Former 147-pound champ Keith Thurman returns from a 2½-year layoff to face Mario Barrios on pay-per-view from Las Vegas.
Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) vs. Mario Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs)
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 5
- Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas
- TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
- Cost: $74.99
- Division: Welterweight
- Rounds: 12
- At stake: No titles
- Pound-for-pound ranking: None
- Odds: Thurman 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Abel Ramos vs. Lucas Santamaria, welterweights; Leo Santa Cruz vs. Keenan Carbajal
- Prediction: Thurman KO 10
- Background: Thurman, a former 147-pound titleholder, is returning from a 2½-year layoff in an attempt to regain his prominence. The athletic, hard-punching Floridian was last in the ring in July 2019, when he lost his WBA belt in an upset against 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao. The long hiatus, mostly a product of the coronavirus pandemic, has allowed him time to recover from nagging injuries and make a fresh start. He has said he feels as fit as ever at 33. We’ll see whether ring rust is a factor in the fight. If he defeats Barrios, he said, he hopes to fight for a major title in his next fight. Barrios will be making his debut as a full-fledged welterweight. The 26-year-old from San Antonio is coming off an 11th-round knockout loss at junior welterweight against Gervonta Davis, who moved up in weight to fight him. He’s a good boxer-puncher who will have youth the fact he has been active on his side. Key questions for him: 1. How much does Thurman have left? 2. Will he be able to handle the power of a 147-pounder and do damage himself.
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