By: Sean Crose
Keith Thurman made a roaring comeback to the boxing world on Wednesday in Australia, putting on a spectacular show after a three-year hiatus. He faced Brock Jarvis and dispatched him in less than three rounds. From the moment the fight started, Thurman unleashed a sharp jab and showed little regard for the powerful strikes Jarvis was known for, occasionally letting his guard down in a risky move. But, despite the opening, Jarvis couldn’t take advantage. Simply put, he wasn’t skilled enough to challenge Thurman. By round two, it seemed even Jarvis sensed he was out of his depth, unable to disrupt Thurman’s game plan.
In the ring, Thurman maintained a strategic jab and kept his distance, while Jarvis tried to push forward, landing the odd punch but failing to make any significant impact. The bout reached its climax in the third round, when Thurman delivered a stunning uppercut with pinpoint accuracy, sending Jarvis to the canvas. To his credit, Jarvis got back on his feet before the count ended. But Thurman, not one to miss an opportunity, closed in, unleashing a barrage of powerful punches. The referee wisely stepped in to halt the match, awarding Thurman the victory. Energized by his win, he climbed the ropes, triumphantly acknowledging the moment.
Considering Jarvis pulling off an upset would have been a major surprise, Thurman nonetheless needed a significant win after such a long absence from the ring. He achieved just that on Wednesday, opening up numerous paths for his career. “My love for the sport is still here,” Thurman declared post-fight. “That’s why I did what I did today.” He also addressed Tim Tszyu, a potential future adversary, with confidence: “I just raised the bar on you. You want to come back, you gotta come back hard, baby.”
Around a decade ago, Thurman was a dominant force in boxing, his peak lasting until Manny Pacquiao defeated him in 2019. Since then, his appearances have been sparse due to injury setbacks. Yet, during his career, he has triumphed over notable fighters like Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter, and Robert Guerrero. Thurman knows what it takes to succeed on the big stage and appears eager to return there. Watching Thurman’s next moves in the ring should be intriguing.
