KEITH THURMAN BIO

Keith Thurman is a FOX Sports boxing analyst calling Premier Boxing Champions shows and serving as a desk analyst. He has also served as a guest analyst on FOX Sports’ INSIDE PBC BOXING studio show.

The former unified welterweight (147 pounds) world boxing champion, holds a professional record of 29 wins and 1 loss, with 22 KOs. One of the most beloved fighters in the world, "One Time" entered the biggest fight of his career on July 20, 2019, against one of boxing’s most revered fighters – Manny Pacquaio – and while he came out with his first defeat, it still was a win for fans.

Calling it "a blessing and a lesson," Thurman rose from a first-round knockdown to elevate himself in the sport with a tenacity and hard-punching style that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the split decision in favor of Pacquaio was announced.

That fight – which was a 2019 "Fight of the Year" contender – also signaled a six-month medical hiatus as Thurman underwent elective hand surgery and its subsequent recovery. Now passing his six-month recovery period, he is back training, looking return to the ring soon.

It’s a different evolution than the two-time world boxing champion envisioned. In 2017, the former "Fighter of the Year" suffered an elbow injury that took two years to heal. During that time, Thurman also took his first actual vacation, where on a trip to Tokyo, he met his now-wife, blending his Florida roots with her Nepalese heritage and culture.

It was a global whirlwind with love, recovery, victory, and re-emergence playing equal parts. In 2019, Thurman faced the fighter he called out six years ago and offered to put his record on the line to show that he has what it takes to be a world champion welterweight fighter.

"Pacquiao fought a very smart fight, demonstrating he’s every ounce the legend that he is. I didn’t knock him out, so I have to accept the verdict. In a perfect world, I’d get my rematch with Pacquiao," said Thurman.

During his post-surgery break, Thurman has been taking advantage of his knowledge of the sweet science by being an analyst for FOX Sports and the INSIDE PBC BOXING show.

A true welterweight (147 pounds), Thurman remains one of the real educators in the sport, his blend of punching power and personality have made him a respected fan-favorite worldwide. Having entered the sport at 7, he started in a youth after school boxing program; his professional record earned him the respect of the boxing world and being selected as one of the pound-for-pound top-ten fighters regardless of weight class.

Born in Clearwater, Florida, Keith is the product of a Caucasian mother and an African American father, who played football and wrestled. He was discovered at the age of 7 by renowned boxing trainer Ben Getty, who had previously worked with Sugar Ray Leonard, among others. As an amateur fighter, Thurman won six national championships and recorded more than 100 victories, setting the stage for a promising pro career. He turned pro in 2007.

After Getty passed away in 2009, Thurman moved into the stable of Dan Birmingham, best known for helping turn Jeff Lacey and Winky Wright into world titlists, as well as having worked with former world champion Chad Dawson for a time.

Of his 30 professional fights, Thurman earned 22 of his victories by knockout. Having defeated some of the welterweight division’s most competitive champions – from Danny Garcia to Shawn Porter to Robert Guerrero to Josesito Lopez – his fight against Pacquaio represented his most significant and most anticipated challenge to date.

Thurman currently lives and trains in Clearwater, Florida.