Two returning veterans, two important fights, two very different outcomes.
Let’s begin with Keith Thurman, the former unified welterweight champion who returned on February 5th. In his first fight since July 2019, Thurman looked solid, defeating Mario Barrios, an ex-secondary titleholder at 140-pounds, by wide decision. The crushing power that Thurman flashed early in his career wasn’t there—Thurman, in fact, has not scored a knockout since 2015—but Thurman looked sharp, wobbling Barrios early before cruising to the end. The win catapults Thurman back in the 147-pound title mix. Can he secure the winner of the welterweight unification fight between Errol Spence and Yordenis Ugás?