Keith Thurman says he can tempt Terence Crawford to 154

Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman says he believes he can “tempt” Terence Crawford to return to 154 to fight him for the “green” WBC junior middleweight title by beating champion Sebastian Fundora.

On the face of it, it sounds like some crazy fantasy that Thurman cooked up in his head thinking he would beat ‘The Towering Inferno’ Fundora, then face Crawford to make gazillions.

The Fundora factor

Thurman (31-1, 23 KOs) and Fundora (23-1-1, 15 KOs) are expected to be rescheduled for January 24, 2026, or January 31, 2026. They were supposed to fight on October 25, 2025, but Fundora suffered a hand injury until next year.

“Thurman v. Crawford, I still think he wants to come back. I still think it’s something for us,” Keith Thurman told Brian Custer’s podcast about his belief that Terence Crawford would want to return to 154 to face him

Crawford’s silence speaks volumes

What made Thurman think that Crawford wants to move back to 154? He didn’t say a word about returning to 154. The only thing he’s said since beating Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 13 was that fighting at 160 is something that might interest him.

It is believed that he will stay at 168 and wait to see if Canelo will ask for a rematch as that is his best bet for a payday. Crawford would not be eager to fight the 37-year-old ‘One Time’ Thurman at 154 for a payday that would likely be small compared to the $50 million he just received for the Canelo fight.

Turki’s role in the fantasy

Turki Alalshikh would have to be interested in paying for a fight between Crawford and Thurman. I don’t know why he would, when many of the younger boxing fans have never seen Thurman fight. They don’t know who he is, except for his physical appearance: a bald, 40-something looking person.

“Man, we gotta run it. Step in one time with the ‘One Time’ baby,” said Thurman on his desperate hope that Bud Crawford would want to fight him. “I think I can seduce Bud a little.”

Bud’s Bigger Game at 168

There are a lot of things that will have to fall into place for Thurman to land a massive payday fight against Crawford. These are the things that would have to happen:

1. Thurman beats Fundora convincingly
2. Crawford returns to 154
3. Turki Alalshikh appreciates the game
4. Bud will have to want the fight
5. Commercial appeal

“I don’t know what’s attracting him these days, but I feel like maybe, just maybe, the green belt might attract him just a little bit,” Thurman said of the possibility of Terence being interested in fighting him if he captures the WBC junior middleweight belt from Sebastian Fundora.

It is doubtful that Crawford will see any value in fighting for the WBC 154-lb title if Thurman gets his hands on it by beating Fundora. Terence, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, has already said that once he leaves a division, he never returns.

It will be a step backwards for Crawford to return to 154. He will have to deal with a lot of pressure to fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis as well, and it will be a brutal fight for him at 38.

Olly Campbell’s verdict: dream on, Keith

Bud Crawford is focused on collecting divisional world titles to cement his legacy so he can make a case for himself to be considered one of the four on the Mount Rushmore of boxing. Now that’s his hiatus, and why he probably wouldn’t be interested in returning to 154.

If Thurman wants a fight against the superstar, Crawford, he will have to move up to 168 or 160. Wherever he is or goes, Thurman needs to move in that direction. He cannot accept that he is on a level playing field with Crawford in status and negotiations. It’s not 2016.