{"id":60859,"date":"2016-06-09T15:49:13","date_gmt":"2016-06-09T20:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=60859"},"modified":"2016-06-09T16:11:04","modified_gmt":"2016-06-09T21:11:04","slug":"keith-thurman-stuns-media-at-press-conference-boxing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=60859","title":{"rendered":"Keith Thurman Stuns Media at Press Conference – Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Keith<\/a>Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman opened training camp to media today in St. Petersburg as he prepares to defend his title against former world champion Shawn Porter on Saturday, June 25 in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING\u00ae on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET\/ 6 p.m. PT with a featherweight world title showdown between current champion Jesus Cuellar and former three-division world champion Abner Mares.<\/p>\n

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $49 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.<\/p>\n

Born and raised in the area, Thurman worked out at St. Pete Boxing Club along with longtime trainer Dan Birmingham as he prepared for his primetime battle against the strong and dangerous Porter.<\/p>\n

Here is what the participants had to say Wednesday:<\/p>\n

KEITH THURMAN<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMuhammad Ali opened up the door for so many people. Michael Jordan changed the game in our era, but Ali did it so long ago. He showed people that boxing is a great sport and can be the most entertaining sport in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, it\u2019s almost like a dream come true. It\u2019s surreal. I remember at an early age in boxing saying, \u2018I want to be the guy that brings boxing back.\u2019 I\u2019m really blessed to be where I am in my career. For all the fighters who could end up on this stage, I\u2019m proud that I\u2019ve been chosen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always considered myself a knockout artist. Back to when I was a teenager knocking out grown men in headgear. Ever since then, I\u2019ve been dropping people like a bad habit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love being a power-puncher. My favorite fighter of all time is Mike Tyson. One of my goals that I set when I was a kid was to have more knockouts than Mike Tyson throughout my career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready for Shawn Porter. We\u2019re going to box harder, box stronger and box better. I will be the better man.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraining is the fundamentals of getting one prepared. We\u2019ve always known that Shawn Porter was going to come into this fight in tremendous shape. That\u2019s what his training methods are all about. But the Energizer Bunny has never been hit by Keith Thurman, and I\u2019m pretty sure I could stop it in its tracks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going for the knockout. I\u2019ve stated it before. My hands are itching for a knockout. I\u2019m \u2018One Time,\u2019 all the time. That\u2019s my philosophy. Every single time I step into the ring I\u2019m looking for the knockout. We don\u2019t get paid for overtime.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an opportunity to showcase our talents and our skills to the world. The winner will have an opportunity to be the head guy in the sport. I\u2019ve always wanted to have a legacy in the sport of boxing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. That\u2019s my ultimate goal. There have only been so many in the history of boxing. I want to be a part of that history.\u201d<\/p>\n

DAN BIRMINGHAM, Thurman\u2019s Trainer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cKeith is a guy who deserves to be on this stage. He has a lot of experience and he\u2019s come into his own. This is the kind of thing that happens when you work hard.<\/p>\n

\u201cLife happens. Keith was involved in the accident and so we took the necessary rest. He saw the right doctors and we\u2019re back now. We\u2019re ready for Shawn Porter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re constantly conditioning. We\u2019re working on attacking his style. He\u2019s a short, come-forward brawler who\u2019s going to try to come into Keith\u2019s chest and make it a war. We\u2019re making out adjustments.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeith has to be busier, more in charge fighter. He has to work off of his jab and then his power will keep Porter at bay.\u201d<\/p>\n