2024 will witness one of the biggest comebacks in boxing. The former unified welterweight champion, Keith Thurman, will return to the ring after a year-long hiatus to face off against Tim Tszyu on March 31. However, it seems like ‘One Time’ Thurman still hasn’t gotten over his only blemish in his otherwise pristine boxing record.

Back in July 2019, the Florida resident went toe-to-toe with the legendary Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a spectacular fight, but ‘Pac-Man’ managed to pull off a win via split decision, having knocked down Thurman in the very first round. However, five years after the fateful night, Thurman took a scientific approach to explain the knockout while appearing in an interview with Fight Hype.

Keith Thurman claims he took the knockdown with a smile

Speaking to Shawn Porter, Thurman addressed the fans, claiming, “Pacquiao knocked me down. I got up with a smile, okay. Look at all the people Pacquiao knocked down – nobody got up with a smile. It was funny, boy.” He went as far as to suggest that people should rewatch the fight because he was winning. 

“I was winning the round. He capitalized in a moment. That’s what veterans do. They choose the moment when to strike,” said Thurman. Despite being floored in the very first round, he asserted that the knockdown punch didn’t even hurt him. “I’ve had shots that I’ve been on my feet that hurt a lot more. That’s why it’s called a knockdown. It’s a gravitational force. Don’t make me get scientific on you people.” said the former champion.

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Meanwhile, Thurman even made an interesting revelation about the fight, claiming he spoke to Pacquiao’s corner after the match. “They had to talk to him and make him keep fighting. He was about to quit on the stool. That man wanted to fight, [but] he couldn’t talk after the fight,” said Thurman. However, unexpectedly, Tszyu interrupted the interview.

Shakur Stevenson Predicts Keith Thurman’s Fate Against Tim Tszyu: “I Could Be Wrong on This One”

While Thurman was rambling on about the Pacquiao knockdown, Tszyu joined the call. Thurman promptly claimed that Tszyu was timid during the press conference, which managed to get a rise out of the undefeated boxer. Thurman claimed, “They picked some nice fights for you. Them dudes ain’t hungry like me, bro.”

In response, the WBO super welterweight champion stated, “Hungry? You’ve been on a f**king vacation for five years. Hungry? What are you talking about, man?” Later in the interview, Tszyu blamed Thurman for taking three days to sign for the fight, “You took three days three days to study some tape. When they told me Keith Thurman, five seconds [I said], yes.”

Even though it’s been a while, Keith Thurman seems to still be fixated on his last loss. However, his latest exchange with Tim Tszyu hints at a fury matchup on the night of March 30. 

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