Losing the WBA welterweight champion belt is the end of Keith Thurman’s trip this year. The boxer from the United States revealed that he would not ride the ring in 2019 because he had to restore his condition after undergoing elbow surgery, early last September.
The dreadlocks boxer lost his WBA welterweight champion belt after being defeated by Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Nevada, USA, Sunday (7/21/2019) noon CST. After his first defeat, Thurman intended to fight once more before 2019 ended, but the plan was nevertheless carried out because of the condition of his elbows which made it impossible to fight this year.
“The operation was a bone merger, so they (the team of doctors) put together some of my metacarpals. There was no problem with my fingers and it felt much better now. Right after the operation, it was quite painful with a lot of initial swelling. Right now it felt good and not swollen as before, “said Thurman talking about the post-ride operating conditions as quoted by BoxingNews, Sunday (09/22/2019).
Thurman explained the injury had actually been felt for a long time, but he insisted to fight against Josesito Lopez. Although the pain had bothered him, he managed to win the victory in January.
Not yet healed, Thurman returned to the ring against Pacquiao. Disaster came and he was forced to give up the WBA welterweight champion belt to move to the waist Pacquiao.
“The pain always appears throughout the year. It appears in the battle of Josesito Lopez and Pacquiao. But as a world champion, I have to fight and that’s what I do. In the end, there is no reason, but I am not in the best physical condition in any of them. “It bothers me at the camp and interferes with my preparation more than anything else, which is another reason I decided to undergo surgery now rather than wait and do it later,” Thurman explained.
“I cannot promise I will be the same Keith Thurman and I cannot promise a great return if I continue to struggle in the conditions where I am,” concluded Thurman.
