Keith Thurman celebrated his first knockout win in nearly 12 years by defeating Brock Jarvis in the third round. The fight took place at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia.
This victory marks the end of a three-year absence from the ring for the American boxer. It’s his first win since overcoming Mario Barrios, the current WBC welterweight champion, in February 2022.
Competing at super welterweight against Jarvis, Thurman showcased impressive strength and fitness. This performance positions him as a compelling contender in a division rich with talent. However, at 36 years old, Thurman is aware that tougher challenges await him.
Jarvis initially aimed to use his robust build and power to push Thurman back. The fight began as a battle of jabs, with both fighters trying to assert control. Jarvis landed the first significant punch, energizing the home crowd. Meanwhile, Thurman focused on establishing his accuracy and timing.
In the second round, Thurman displayed agile footwork, moving around the ring and using his jab. Yet, Jarvis managed to land more impactful punches. By the third round, the former two-time welterweight champion visibly shook off any signs of ring rust.
Midway through the third round, Thurman unleashed a sharp four-punch combination, concluding with a left uppercut that sent Jarvis to the canvas. Jarvis narrowly beat the count from referee Will Solous, who arguably could have stopped the fight at that point. However, the fight continued. Still affected by the knockdown, Jarvis couldn’t recover, and Thurman seized the opportunity. Upon the restart, Thurman connected with a powerful right hand, followed by a sweeping left hook that dropped Jarvis for the second and final time. Thurman’s record now stands at 31-1 (23 KOs), while Jarvis’s falls to 22-2 (20 KOs).
A thrilled Thurman, in a post-fight interview with commentator Ben Damon, expressed his eagerness to return to Australia for a fight with a specific opponent.
“Tszyu, I just raised the bar on you,” Thurman declared, addressing Tim Tszyu, the former WBO super welterweight champion, who was present ringside.
The two boxers were initially scheduled to fight in 2024, but an injury to Thurman led to Sebastian Fundora stepping in as a late replacement. Fundora subsequently defeated Tszyu by points in a grueling 12-round match.
“Three years of inactivity, and this is what I do,” Thurman continued.
“If you’re going to make a comeback, you need to come back strong. We’ve got another fighter coming for you, and you better believe American fighters don’t back down from anyone. Best of luck to Tim Tszyu.”
Following defeats to Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev, Tszyu is scheduled to return to the ring on April 6 in Australia against Joey Spencer from Michigan.
Should Tszyu be victorious, a showdown between ‘The Soul Taker’ and ‘One-Time’ Thurman could potentially take place later in 2025.
