By Hans Themistode February 10, 2023
Source: ESPN
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
As an up-and-coming welterweight prospect, Errol Spence Jr. pleaded with Keith Thurman to take him on. But, despite his persistent poking and prodding, the former unified champion openly ignored Spence. Even as the powerful southpaw captured his first world title, Thurman showed little to no interest in facing him.
In kind, Spence has grown to loathe the now 34-year-old, even going as far as to say that he would never swap fists with Thurman in the ring. Fast forward just a few years later, however, and it appears that money talks.
With Spence and Thurman seemingly on a 154-pound collision course, several, including Jaron Ennis, is flummoxed as to why their showdown is taking place in the junior middleweight division. Ennis, of course, captured the IBF interim crown during his last outing against Karen Chukhadzhian. The smooth switch-hitting star out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is hopeful that Spence will eventually defend his unified throne against him. But, in the meanwhile, the 25-year-old will break out his popcorn and take in the explosive sights between Spence and Thurman.
Although he believes that Thurman still has a bit left in the tank, he surmises that Spence will be a bit too much.
“Thurman not bad or nothing, he can still fight, he can move,” said Ennis to FightHype.com. “It ain’t gonna be easy but I think the pressure. I think Errol might stop him.”
After pummeling Yordenis Ugas in April of 2022, Spence attempted to hammer out a deal with fellow champion, Terence Crawford. But, with talks stalling in the 11th hour, both sides walked away from the negotiating table. Thurman though, won’t fulminate over Spence’s failure to deliver an undisputed bout against Crawford.
While he’s been plagued by injuries and long stints of inactivity, Thurman did end a near three-year layoff by outpointing Mario Barrios. With well over a decade of experience underneath his belt, Thurman has shown to have a rock-solid chin. Still, regardless of his toughness, Ennis simply believes that Spence has the sort of power that will put Thurman out of his misery at some point during their showdown.
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