The undefeated 26 year-old, who boasts and 81% KO ratio through 25 wins, is on the verge of some huge match-ups at 147 if he can stay in the win column and hopes to build on his fearsome reputation even further this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to July 11 in Tampa Bay, Florida defending my world title in my hometown. Me and my whole teamare truly excited. We respect Luis Collazo and we’re looking forward to having a great performance and challenge on July 11.
“Right now I believe I’m one of the most talked about welterweights currently in the division. The fans are loving my excitement and they loved the last showdown with Robert Guerrero on the opener for NBC.
“Now we’re opening ESPN and it’s another blessing it’s a pleasure. I believe Al is recognizing my hard work and dedication to the sport and we’re just going to try to keep moving forward man and hopefully just live up to the hype.
“I’m 26-years-old, a young guy and we’re learning constantly in the sport of boxing in the ring and outside of the ring in the sport of boxing. I try to stay level headed I try to stay humble and do the best I can. I’m looking forward to the career that’s ahead of me.
“Collazo is going to do his best to make the fans upset in my hometown and he has an opportunity to become the world champion. So I’m pretty sure that he can do all that he can do but one thing is, out of all the champions, I still believe that my punching power is still above anybody that he fought so that’s going to be something new.
“A lot of people, they watch this and they watch that, but they don’t know how the punches feel and I’m looking forward to a great intense fight.
“At the end of the day I still hold one of the highest knockout ratios in the welterweight division. At this level, no fighter is coming to get knocked out, they know what they’re up against and they know they’re up against dangerous fighters. The number one rule in boxing is protect yourself at all times and they’re aware of that. They’re trying to box hard, they’re trying to be crafty and outdo me but you can watch both fights and there was still a knockout in both fights.
“The Bundu fight happened in the first round the Guerrero happened in the ninth round. So the punching power is there from the beginning to the end. We want the knockouts, for the fans and for the publicity that lives up to the name “One Time”. But at the end of the day we still just want to be a champion and we’ll do whatever it takes to stay champion.
“July 11 is going to be another great fight. We’re looking forward to a great performance and looking forward to whatever experience Luis Collazo brings into the ring. It sounds like he’s going to be as sharp as he can be. He’s going to be looking for the weaknesses that approach him in the fight. So I’m looking forward to it.
“He has a lot of skills a lot of knowledge and it’s going to be a great night of boxing,” he added.
“PBC on ESPN – THURMAN vs. COLLAZO,” a 12-Round fight for Thurman’s Welterweight World Championship, takes place Saturday, July 11, at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. The event is promoted by Warrior’s Boxing. In the co-main event, Tony Harrison will face Willie Nelson in a 10-round middleweight bout. It will air live on ESPN (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT).
