The Boxing Diary

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Saturday, February 5, 2022

Thurman vs Barrios Preview

Keith Thurman will return to the ring against Mario Barrios in a welterweight match at the Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas on Saturday, on FOX Pay-Per-veiw.

Thurman (29-1-0, 22 KOs) has been inactive for two and half years. He lost to Manny Pacquiao via split decision in 2019. Although, I was rooting for Pacquiao at that time, but I was really thinking Thurman could pull a win. He was younger, taller fighter and a natural welter. 

This time it will be the other way around. Thurman is the older guy and with his elbow injury keep troubling him in the past fights, I don't know really where he is at physically right now. Both men came from losses. So, it's really bad to get two losses in a row. It is important to each fighter to get a win here if they want to stay relevant at the welterweight division. 

So, I think, this is a very interesting fight. We will be able to know if Thurman can still be consider up there at the level where his name at before the Pacquiao fight. He was rated number 6 (below Spence Jr., Crawford, Pacquiao, Porter and Ugas) at the welterweight division by the TBRB in March 2021. and was removed due to inactivity. I supposed. With the Pacquiao he was not to get back to the welterweight. Questions will be answered on Saturday night. 

Barrios (26-1-0, 17 KOs) will move up in weight against Thurman. I don't know if he has trouble making weight at 140 lbs. But I don't know if it is the right thing to do --- to move up in weight. He's coming from a loss against a much smaller Davis at 140 and now will face a full-time welter. He was stopped against Davis at 140. 

Well, all these questions will be answered on Saturday night. If indeed Barrios will be more comfortable banging at 147 lbs. and Thurman becomes old instead of showing the Thurman version of 2017, I think Barrios could win a split decision in a fight that could go either way.