Floyd Mayweather Next Fight: Is Mayweather Dodging Boxing Star Keith Thurman?

Floyd Mayweather has announced two possible opponents for his next fight, and they are not among the boxers that have been speculated to face the undefeated boxer over the last few weeks. Keith Thurman appears to be left out of the conversation to meet Mayweather in September, and the welterweight hasn’t taken too kindly to Mayweather’s recent statements.

With Mayweather looking to fight Karim Mayfield or Andre Berto later in the year, he isn’t considering a bout with Thurman. Instead, he’s suggested that Thurman face Errol Spence on the undercard of his September fight.

“I ain’t going to fight on no Floyd Mayweather undercard. I ain’t going to be no co-main event,” Thurman told 78SPORTSTV in a recent interview. “We hit that next level. We are a main event fighter. I’m happy to be a main event fighter. I’m loving being a main event fighter. And so, to me, to be on the undercard at this stage in my career was another sign of disrespect.”

Thurman is 25-0 in his career, having most recently beaten Robert Guerrero in March. He’s set to face Luis Collazo on July 11, though he’s said he’s interested in a fight with Shawn Porter. Porter has bounced back from his loss against Kell Brook last year, defeating Erick Bone, as well as Adrien Broner last Saturday.

Mayweather would be a heavy favorite in a fight against Thurman, as well as anyone else in the welterweight division. But his final two choices for a September fight are curious, considering the level of competition that he could potentially face. If Thurman can’t get his shot against Mayweather, he wants Brook to challenge the world’s top boxer, since the Brit has also never lost in his career.

“Go ahead and fight an undefeated fighter,” Thurman continued. “If you dont want to fight me because you don’t want to fight a brother who can punch and hurt you, then go fight him (Brook).”

Thurman gained notoriety as a knockout artist, picking up 21 of his first 23 wins by knockout. While he remains undefeated, he hasn’t been able to maintain that consistency as he continues to defend his welterweight title against better competition, winning his last two fights by decision.

Amir Khan was once considered the favorite to face Mayweather, but the champion has dismissed that idea. Khan recently defeated Chris Algieri in a unanimous decision, and had been rumored as a possible Mayweather opponent for the last two years.