After some online rumors began to circulate that there’s been discussions to stage a fight between former lightweight titleholder Gervonta Davis and former welterweight champion Keith Thurman, Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe – despite not acknowledging any substantive discussions on the fight – might’ve breathed life into the idea but publicly stating that “Tank” would KO Thurman despite him not being a 147-pounder. As far as Ellerbe is concerned, that’s a fight he would make in a heartbeat if Thurman really wants it.
Obviously despite Ellerbe’s words, this isn’t to say that this fight is truly in the works in any way, shape, or form at the moment. But with Ellerbe apparently goading Thurman into calling Al Haymon to get the wheels in motion (and considering his willingness to make the fight as one of Tank’s representatives), we can’t exactly say the fight is an impossibility. In fact, the fight actually makes sense in a number of ways.
Thurman has been out of action for over two years now and could use a big name opponent to build his profile back up, and Davis’s involvement would certainly make it an ‘event.’ Meanwhile Davis, while certainly in no need of a Thurman fight specifically, could use this as another opportunity to move up in weight and bolster his legacy against a fighter who just might be vulnerable enough to make it intriguing.
We did, after all, recently see Canelo Alvarez jump up to light heavyweight to take on Sergey Kovalev when absolutely no one saw that fight coming. Thurman doesn’t offer a 147lb world title at the moment, granted, but he’s still an elite welterweight who’s a former unified champion that has wins over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia, and has only ever lost to all-time legend Manny Pacquiao.
