Just like most of boxing analysts and pundits, undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Keith Thurman is not buying Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s claim that his coming September fight against Andre Berto will be his last.
Thurman is expected to be among the viewers who will be keeping tabs of the Mayweather vs. Bert match this coming Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas as Floyd Jr. aims to equalize the 49–0 feat of boxing great Rocky Marciano.
Thurman said through an interview with Boxing News that there is no evidence to support that Mayweather will be calling it a career after his fight with the less-heralded Berto. The only thing sure to end that day is his contract with Showtime.
But as far as fighting is concerned, Thurman shares the same sentiment as most that Mayweather is likely to go on fighting in 2016.
As far as to the selection of Berto is concerned, Thurman believes that his friend was deserving of the chance.
He cited a past incident wherein Berto could have been among the possible opponents of Mayweather. This was when he was scheduled to face Sugar Shane Mosley until Berto chose to head to Haiti and help his people who got hit by an earthquake.
He added that when Berto returned, he lost to Ortiz. Ortiz would eventually fight Mayweather after that but would end up being one of the victims of his unblemished boxing record.
In short, he believes Berto could have been ranked up there if he did not attend to other matters such as that Haiti earthquake incident. In all, Thurman bats that Berto is pretty much deserving of where he is right now.
And how about him?
Thurman is still hoping to get a shot someday at Mayweather but the immediate task at hand is for him to prepare for Shawn Porter whom he is set to face on Oct. 3.
"He's a great opponent, most definitely," Thurman said via boxingnewsonline.net. "He comes to fight hard every time. I respect him, and I look forward to having that fight," he added.
