Keith Thurman keeps drawing the ire from fellow fighters. 

The former welterweight champion has been sidelined since July 2019 after suffering a spirited split decision loss to Manny Pacquiao. In the fight, the Floridian fighter also sustained a left-hand injury that resulted in surgery. 

The boxer nicknamed “One Time” has fought just twice since March 2017, and has not scored a stoppage win since 2015.

The 33-year-old Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) has seemingly lost his spot in the sport’s pecking order, as he is not getting the shot to slug it out with opponents he chooses -- Errol Spence Jr. being chief amongst them.

Idle hands have left Thurman reaching deep down the well in search of viable dance partners. Over the summer, Thurman wanted to fight Gervonta Davis at 147 pounds. 

Davis -- a knockout artist who has fought at 140, 130 and 135 in his last three fights -- is deeming Thurman as damaged goods. 

“Keith Thurman, we know who Keith Thurman is. He’s a guy that says many things, but he doesn’t do anything. He says all this stuff. When was the last time he fought? Manny Pacquiao? When was that? C’mon bro,” Davis told The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer.

“As far as boxing wise, he’s getting old at boxing. Come on, bro. You got to be active somewhere, and he’s not even worth mentioning any more. There’s a new generation of boxers, and I have to worry about people that are coming up now. I’m like, I got to put him on my list that I gotta watch out for. Nobody is worried about Keith Thurman. Come on, bro. Your time has passed.”

Mayweather Promotions head Leonard Ellerbe said during the summer that he’d make a Davis vs. Thurman fight “in two seconds” and that “Tank would knock him the f--- out right now."

Should a fight ever take place between the two, Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) would be making his 147-pound debut and be giving up two inches in height and 1 ½ inches in reach. 

The next test for Davis comes on Dec. 5 when he takes on Isaac Cruz in a 135-pound clash at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Showtime pay per view. 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com