Former Welter champ Keith Thurman returns after a three-year break and defeats Brock Jarvis spectacularly by knockout. Now he is set for a fight against Tim Tszyu.
Keith Thurman, former WBA and WBC welterweight world champion, has impressively ended his three-year absence from the ring. On Wednesday evening in Sydney (Australia), the 36-year-old defeated Brock Jarvis by knockout after 2:19 minutes of the third round. Thurman was boxing at half-middleweight for the first time.
With power in your fists
Thurman (31-1, 23 knockouts) started the fight with determination. In the second, the former champion, who was back in the ring for the first time since his win over Mario Barrios in 2022, used more right hands to the body. In the third round, Thurman fired a heavy left uppercut that sent Jarvis to the floor. The Australian was counted out and got back to his feet. But Thurman immediately followed up and knocked his opponent out with a heavy right hand and a huge left hook.
“I had a lot of offers for fights and contracts that didn’t materialize for various reasons,” explained Thurman after his brilliant comeback, “but my love for the sport is still there.” In the past, injuries had also repeatedly set him back, meaning he was unable to step into the ring at all in 2018, 2020 and 2021. “One Time” suffered his only defeat in July 2019, when he lost by split decision to Manny Pacquiao.
“Send me the contract”
According to Thurman, he has always kept fit during his long break from fighting. Now the former world champion from Clearwater (USA) shook off his three-year ring rust in just three rounds. “I just wanted to get in the ring and box hard and smart.” Asked about his future plans, Thurman said: “I’d love to come back … Yeah, I just set the bar high for you, Tszyu. Send me the contract, I’ll sign it.”
A duel against Tim Tszyu, former WBO World Half-Middleweight Champion, would offer Thurman a lucrative opportunity on the (Australian) PPV. The two were supposed to face each other last March, but Thurman had to pull out due to injury.
Tszyu will fight Joey Spencer in Newcastle, Australia, in April as he looks to get back on the winning track after his defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev in October. Promoter George Rose of “No Limit Boxing” had declared before Thurman’s fight that he would organize a fight between his protégé Tszyu and the US-American in the event of a victory.
Text: Frank Schwantes