Boxing: Keith Thurman Aiming For Bout With Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Keith Thurman says he is ready for big fights in the welterweight division -- and is eyeing a bout against undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the near future. “We’re definitely in line for the Mayweather shot. We’ve been in line for the Mayweather shot for a minute, but it doesn’t matter who I fight in the welterweight division,” Thurman told Robert Brown of ontheropesboxing.com.

“I would love Floyd Mayweather, he’s the man," Thurman continued. "Until the man retires, he’s the man. I want to be a legend and the best way to become a legend is by taking out a legend, and that would be Floyd Mayweather.”

Like Mayweather, Thurman (25-0-0, 21 knockouts) is undefeated in his pro boxing career. The 26-year-old American looks to remain undefeated on July 11, when he faces Luis Collazo (36-6-0, 19 knockouts) and defend his World Boxing Association welterweight title. The bout will be held at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.

“Currently in the welterweight division, there was just not a whole lot of matches that could be made. A lot of other matches got made early this summer, I’m just taking what was giving to me,” Thurman said. “I respect Luis Collazo, I know a lot of things about him. Even though he’s lost to a lot of the A-class fighters, he’s never been stopped, he’s a worthy challenger. He’s not gonna lay down for nobody and it should be a good fight.”

Thurman is one of the top contenders in the welterweight division, along with Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Kell Brook, Marcos Maidana and Amir Khan.

Thurman became the interim world champion when he beat Diego Gabriel Chaves in 2013 via a 10th-round knockout. He has since won four bouts in a row, including a win over Robert Guerrero last March for the WBA world title.