Former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman returns to the ring following a two-year layoff, as he’ll look to re-establish himself at 147 lbs. when he meets a fellow former champ in Mario Barrios at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.
Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Thurman vs. Barrios, including updated odds, free expert boxing picks, and predictions.
Welterweight Main Event Bout
Saturday, February 5, 2022 – 9:00 PM EST at Michelob ULTRA Arena
33-year-old Keith Thurman returns to the squared circle following an extended layoff from the sport, where we last saw the former unified welterweight champion lose to Manny Pacquiao in 2019.
Born and raised in Clearwater, Florida, Thurman initially put his name on the map through the brute force behind his punches. Nicknamed "One Time", he's referred to as one of the hardest hitters in the welterweight division due to his formidable power.
Thurman held the WBA title between 2015 and 2019, eventually unifying the championships when capturing the WBC title in 2017. Despite his recent departure from boxing, Thurman will return as the world's fourth-ranked welterweight on the planet, with an imposing opponent in Barrios waiting in the wings.
Keith Thurman Best Available Odds: to Win ML (-180) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Mario Barrios steps into the ring following his first professional career loss, subsequently dropping his WBA super lightweight title via TKO to Gervonta Davis in 2021. Fearless in his return, Barrios will step up into the welterweight division and face yet another opponent who possesses fight-ending power.
The 26-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, must be commended for accepting the bout versus Thurman. Stepping up a weight class would often be matched with an easing test of some sort, but the move to 147 is allowing Barrios to concentrate on boxing and less on his past weight issues.
Yet to reach his prime, Barrios has the opportunity to catapult his name into welterweight title talks with a clear youth advantage on his side. However, making his presence known could prove problematic when opposed with a well-rested Keith Thurman lying in wait.
Mario Barrios Odds: to Win ML (+151) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Should we expect the power puncher we once loved to return after such a long layoff? Let's be honest, Thurman hasn't knocked an opponent out in years, even before his eventual time away. With that said, he still owns the greater chance of knockdowns or a knockout than his opponent, and you should never underestimate the former undisputed champ.
While Thurman undoubtedly owns the power, he's tempered by knowledge and sharpened by skill. Without the fight IQ to set up his past knockout punchers, he wouldn't hold the high number of finishes on his record.
Thurman's ability to cut angles, pivot, and defend just as well as he attacks comes from experience. The intelligence side of Thurman should assist him this weekend; the only worry is his layoff and complacency with remaining side-lined.
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The speed, preciseness, accuracy, timing, and general awareness of Barrios is remarkable for such a young fighter. Speed and youth will be the critical factors heading into his bout with Thurman. Still, can his mental fortitude remain after simultaneously suffering his first professional loss and career knockout simultaneously?
Should Barrios remain composed, he'll need to handle Thurman's probing jab, avoid allowing his opponent to control the distance, and establish the champion mindset over his adversary.
The boxing odds at Bookmakers Review are slightly favoring Thurman, and I expect the available betting odds would be considerably wider if he hadn't been absent for two years.
Although essential questions are looming around Thurman's inactivity, I believe he will deliver a fight-winning performance - based on his fight knowledge alone.
Boxing Pick: Keith Thurman to Win ML (-180) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.