Keith Thurman says Andre Berto deserves shot at Floyd Mayweather
Friday 21 August 2015 15:37, UK
Keith Thurman feels Andre Berto deserves a shot at Floyd Mayweather and believes it is not before time.
The unbeaten American known as 'One Time' was one of several welterweights to call out the world's number one figher before he confirmed what is supposed to be his farewell fight against Berto in Las Vegas on September 12.
Berto (30-3-KO23) held the WBC world title for three years but has lost three of his last six fights since losing the belt in April 2011 to Victor Ortiz, who fought Mayweather (49-0-KO26) in his next fight, losing on a unanimous decision.
In my opinion, Berto was a potential opponent for Floyd for a long time
Thurman is a friend and a fan of Haitian-American Berto,who took time out from the sport in 2010 following the earthquake in Haiti, and is happy to see him finally get the chance he feels is overdue.
"To me that's just Floyd doing what he wants to do with his career," he told Out On The Ropes radio station.
"Me and Berto, we're pals, I go way back with Berto in the boxing world, back to when I was a kid. I've watched his career forever, back when he was in the Olympics and things of that nature.
"There was a time in the boxing world where in my opinion, Berto was always like one fight away from fighting Floyd Mayweather.
"The first example was when he was supposed to fight 'Sugar' Shane Mosley and then the Haiti accident occurred and he went in and supported his fellow Haitians in their time of need, over taking that fight. He had already accepted the fight but he had to back out of it due to the tragic accident.
"After that, when he fought Victor Ortiz, Ortiz fought Mayweather right after Berto. Berto fought Robert Guerrero and Robert Guerrero fought Mayweather right after Berto.
"So in my opinion, Berto was a potential opponent for Floyd for a long time."
Thurman (26-0-KO22) is the current WBA world champion and successfully defended his title in July, stopping Luiz Collazo in seven rounds.
He is already looking for his next opponent and while he says he is happy to take on Britain's Kell Brook or Amir Khan, would prefer to face one man who gave Mayweather serious problems in their first meeting - Marcos Maidana.
"In boxing things shift so rapidly but I've already told the fans that I would love to face Marcos Maidana, I would love to have that fight for the fans," he said.
"He's another power puncher, has good experience, fought Mayweather twice. Outside of him, there's Kell Brook, there's Amir Khan, there's Shawn Porter."
