Keith Thurman Says Pacquiao Fight Is Mayweather’s ‘Biggest Money Option’

Unbeaten welterweight Keith Thurman said that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is running out of options at his weight class (147) after building up a 47-fight winning streak. Thurman believes that Manny Pacquiao is the only viable option for Mayweather’s next opponent because he knows that the Filipino eight-division world champion can bring in a staggering amount of revenue off the much-anticipated superfight.

In an interview with On The Ropes Boxing, Thurman said that a Pacquiao fight would be the ultimate moneymaker for Mayweather at this point in time. Mayweather, whose focus has always been to get as much money off his fights, is running out of options, according to Thurman.

“When I say he’s out of options, he’s really out of big money options, and Manny Pacquiao is that,” Thurman said. “Amir Khan won’t bring in the revenue, I wouldn’t bring in the revenue, Kell Brook wouldn’t bring in the revenue, which Manny Pacquiao can bring in.”

Thurman added that he is also eager to see Mayweather and Pacquiao clash in the boxing ring. Even though the superfight didn’t take place five years ago when the idea first came about, Thurman believes that the excitement of the boxing world is not going to change especially now that the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is closer to happening than ever before.

From a sporting perspective, Thurman said that Mayweather and Pacquiao would affect the sport of boxing on a large scale and be remembered. He said it will be “great for the sport to see two of the world’s most entertaining welterweights go toe-to-toe.”

As for his pick about who will win the fight, Thurman tapped Mayweather to continue his unbeaten run should the Pacquiao fight finally come to fruition. Thurman reckons that Pacquiao needs to bring his old aggressiveness back, but he also said that the Filipino has a “great chance” of winning the fight as well.

Thurman will return to the ring on March 7 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to defend his World Boxing Association welterweight title against Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. The 26-year-old Florida native, who is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision win over previously undefeated Italian Leonardo Bundu on Dec. 13, 2014, recently said in an article by Ring TV that he will be prepared for Guerrero’s “roughhousing” and will do the best that he can to win and retain his title.

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