Previous middleweight champion Keith Thurman discussed why he chose The Overdrive at FOXSports at Mandalay Bay Casino Resort in Las Vegas

Previous middleweight champion Keith Thurman discussed why he chose former ultra-lightweight champion Mario Azteque Barrios on FOX Sports at Mandalay Bay Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Thurman explains: "Mario Barrios has the best results among the few boxers in front of me." His performance for 'Tank' Davis was exciting and it was a huge challenge for both of us. We are two boxers in boxing who love fierce fighting, both are talented and have just come out of their first failures. This may not sound exciting at first, but if you understand what is there to be a competitive mindset, you'll know that we all demand greatness from ourselves.

"Some boxers, after they've failed, get up and ask for more – more focused, train harder, fix some of the missing techniques – offense or defense, strength issues. We saw it after Canello Alvarez lost to Floyd Moni Mayweather. Not because he was Canello, but the defeat that made him rise, let him know that he wasn't just a heavy gunner, because he was better than after losing the game.

"I will show boxing fans better techniques in a match against Mario Barolols than against Manny Pacquiao."

Thurman hasn't played since losing to Manny Pacquiao in 2019. Why did it take so long?

Thurman said: "I want to get back on the field in 2020, but I'm in trouble." "Someone asked me to work in the studio, but there were no fans. After the match with Pacquiao, without the support of boxing fans, I was not excited. I love my fans. I love boxing. I could have done more in the game, and perhaps, in retrospect, it would have been nice if I could have stood in the ring. But even though the studio work would have been fine, there was no excitement. I'm financially stable, I don't need money, and I'm eager to show myself in meaningful games in the sub-middleweights.

"2022 brings more opportunities for me and my career; I'm 33 years old, young, capable and willing, and it's time to come back and I'm capable of reaching the top again and taking back the sub-middleweight title. It's time for me to get up. ”