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Reigning WBC and WBA welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman won’t be fighting his mandatory rematch with Shawn Porter this summer, as he tweeted that he’ll be on the shelf “a lil bit” after elbow surgery:
TO MY FANS: I'm gonna be out a lil bit as I recover from recent elbow surgery—but your boy plans to be back by the end of the year. #OneTime pic.twitter.com/MGVWFAfYme
— Keith Thurman Jr. (@keithfthurmanjr) May 19, 2017
Thurman, 28, saying he plans to be back by the end of the year is good news up front, but we’ll have to see how the elbow heals and how he feels once he gets back in the gym. You just never know.
Thurman (28-0, 22 KO) last fought on March 4, defeating Danny Garcia in a highly-anticipated unification. Thurman won a decision in a fight that drew strong viewing numbers on FOX, but was somewhat criticized for a lack of action.
The rematch with Porter, whom Thurman defeated in 2016 in a tight 12-round decision, is another highly-anticipated bout, and even if Thurman is back and takes that fight by the end of this year, you have to wonder if the elbow surgery will affect his performance.