Is it “One Time,” “No Time,” “Sometimes,” or “Showtime?” These are all things that ran through boxing fans’ minds when they heard the announcement on Tuesday that former WBA & WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) will make his return to the ring on March 12. Thurman will be traveling to Australia to face Brock Jarvis (22-1, 20 KOs) after being out of the ring for 37 months come fight night.
No Limit Boxing will be promoting the event, but the part that isn’t clear is what weight the two fighters will be competing at. Thurman was scheduled to face Tim Tszyu in March of last year before getting injured a week before the fight. That matchup was expected to take place at 154. For Jarvis’ last fight in December, he fought the contest at middleweight. Right now, it appears that the fight will be at 154, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they fought at a catchweight between 154 and 160.
The 36-year-old Thurman came with all of the enthusiasm that made him must-watch TV in years past, but after being out of the ring for three years, what does Thurman really have left? The first battle will be fought outside of the ring to see if Thurman actually makes it to fight night. Injuries have plagued Thurman through the years and there is no guarantee he will make it to fight night.
“This is going to be one of the greatest comebacks in 2025. Time does not take away the ability of champions. I had to do a little Google on who Brock Jarvis was, how he lost against a world champion (Liam Paro). I’m going to warm up my skills and talent, remind people of who Keith Thurman is by beating up some kangaroos. I’m going to fly over there, I’m going to get me this kangaroo (Jarvis) and I’m going to come back to America and I’ll come get Tszyu,” said Thurman in a press release.
As far as Jarvis, he’s a bit of a wild card as, a little over two years ago, he was knocked out by former IBF junior welterweight champion Liam Paro in the first round of their fight. Is Jarvis capable of hanging with a former welterweight champion even with all the inactivity? There are a ton of questions to ask leading up to their March fight.
Oozing with confidence, Jarvis said this in the same press release: “I’ve watched Thurman for a long time. I’m excited and I plan on making a statement on March 12. This is a big opportunity for me and I’m going to make the most of it. Originally, when I got the call, I thought Keith had retired, so it was news to me. I also thought, what an opportunity for me. I know he hasn’t knocked anyone out for ten years; he hasn’t fought in three years and pulled out last year with an old man injury. I’ll just be a lot better when he gets here and arrives on Australian soil.”
With this intriguing matchup ahead in March, let’s hope a streaming platform picks up the event here in the States.
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