Thurman defends WBA welterweight belt, calls out Mayweather

As in the first four rounds, Collazo stalked Thurman toward the ropes, but he paid with short left and right hooks to the head.

The 34-year-old ex- world titleholder had blood pouring from a gash after the deciding round and complained that he could not see, prompting referee Telis Assimenios to wave it off one second into the eighth period. Come get it! I’m undefeated like you, baby!

Following three successful title defenses, Thurman, who is nicknamed “One Time”, was elevated to full-time WBA welterweight champion in January. Tony Harrison was taking the next step up in competition against the veteran Nelson, while Nelson was trying to set his career back on track. Luis Collazo, I have to give him credit.

However, Keith perservered and went on to open a nasty gash over the challenger’s left eye that forced the challenger to retire on his stool after the seventh round.

Before the fight against Collazo, he has called out Mayweather, who is scheduled to fight in September later this year against a still unnamed opponent. “I’ve been saying I’m an evolutionary fighter and I showed it tonight”.

“It took about 95 percent of my wind”, Thurman, 26, said.

“I’m a young, strong champion, Floyd, come get it”, Thurman said to the camera during his postfight interview in the ring.

Mayweather is definitely on his way out of the sport, and it’s not surprising that Thurman is looking to make a concerted effort to get the fight against Mayweather before he retires. I wanted to keep going, but I also want to keep fighting and I don’t want to take unnecessary shots in a situation like that, so me and my corner decided to stop the fight. “I’m ready”. I think if I would have had a little more time…

Nelson (24-2-1, 14 KOs) was behind on the scorecards of a mostly lackluster fight before delivering a pair of big right hands that floored Harrison (21-1, 18 KOs).

He’s been a perennial underdog as a boxer practically from the day he turned pro, and even after he finally became a world champion, when he fought Ricky Hatton (which many believed he won, and so, too, against Andre Berto).

“Collazo is a solid fighter, with a great resume and he has something to prove”, Thurman said. “The first round (in the fifth round) the cut happened, I was fine”, Collazo said.

Still, Thurman missed an opportunity on Saturday to put real pressure on Mayweather and force him to outright avoid him. He is clearly the most deserving welterweight other than Amir Khan – both of whom are, like Mayweather, with adviser and PBC creator Al Haymon, meaning there are none of the political obstacles that so often bog down the making of major fights.