Report: Keith Thurman Injured, Planned May 19 Fight Canceled

Keith Thurman might be out of the ring for a little longer.

According to an ESPN report, Thurman, who holds both the WBA “super” and WBC welterweight titles, suffered a deep bruise on his left hand and will no longer fight on May 19, the date Showtime had reserved for Thurman to make his return to the ring. According to the report, Thurman injured his hand two weeks ago and was advised by doctors to rest it for six weeks.

Thurman’s return was supposed to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the site of Thurman’s last fight, where he defeated Danny Garcia to win the WBC welterweight title.

Thurman had been out of action since that fight in March 2017 as Thurman had been recovering from right elbow surgery. Although Thurman’s return date had been set, there was still no opponent named for the unified welterweight champion, despite having Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter as WBC mandatory challengers. Thurman had been against fighting Porter in his first fight back when he talked to Fightful all the way back last year.

A fight between Thurman and former welterweight champion Jessie Vargas was previously explored before Thurman pulled out, according to Vargas when he talked to Fightful recently.

Details of the May 19 card from the Barclays Center had been scarce, with no undercard fights announced. Showtime planned to have a split-site telecast that night, televising Thurman’s fight as well as the WBC light heavyweight title fight between Adonis Stevenson and Badou Jack, which will take place in Canada.