History of Keith Thurman in Timeline
Keith Thurman is an American professional boxer and former unified welterweight world champion. He held the WBA title from 2016 to 2019 and the WBC title from 2017 to 2018. As of July 2022, BoxRec ranked him as the world's fifth best active welterweight.
February 15, 1978: Last CBS Prime Time Boxing Event Before Thurman vs. Porter
The Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter fight was the first main event televised by CBS in prime time since February 15, 1978, when Muhammad Ali lost to Leon Spinks.
November 23, 1988: Keith Thurman's Birth
On November 23, 1988, Keith Fitzgerald Thurman was born. He is an American professional boxer.
1997: First Amateur Fight
In 1997, Keith Thurman had his first amateur fight.
1998: Most Watched Fight Since 1998
Keith Thurman's fight against Robert Guerrero became the most watched fight since 1998, peaking at 4.2 million viewers.
2006: PAL National Championship Win
In 2006, Keith Thurman won the PAL National Championships.
November 9, 2007: Professional Debut
On November 9, 2007, at 18 years old, Keith Thurman debuted as a light middleweight, winning via first-round KO against Kensky Rodney in Tampa, Florida.
2007: Olympic Trials and Silver Medal
In 2007, Keith Thurman lost twice to Demetrius Andrade at the Olympic Trials and won the silver medal.
August 8, 2008: Knockout Victory Over Omar Bell
On August 8, 2008, Keith Thurman defeated the undefeated Omar Bell via first-round knockout.
November 2008: Last Fight in Home State
Prior to his fight with Luis Collazo, Keith Thurman last fought in his home state of Florida in November 2008.
April 2009: No Contest Against Francisco Garcia
In April 2009, Keith Thurman's fight against Francisco Garcia ended in a no contest due to an accidental clash of heads.
November 2009: Distance Fight with Edvan Dos Santos Barros
In November 2009, Keith Thurman went the 8 round distance against Edvan Dos Santos Barros, winning by unanimous decision.
July 23, 2010: Victory Over Stalinn Lopez
On July 23, 2010, Keith Thurman defeated the undefeated Stalinn Lopez.
November 26, 2012: WBO NABO Title Win
On November 26, 2012, Keith Thurman knocked out Carlos Quintana to win the WBO NABO super welterweight title.
2012: Bundu's European Welterweight Title Reign
Since 2012, Leonard Bundu had been holding the European welterweight title.
March 9, 2013: Welterweight Debut and WBO Inter-Continental Title Win
On March 9, 2013, Keith Thurman debuted at welterweight, winning the WBO Inter-Continental welterweight title against Jan Zaveck by unanimous decision.
July 27, 2013: Interim WBA Title Win
On July 27, 2013, Keith Thurman won the Interim WBA welterweight title by knocking out Diego Gabriel Chaves.
October 12, 2013: First Interim Title Defense Announcement
On October 12, 2013, it was announced that Keith Thurman would make his first defense of the Interim WBA welterweight title against Jesus Soto Karass.
2013: Previous Fight Negotiations with Guerrero
In 2013, Keith Thurman and Robert Guerrero were initially supposed to fight, but negotiations fell through.
March 25, 2014: Thurman vs. Diaz Fight Confirmed
On March 25, 2014, it was confirmed that Keith Thurman would fight Julio Díaz on April 26, to retain his Interim WBA title.
January 14, 2015: Thurman vs. Guerrero Fight Announcement
On January 14, 2015, it was announced that Keith Thurman would fight Robert Guerrero on March 7.
January 28, 2015: Elevated to Full WBA Champion
On January 28, 2015, Keith Thurman was elevated to the full WBA welterweight championship.
May 21, 2015: Thurman vs. Collazo Fight Announcement
On May 21, 2015, Keith Thurman's fight against Luis Collazo was announced to take place on July 11 in Tampa, Florida.
January 8, 2016: WBA Title Request Denied
On January 8, 2016, Premier Boxing Champions requested that the Danny García vs. Robert Guerrero fight be for the vacant WBA 'Super' title, but the WBA denied the request.
March 12, 2016: Original Date for Thurman vs. Porter Fight
On March 12, 2016, Keith Thurman was originally scheduled to defend his title against Shawn Porter, but the fight was postponed due to Thurman's injury.
October 25, 2016: Thurman vs. García Unification Fight Announcement
On October 25, 2016, Showtime announced the welterweight unification fight between Keith Thurman and Danny García.
2016: WBA Title Win
In 2016, Keith Thurman won the WBA welterweight title, holding it until 2019.
January 18, 2017: Official Announcement and Heated Press Conference
On January 18, 2017, the Thurman vs. García fight was officially announced with a heated press conference where racial slurs were shouted at Thurman.
March 4, 2017: Date of Thurman vs. Garcia Fight
The Thurman vs. Garcia fight was set for March 4, 2017 at the Barclays Center in New York City.
October 2017: Thurman becomes sole WBA Welterweight Title Holder
In October 2017, Lamont Peterson vacated his 'Regular' title, making Thurman the only WBA welterweight titleholder. The WBC also revealed that Thurman would fight in January 2018 for a voluntary defense. Thurman also confirmed on October 14, 2017, that he would return to the ring by March 2018, but not for a rematch with Porter or a fight with Errol Spence Jr.
2017: WBA Super Champion and WBC Title
In 2017, Keith Thurman was promoted to WBA Super champion and also won the WBC title.
January 2018: Vargas possibly to challenge Thurman
In early January 2018, it was reported that Jessie Vargas was being considered to challenge Thurman upon his return to the ring.
January 2018: Thurman announces return fight on May 19
On January 24, 2018, Showtime announced Thurman would return to the Barclays Center on May 19. Thurman also denied rumors of fighting Vargas.
March 2018: Thurman pulls out of May 19 fight
On March 30, 2018, Thurman suffered a deep bruise on his left hand, forcing him to withdraw from his scheduled fight on May 19.
November 2018: Thurman to fight Lopez
In November 2018, it was announced that Thurman would defend his WBA welterweight title against Josesito López on January 26, 2019.
2018: End of WBC Title Reign
Keith Thurman's reign as WBC welterweight champion ended in 2018 after winning it in 2017.
January 26, 2019: Thurman defeats Lopez
On January 26, 2019, Thurman fought Josesito López at Barclays Center, winning by majority decision, although he was rocked in the seventh round.
May 2019: Thurman to face Pacquiao
In May 2019, it was announced that Thurman would face Manny Pacquiao on July 20, 2019.
July 20, 2019: Thurman Loses to Pacquiao
On July 20, 2019, Manny Pacquiao defeated Keith Thurman by split decision, marking the second time Thurman was knocked down in his career. Thurman praised Pacquiao after the fight.
2019: End of WBA Title Reign
Keith Thurman's reign as WBA welterweight champion ended in 2019 after holding the title since 2016.
February 5, 2022: Thurman Defeats Barrios
On February 5, 2022, after a 31-month absence, Thurman returned to the ring and defeated Mario Barrios by unanimous decision in a dominant display.
July 2022: Ranked as Fifth Best Welterweight
As of July 2022, Keith Thurman was ranked as the world's fifth best active welterweight by BoxRec.
March 12, 2025: Thurman vs. Jarvis scheduled
Thurman is scheduled to face Brock Jarvis on March 12, 2025, at The Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia.
