 147-pound title against the winner of the postponed WBA "regular" title fight between Vergil Ortiz Jr. and Eimantas Stanionis. Spence, 32, could also decide to campaign at 154 pounds moving forward.

The junior middleweight division is short on name recognition outside of Jermell Charlo, the undisputed champion who shares a trainer with Spence in Derrick James.

ESPN's No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer, Spence hasn't competed since a ninth-round TKO victory over Yordenis Ugas in April. Spence fractured Ugas' orbital on his way to adding a third 147-pound title. The bout was Spence's first since he underwent surgery to repair a detached retina. It was his second fight since he was involved in a serious car crash that hospitalized him in October 2019.

Spence was involved in another accident on Dec. 10 in the Dallas area when his SUV was hit head-on by an underage unlicensed driver who ran a red light. Spence later said he suffered a leg injury. In a Dec. 30 tweet, Spence hinted that he would return to the ring in April.

Spence has said time and time again that he would never fight Thurman because the veteran boxer didn't give him a title shot years ago. He reiterated that stance in April when he tweeted "Thurman, not fighting that man ... [he] wouldn't utter my name when we was both champs."

Spence competed in the 152-pound weight class in the 2012 Olympics and made his pro debut weighing 149 pounds later that year. Before he won his first world title, Spence scored an eight-round stoppage of Chris van Heerden in 2015 and weighed 156.5 pounds.

He went on to capture the IBF welterweight championship with an 11th-round KO of Kell Brook in 2017 and has made six defenses. He's ESPN's No. 2 boxer at 147 pounds.

Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) is rated No. 7 by ESPN at welterweight. The 34-year-old from Clearwater, Florida, ended a 31-month layoff in February with a unanimous-decision victory over Mario Barrios. The bout was Thurman's first since he suffered a split-decision loss to Manny Pacquiao in July 2019.

Thurman made five successful defenses of his welterweight title, including a unification victory over Danny Garcia in 2017. Thurman also owns a decision win over Shawn Porter. (Spence also defeated both Garcia and Porter.)

Thurman is a career-long welterweight but also competed at 152 in the U.S. Olympic trials.