:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/17601097/167872748.0.jpg)
Richard Schaefer has said for a long time that he wants to give boxing fans the best matchups and the best fights, and damn it all, it might have taken a greater-than-ever grudge with Top Rank and now HBO Sports, but he's doing everything he can to actually live up to that talk. What a world!
Along with two nice cards on August 19 and September 12 airing on the new FOX Sports channels, plus Hopkins-Murat and a solid-looking undercard moving to October 26, and even the eyebrow-raising talk of Broner-Maidana on PPV on November 9, he's got another good one in mind: Robert Guerrero vs Keith Thurman on November 2, live on Showtime.
Thurman (21-0, 19 KO) scored the best win of his career on July 27 in his Showtime debut, knocking out Diego Chaves in the 10th round in San Antonio on the excellent Knockout Kings II show. Guerrero (31-2-1, 18 KO) hasn't fought since a spirited but fruitless effort against Floyd Mayweather on May 4, when he was easily outclassed over 12 rounds.
"I'm going to do a very significant card on November 2nd. One fight I would love to see, as a fan - one of those Fight of The Year candidates, one of those fights that are must see TV, something that you know is going to be a hell of a fight, can't miss TV, must tune in - and that's Keith Thurman against Robert Guerrero. It would be an absolute barnburner of a fight. I don't know if I'm going to be able to pull it off, but that's the kind of fight I want to put on November 2nd, as part of a doubleheader or a potential tripleheader," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com.
As Schaefer says, there's certainly no guarantee, but it's a great fight for Thurman. If Guerrero wants it, it's a ballsy fight on his end, too, even if you could argue practically that it's not the best idea for a "comeback" bout after a wide loss. Guerrero's not exactly one to look for easy fights, though, so if he's offered the bout, I'd expect him to take it if the terms are right. As for Thurman, he says he'll fight anyone. If Schaefer can make the fight, then hats off to him. He's doing a pretty fantastic job right now, and I say that with no sarcasm or snark or cynicism or whatever.