It has been 2 years and 6 months for Keith Thurman since his last fight. On that occasion (July 2019) he lost by split decision against the legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. The record of the fighter born in Clearwater, Florida, United States is 29 fights won (22 by KO), 1 lost and 1 no contest.

His rival will be another former champion, although in the lightweight category: the Texan (with Mexican origins) Mario “El Azteca” Barrios, who has lost his last fight by TKO on June 26, 2021 against one of the best boxers today, Gervonta Davis. His professional record is 27 wins (17 by KO), 1 loss and 0 draws.

Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios: Match Information

Date: Saturday, February 5, 2022
Time: 9:00 PM (ET)
Location: Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios: Time by State in the US

ET: 9:00 PM
CT: 8:00 PM
MT: 7:00 PM
PT: 6:00 PM

Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios: Storylines

It will be interesting in this fight to see in what condition is the former welterweight champion Keith Thurman, especially with future fights in mind. It is possible that such a long inactivity has consequences in the way he moves in the ring. Instead, Mario Barrios fought only 6 months ago. We will also have to be attentive to possible exchanges since both have a good KO percentage, so it would not be strange for the fight to end this way.

How to watch or live stream Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios in the US

The return of Keith Thurman (after being inactive for 2 years and 6 months) against Mario “El Azteca” Barrios will be broadcast only on PPV. In the United States it can only be watched through Fox Sports PPV.

Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios: Predictions and Odds

Oddsmakers have already revealed their favorite for this fight. According to DraftKings, Keith Thurman is the favorite to win this fight with -195 odds, compared to +160 odds for Mario “El Azteca” Barrios.

*Odds via DraftKings

The rival of the former super welterweight champion will be former super lightweight world champion Mario Barrios, who is coming off a loss on June 26 of last year by TKO against Gervonta Davis. The Texan fighter (of Mexican origin) has a record of 27 wins (17 by KO), 1 loss and 0 draws, while Thurman in 31 fights had 29 wins (22 by KO), 1 loss and 1 no contest.

In addition to this bout, there will be other very interesting fights. For example, the return of former world champion Leo Santa Cruz who will face contender Keenan Carbajal at featherweight. Also, Jesus Ramos vs. Vladimir Hernandez in the Super Welterweight; and Luis Nery vs. Carlos Castro in the Super Bantamweight.

Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios: Date

Keith Thurman‘s return to the ring against former lightweight champion Mario Barrios taking place at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada; will be this Saturday, February 5 at 9:00 PM (ET).

Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios: Time by State in the US

ET: 9:00 PM
CT: 8:00 PM
MT: 7:00 PM
PT: 6:00 PM

TV channel in the US to watch Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios

Keith Thurman‘s return fight after almost three years of absence against former lightweight champion Mario Barrios (who wants to recover after losing his last fight against Gervonta Davis) will be broadcast in the United States on Fox Sports PPV.

When he faced Mayweather Jr., the Mexican fighter was only 23 years old, however, he had already conquered the WBC and WBA World Super middleweight titles, and was 42-0-1. Even though he was very young, he was not a rookie fighter at all. On his behalf, Floyd was 36 and already a 5 division World Champion entering the last part of his career.

Since then, Canelo has risen so high that he is the current Pound for Pound King, first Unified World Super middleweight Champion, and a 4 division titleholder. For sure, there were valuable lessons he learned after being defeated by Mayweather Jr, after all, thePretty Boyis considered one of the best boxers ever.

The skill Keith Thurman says Canelo learned from Mayweather

In an interview with Youtube Channel Fight Hub TV, the former World Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman shared his opinion about the way Canelo Alvarez selects his opponents, motivated by the possible clash the Mexican boxer could have against Ilunga Makabu for the WBC World Cruiserweight title and not with other fighters on his same weight class like David Benavidez.

“Canelo is Canelo. The people love him. He has a huge following. He has brought tons of excitement. You can say he has cherry-picked a little bit, but he has kind of learned from the best. He was beaten by Floyd and now he is starting to make money like Floyd. Are there greater challenges out there for Canelo Alvarez? Most definitely. Are there fights I would truly love to see? Most definitely. Are there super talented individuals that might be able to give him problems? Definitely“, stated Thurman.

Nevertheless,One Timehas also stated that Canelo deserves the opportunity to carefully select his rivals thanks to what he has achieved in the ring so far: “Does Canelo has to pick any of the toughest fighters? No, absolutely not. Whatever he wants to do, what he likes to do, what makes he want to get out of bed, and excites him, and elevates himself and his career that is what he is going to do“.

Of course, even all the following clashes are already signed, the world has and faces right nowa very skillfulrival, the pandemic due to COVID-19, that is capable of causing last minutes changes, such as the recently announced for January 15: WBO Light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr‘s rival Callum Johnson was ruled out due to the virus.

The first 3 months of 2022 bring to the boxing fans all kinds of bouts: the nostalgic ones, such as the comeback of former World Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez vs Macaulay McGowan; those of vindication, being Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios and Amir Khan vs Kell Brook, and the ones for supremacylike Charlo vs Castaño II, Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall andClaressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin.

The best upcoming boxing fights in 2022’s first trimester

The attention is stolen by Claressa Shields vs. Ema Kozin. The undefeated Russian Kozin wants to take away T-Rexbelts collection:WBC, IBF, and WBA women’s Middleweight titles. Besides Shields, just Unified Lightweight Champion Katie Taylor, and legend Amanda Serrano can be named as the current Pound for Pound best female fighters.

When a Unified World Champion comes to the ring is impossible not to stare at him. This is the case of Scottish Josh Taylor who exposes all of his Junior welterweight titles against undefeated Jack Catterall. This war’s winner may have the right to meet former WorldLightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez in the ring in the last months of 2022.

The young blood of boxing wants to grow up quickly by winning interesting fights to have the right to demand top-class opponents. We are talking about Jaime Munguia and Vergil Ortiz Jr.. Both need to confirm what everybody expects of them with convincing victories against D’Mitrius Ballard and Michael Mckinson.

Finally, a World Champion in four weight classes comes back after suffering his first and terrifying knockout courtesy of GervontaTankDavis: Leo TerremotoSanta Cruz. The Mexican champ meets KeenanBedoCarbajal in Las Vegas. Could Leo be able to recover from the darkest episode of his career?

The whole list of the next best upcoming fights

-March 4,Jose Ramirez vsJose Pedraza, Super lightweight

-March 5, Roman Gonzalez vs Julio Cesar Martinez, WorldSuper flyweight

-March 19 Vergil Ortiz Jr. vsMichael McKinson, Welterweight

Edgar Berlanga vs Steve Rolls, Super welterweight

-March 26, Kiko Martinez vsJosh Warrington, IBF World Featherweight title