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Theophane offered Thurman bout, wants Maidana instead

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
‘Treasure’ out in the autumn as US offers keep coming

Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane was revealed to WBN that he was offered the chance to face Keith Thurman on July 21 in American but had to turn the fight down due to lack of preparation time.

The 31 year-old is looking to return sometime in the autumn under the Hatton Promotions banner and would be willing to accept a US offer if the right fight, with right time to prepare, presented itself to him.

“I was contacted on Saturday about fighting Thurman as WBO World champion Adrien Broner's chief support,” Theophane told World Boxing News.

“It says a lot that Golden Boy promotions have contacted me after 140lb WBA world champion Marcos Maidana pulled out of the fight.

“Unfortunately I'm weighing 159lbs at the minute and I'm getting ready for an August fight Stateside.

“Hatton Promotions match maker Richard Poxon has promised me a UK date in September so I'm just waiting on him to confirm the opponent, date and venue.”

When asked if he would now be leaving the 140lb division behind, Theophane added: “I can fight at 140lb or 147lbs. I've beaten two time world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez at welterweight and won the IBO International and GBC welterweight titles.

“I haven't left 140 behind but I'm ready to fight the world's best 140lb and 147lbs fighters.

“Marcos Maidana and I at either weight would be a great fight,” he added.

Theophane is looking to get back to form following a disappointed loss to Darren Hamilton in May, when the highly-ranked fighter admitted that he failed to find the motivation necessary to overcome the Bristol man.

The well-travelled Londoner is now aiming to build on his world ranking with a view to accepting some of those American offers, and hasn’t ruled out another challenge for the British title to claim the Lonsdale belt outright.

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