Keith Thurman does not pull punches in verbally jabbing at Jaron 'Boots' Ennis over potential clash

After nearly a three-year layoff, Keith Thurman returned to boxing earlier this year with a third-round TKO of Brock Jarvis in a super welterweight bout this past March.

During a recent interview with DAZN News, the former unified welterweight world champion conceded that he is interested in a fight with another boxer who recently moved up to 154 pounds — none other than Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

“I got no problem fighting ‘Boots’ Ennis,” Thurman said. “The only problem is it doesn’t make me a champion. There’s enough money on the table, enough entertainment, somebody wants to put it together, I need to see the contract.”

Ennis (34-0 with 1 no contest, 30 KOs) defeated Eimantas Stanionis in April to become a unified welterweight world champion before announcing his move up to 154 pounds.

Were he and Thurman to clash, ‘One Time’ would like to note a stark difference.

“Beating Stanionis as the best win of your career, that ain’t no Keith Thurman,” he said. “I don’t care what you think.”

Challenging Ennis at 154 pounds would give Thurman the opportunity of using his ring savvy and pointed shot selection to figure out the sweet science puzzle that the undefeated ‘Boots’ presents in an appealing matchup.

“I do like the fight, I wish there was a way to make it a title fight,” Thurman said. “That’s not the case but it’s an exciting fight, so let’s see what kind of contracts come.”

That said, Thurman questions Ennis’ booking approach as the likes of Vergil Ortiz and Teofimo Lopez have called him out to no avail.

“They’ve been offering him decent fights that he’s been turning down,” Thurman said.

“If it’s ‘we’ll give you Vergil Ortiz,’ you won’t see Keith say no,” he continued. ‘We’ll give you Teofimo Lopez,’ you won’t see Keith Thurman say no.”

Thurman further pressed: “Does he even want to fight a Keith Thurman? Does ‘Boots’ want to fight anybody? ‘Boots’ who do you want to fight, bro? We don’t know! We can’t figure it out.”

At 36, Thurman has a strong desire to be crowned a world champion again, though he is willing to part ways with the idea if the fight presented packs sizzle and is a truly intriguing styles matchup. Plus, the money needs to be right. And that goes for a potential booking with Ennis, Tim Tszyu or anyone else.

“Good money, respectful contracts, watch me promote the hell out of it, entertain the fans,” Thurman touts, “and deliver when it comes fight night.”