Keith Thurman: Marcos Maidana is one dimensional! I’ll have to break him down I’ll have to tear his heart out pretty much Mike Tyson style.
Hard hitting “One Time” Keith Thurman is considered one of the best prospects in the Welterweight division. The time has come for the Floridian to prove it. That time will be July 21, 2012 on the undercard of the Adrian Broner vs Vicente Escobedo at the U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. As he will face not only his toughest opponent to date but also the most experienced and hardest punching one in Marcos Rene Maidana. Keith Thurman is a decorated amateur with over a 100 fights and victories (76 KO’s); he won 6 National Championships including the 2006 PAL National Championships. In 2008 Keith lost to Demetrius Andrade. We had a chance to speak to Keith “One Time” Thurman.
ThaBoxingVoice.com:
How do you like your chances in this fight? And how do you feel about being the underdog?
Thurman: I don’t have a big name. Marcos Maidana has a big name. People have seen him perform under pressure, but I look at my amateur background, I’ve been boxing since the age of seven I have over a hundred fights and I still hold that with me every time I step into the ring. That’s why I’m so composed. I feel like I’m the favorite because of my technique, my speed, my power, and I’m the bigger guy.
I feel very comfortable with this fight, Maidana is one dimensional. There’s been three fights I’ve seen where he’s been exposed a little bit (Maidana vs Corley, Koletenik, and Alexander). The world has seen how to beat Marcos Maidana I’m a fighter that’s 17-0 with 16 knockouts. They don’t know how to beat me yet. No one has shown them how to beat me and I don’t expect Maidana to show them.
ThaBoxingVoice.com:
Did you see Devon Alexander vs Marcos Maidana and what did you see in that fight and what can you capitalize off?
Thurman: I was on the undercard. I was there that night but I know to use foot work, stay on the outside stay ready keep your hands up. That’s the only thing that happen to Victor Ortiz for a few rounds in their fight he forgot how to block a right hand. He was getting punished which gave Maidana a big jolt in his fame.
ThaBoxingVoice.com
is there anything you see in Marcos Maidana that may trouble you?
Thurman: I don’t know maybe his will to win. That’s something I haven’t came across yet because of how well he was taking the shots that Victor dished to him. I feel he’s moving up to 147 so I feel comfortable. I’m a puncher I have 16 knockouts out of 17 fights I feel really confident all around and statically I feel my stats are just above his stats. I’ll have to break him down. I’ll have to tear his heart out pretty much Mike Tyson style.
ThaBoxingVoice.com:
You were quoted in media saying you won’t rush into a big fight but that you’re eager and think you might be ready for a big fight. Then we find out you’re on the undercard of Broner vs Escobedo undercard schedule to face hard hitting Marcos Maidana, what changed?
Thurman: Well because we’re here for a reason you have to step up eventually. I’m tired of critics not giving me just due. It’s because of a mismatch here or a mismatch there. The real people in boxing see the loop holes in the game and I’m just here to try and make a statement like look man I’m here. As long as I keep winning and keep having knockouts, the 147 pound weight class is going to have problems dealing with “One Time” Keith Thurman.
ThaBoxingVoice.com
When did you sign to power broker Al Hayman?
Thurman: Well right before I was with Shelly Finkel and Shelly got out of the manger game and that’s what opened up the door to negotiate with Al Haymon. The deal came right before the fight where I fractured my hand where we made it final. It was kind of good because it was with his support that we were able to recover from this and like you see what’s happening now, we moving forward trying make some big things happen with the Maidana fight.
ThaBoxingVoice.com: What’s been the experience under the tutelage of Dan Birmingham?
Thurman: It’s been great I been with Dan Birmingham since I was about fourteen years old. My original trainer was Ben Getty. He trained me from when I was seven years old all the way through my amateur career and part of my professional career, then he passed away. That’s when I made Dan Birmingham my prime trainer. He was already my secondary trainer and once Getty passed, he just became number one. I’ve been working with him since I was fourteen I’ve been a part of Saint Pete Boxing club. I got a little taste of “Winky” Wright when I was sixteen years old so just being in that gym and being with Dan Birmingham has just been great for my career.
ThaBoxingVoice.com:
Is there any truth to the Rumor you knocked out Andre Berto cold in sparring years ago?
Thurman: The rumor is false. Rumor started from us actually sparring. We used to give each other great work back in the day. Now that we are pros we don’t really work together. The punch wasn’t even a head shot, Berto never went down. I landed a good body shot and he was sore.
Berto and I respect each other inside and outside of the ring. I look up to Berto like a big brother. My trainer and his trainer go way back. First time I seen him fight I was like 12. I have great respect for Berto. One day we may have to fight because we are in the same weight class. If it were to happen I’d only do it in Florida in one of our big arenas with two Florida based fighter. But as of right now I’m not gunning for Berto.
ThaBoxingVoice.com:
Are planning on doing anything special to steal the show from the main event in Adrien Broner?
Thurman: In an arena like that, and you already know who the opponent is so there’s a lot of excitement. Once the fight really goes down and the bombs really start dropping, depending on how I catch him or get hit with thumps and the loud bangs from two big brawlers and with the crowd noise. It’s exciting. I expect to steal the show and hopefully with a nice knockout at the end.
