Keith Thurman successfully retained the WBA welterweight championship of the world with a majority-decision victory over Josesito Lopez, last night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Making his ring return after being sidelined for 18 months with injuries, Thurman was dominant throughout the early proceedings, punching with bad intentions. ‘One-Time’ also showcased the slick movement and explosive qualities that made him a unified champion at 147lbs, dropping Lopez in the second round with a powerful left hook.
However, the seasoned challenger – someone who Thurman was generally expected to dispatch of in style – was consistent with his pressure and this certainly paid dividends in the sixth round, landing a right hand that momentarily stunned the champion.
The seventh round was pure drama as Lopez returned the favour, hurting Thurman with a left hook of his own. The Clearwater native, who by this point was rapidly back-pedalling, nevertheless displayed impressive resilience and tenacity to withstand the onslaught and survive, before regaining his composure and finishing strong.
Ultimately, Thurman’s undefeated record remains intact, as he was declared the winner; a solitary scorecard of 113-113 being overruled by scorecards of 117-109 and 115-111 in his favour.
The chief support saw local favourite Adam Kownacki extend his record to 19-0 with 15 knockouts, as he brutally pummelled former World title challenger Gerald Washington into submission after landing a devastating short right hand in the second round.
Article by: Navi Singh
Follow Navi on Twitter at: @DarkMan________