The welterweight division is arguably the most loaded weight class in boxing, and Keith "One Time" Thurman may be the most exciting fighter in it. His 81 percent knockout rate could eventually make him one of the sport's biggest stars, but it is also part of the reason he's struggled to gain momentum.
Thurman believes the power he possesses, plus the plethora of talent at 147 lbs., has combined to make him one of boxing's most avoided men, and said as much at the weigh in for Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s fight vs. Marcos Maidana.
"The welterweight division is so packed. They have options and too many options. That's how I'm being avoided right now," Thurman said. He also named two big-name fighters that he'd love to take on.
"I'd love to fight Amir Khan, because he's not going to be able to fight Kell Brook. I'd also take a fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. Really, I'm ready to fight anybody in the top 10."
Thurman's last fight was a stoppage victory in Round 3 over Julio Diaz in April, but a shoulder injury has kept him out of the ring.
"I've been in physical therapy for 6 weeks now," Thurman said. "We're going to put in 3 more weeks, and we're going to be taking care of this shoulder for years to come. Hopefully, you guys will be seeing me in November in a date to be announced. The opponent to be announced."
Khan had been rumored to be working out a fight date with fellow British fighter Kell Brook in the U.K. for an IBF title fight, but Brook's status is up in the air after being stabbed in the leg earlier this month in Spain.
Now, with Brook out of the picture for the near future, Khan has been linked to Josesito Lopez, who has won three fights in a row since a knockout loss to Maidana.
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