Keith Thurman Out to Prove Superstar Potential vs. Robert Guerrero

Every now and then, a fighter comes along who just has it.

It’s not something that can be taught or even explained, but you take one look at the guy and just know he’s going to be a star.

Keith Thurman—the undefeated welterweight titlist who will fight in the main event of Al Haymon’s first prime-time Premier Boxing Champions card Saturday night on NBC—has it.

He has all the labels.

Can’t-miss prospect. Future star. Best young fighter in a weight division brimming with top-shelf operators.

If he were a baseball player, you’d label him a five-tool talent, but like the young gun who finally gets to The Show, the proving ground has arrived for Thurman. He’s in the deep end of the pool, and it’s sink-or-swim time.

Robert Guerrero will be Thurman’s opponent in what his manager will certainly be hoping is a showcase, coming-out-party type of event, but the Ghost is a multiweight world champion fighting with high stakes of his own.

Thurman understands that most in and around the boxing industry view this as the biggest test of his career, but he believes that applies to Guerrero as well.

“He [Guerrero] has fought several welterweights, but in my opinion he hasn't fought one welterweight with exponential power. He didn't even fight a 140-pounder with extreme power. With that being said, I believe I am going to be a true test to his head and to his body for 12 rounds,” Thurman said, per Brian Campbell of ESPN.com.

“Out of 24 fights, there has only been one person that has never hit the mat. So I don't expect anything different. There are a lot of people who haven't passed the Keith Thurman test, and I don't expect Guerrero to be the first.”

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Thurman has been on something of a bullet train to the top of the 147-pound division ever since he emerged with a blistering knockout of former world champion Carlos Quintana on the Guerrero vs. Andre Berto undercard in 2012.

He demonstrated devastating punching power against Quintana but—perhaps more importantly—proved against Diego Chaves and Jesus Soto Karass the following year that he can box and break down an opponent who can take his power.

Those performances answered many of the questions from people who wondered if Thurman was little more than a one-trick pony—a fighter who could blow you out of there but falls apart the first time he encounters someone who remains vertical after the bomb lands.

It seemed that nothing could stop Thurman from taking that next big leap in 2014—with Floyd Mayweather nearing the end of his historic run and possibly in need of young, compelling opponents—but injuries and shoddy matchmaking derailed One Time, big time.

His first fight of the year was an injury-shortened affair against former world champion Julio Diaz—who entered the fight having lost two straight—and Thurman ended the campaign with a ho-hum decision over unknown 40-year-old Leonard Bundu.

It was a colossal step in the wrong direction, but he’s looking to keep the past in the past and take care of business on Saturday night.

“It wasn't difficult [2014]. It's just that you have to be patient. Patience is a virtue. There's no real reason to talk about last year because we are in this year. We are getting what we want and we are happy, so there are no complaints,” Thurman said, per Campbell.

His denials to the contrary, Thurman is a competitor, and he wants to be great. He wants to push himself and show that all the hype he earned in 2012 and 2013 wasn’t erased by a boo-filled performance against Bundu.

He wants to show the world that he can hit the 90 mph fastball out of the park. He wants to show that the boos were an aberration and he not only has it, but he can also live up to all the hope and promise he showed before last year.

Thurman wants to take the fight to Guerrero, who will almost certainly be accommodating, and see how much he can handle. Thurman wants this to be his statement moment.

“This fight, I'll let you know straight up: For six rounds, I'm going to be going at it with him. If he survives those six rounds, then you are going to see the boxer come out. But for six rounds, we are going to be right there banging with him, toe-to-toe, and putting on a great show.”

Shows are nice. Wins are nicer.

Thurman has his moment in the sun. Now he has to make sure he doesn't get burned.

He can box, punch and look good doing both, but his time is now.