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Mike CoppingerESPN
At long last, Keith Thurman is set for his ring return.
Thurman and Mario Barrios have struck a deal for a welterweight fight that will headline a Premier Boxing Champions event on Fox pay-per-view on Jan. 29, 2022, sources told ESPN on Thursday. A location has not been finalized.
Thurman, 33, will end a careerlong 30-month layoff when he takes on Barrios. Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) suffered his first pro defeat — and lost his welterweight title — in his most recent bout, a split decision against Manny Pacquiao in July 2019.
The Clearwater, Florida, native was floored in Round 1 by the future Hall of Famer but finished strong in an excellent action fight.
Barrios is also coming off a loss. The San Antonio native was stopped by Gervonta Davis in Round 11 of a 140-pound bout in June. Now, Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) will campaign at 147 pounds.
At 5-foot-10, Barrios possessed uncanny height for the 130- and 135-pound divisions. The 26-year-old even towered over many 140-pounders, and he will again have a height advantage over the 5-7½ Thurman.
But Thurman is undeniably the bigger fighter, a careerlong 147-pounder who owns wins over Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Robert Guerrero.
For Thurman, it’s a second straight headline appearance on pay-per-view, part of a growing number of such offerings from PBC on Fox that is expected to continue throughout 2022. PBC will also stage a Fox PPV between heavyweights Luis Ortiz and Charles Martin on New Year’s Day.