The former world champion, Keith Thurman, will make a return to the ring on Saturday, February 5, for a long-awaited welterweight bout with Mario Barrios. The two world-class boxers will go at it for the first time in their careers in what promises to produce a spectacular bout no boxing fan should miss.
So let’s get into the matchup, check what each fighter brings to the table, and provide you with our betting preview for the bout, which will offer all the information you’ll need to make smart betting picks.
Last Fight records
Thurman (29-1-0) will make his first appearance in the ring in almost three years. His last fight took place way back in July 2019, when he lost against Manny Pacquiao by split decision in their WBA Super Welterweight championship fight in Las Vegas.
Previous to that, he had won against Josesito Lopez, which was Thurman’s only other fight of 2019, while his most recent to that was a victory over Danny Garcia way back in March 2017.
Barrios was far more active in recent years and has beaten four of his last five opponents – stopping three, while the fight went the distance only once.
In his previous fight, Barrios lost against Gervonta Davis in June 2021 by a TKO in the 11th round in the WBA World Super Lightweight championship fight. Prior to that, he won against Ryan Karl in October 2020 and Batyr Akhmedov in September 2019.
Matchup Information
The bout between Thurman and Barrios is slated for:
- Saturday, February 5, 2022,
- At Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, United States.
Thurman vs Barrios Betting Analysis
Thurman is billed as the favorite for this bout, priced as low as -190 on the moneyline; meanwhile, Barrios is a +140 underdog on most sportsbooks. However, while the bookies prefer the returning fighter, there’s more to this fight than meets the eye.
Thurman Betting Analysis
Even though Thurman hasn’t appeared in the ring since his loss to Pacquiao in 2019, the “One Time” is expected to have an easy time this weekend when he faces a fighter many believe is not ready for this match.
You could argue that this fight was set up only for Thurman to shake off the rust to pursue bigger fish, and if you look beyond his inactivity, there are good arguments to be made in favor of that.
Thurman remains as one of the scariest and most versatile fighters in the division, and the fact that he has lost only once – against Pacquiao – further proves that this is an elite-level boxer.
At his peak, Thurman was unstoppable and has proven his worth by beating the likes of Garcia and Porter. And while he might not be in his prime form now, he still holds a physical and tactical advantage over his next opponent.
Barrios Betting Analysis
In his last fight last summer, Barrios proved that he could box by giving Gervonta Davis a good scare, only to succumb to Davis’ power in the later rounds. That should leave you concerned, knowing that Barrios is moving up in weight and class to fight Thurman, and while he competed briefly at welterweight before, it’s fair to question whether he is ready for his next opponent.
Admittedly, Barrios can be a tough out with his constant pressure, but his defensive skills rely too much on his chin, which won’t cut it against big punchers. On a more positive note, Thurman has struggled against fighters with a similar style before – namely Josesito Lopez – but you have to ask yourself whether Barrios is at the same level as Lopez?
Fighter Updates
The fighters enter the bout with no previous injuries and should be 100% fit for the fight. But while both should be ready to show off their ability, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
- Of Thurman’s 29 career wins (29-1-0), 22 came via a KO.
- Barrios has won 26 career fights – 17 with a KO.
- Thurman (33) is seven years older than Barrios (26).
- Barrios has a three-inch height and two-inch reach advantage over Thurman.
- K. Thurman made his debut in 2007, six years before Barrios (2013).
Thurman vs Barrios Betting Preview
Keith Thurman is priced as a -190 favorite to win his first professional fight in two years, while Barrios enters the ring as a +140 underdog. And while you could argue that the odds on Thurman are too low given that his last fight happened way back in 2019, there are plenty of reasons why you should believe the “One Time” will be too much to handle for Barrios.
Thurman vs Barrios Betting Prediction
Thurman hasn’t won a fight by stoppage in seven years, which is quite a long time, but there’s a reason to believe he might be able to end his dry streak this weekend. Admittedly, we don’t know how good form he will be in, but the fact that he is facing a fighter with an open look such as Barrios, there’s a good chance we might see a KO.
To further confirm that, we have to look back to last summer, when Barrios fought Davis and struggled quite a bit. Despite being severely undersized – relative to Barrios – Davis broke him down quickly, and he could do it, so can Thurman.
If Thurman isn’t at his best, Barrios could stand a chance, and given that he is fighting someone who hasn’t fought in two years, there’s a world that happens. Still, Barrios is taking on an elite welterweight, who is eager to get back into the mix, and we can be sure he will grab this opportunity with both hands. Based on the information we have, Thurman to end it with a KO is our betting prediction for this bout.
Prediction: Thurman to win with a KO
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