Skip to main content

Keith Thurman: I would enjoy knocking out Randall Bailey

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
‘One Time’ ready to step up title bid

After yet another impressive stoppage victory last month, unbeaten contender Keith Thurman is ready to step up his opposition even further following his crushing four round win over seasoned campaigner Carlos Quintana.

The 24 year-old, who now has 18 knockouts from a perfect 19-fight record, is looking at facing the top names between 147 and 154lbs and believes his win over the Puerto Rican can be the starting point for bigger and better things.

“I rate the Quintana fight a good win for me, but I know I can get better. I’ll say it was 8 out of 10,” Thurman told World Boxing News. "I definitely want some belts in 2013 and whoever has got them I want to fight all of them.”

Thurman was mentioned by recent IBF welterweight title holder Randall Bailey as a possible opponent in the near future and the Clearwater puncher expressed to WBN that he would have no problem taking that fight as he is confident it would be yet another short night's work.

“I’ll take any of these guys that Al Haymon puts in front of me to fight, whether it be at 147 and 154 and I  would definitely enjoy knocking out Bailey,” he said. “He is just talking about me because he knows I’m hot right now and he’s just trying to capitalise on my name. He ain’t nothing to me.

“I just want to put on good fights for my fans and knock people out and win some belts,” Thurman concluded.

Popular posts from this blog

WBN Remembers: "Gypsy Boy" Ernie Smith

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  (picure by boxrec.com)  After almost a year and a half without one of boxing’s great journeymen, World Boxing News is looking back at the 161-fight career of Worcestershire warrior Ernie Smith, concentrating on his contribution in the ring, rather than the tragic way his life ended out of it. Smith turned professional at super-featherweight in 1998 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, losing a six rounder against Welshman Woody Greenaway.  One month later, Ernie was thrown in with an unknown prospect by the name of Gavin Rees (former world champion and current British Lightweight Champion) who he also took the distance over four rounds. The “Gypsy Boy” then managed to string together a four fight unbeaten run together in early 1999 and ended the year winning five out of his twelve contests, but by this time had already delved into the journeyman pool of boxers with a record of 5-8-1. After settling at the welterweight limit, Ernie ga...

Ashley Theophane talks US return, Ricky Burns sparring and future fights

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor ‘Treasure’ training for August 24 return Former British light-welterweight champion Ashley Theophane is aiming to put the disappointment of his loss to Darren Hamilton behind him when he makes his comeback in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 24. The 31 year-old, who has fought some of the top fighters between 140 and 154lbs, planned to take 18 months out of chasing his world title dream to win a British Lonsdale belt outright and just fell short with points defeat to Hamilton in May after making two defences. The Londoner is now returning to the US to re-establish his headline status on American soil. He fights for the 38th time in his career against an opponent yet to be named at NC Music Factory’s Reelworks Studios and is currently preparing to get back to winning ways. “Training has gone well for this fight. I've been in the gym for nearly nine weeks so I'm in great shape and ready to go,” Theophane told World Boxing News. ...

WBO #4 Orlando Cruz comes out as the first openly gay boxer in history

Orlando Cruz, a professional boxer from San Juan Puerto Rico (18-2-1, 9 KOs), former Olympian and currently ranked No. 4 Featherweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), is announcing today that he ”Is a proud gay man.” Cruz is the first openly gay man in boxing history.  “I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself,” said Cruz.  “I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career.  I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican.  I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.” Orlando Cruz began boxing at the age of 7 and posted an amateur career record of 178-11.  He won 7 Puerto Rico National Title's and spent 4 years on The Puerto Rican National Team.  Cruz won 7 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze in various international tournaments.  His amateur career culminated as a representative of the 2000 ...