It was my dream as a kid was to make history.

All I ever wanted was to be like Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard. Back in the day American people knew who they were and I want them to now know Keith 'One Time' Thurman.

Anyone that steps into the ring with me is facing a real welterweight.

When a 140 pounder that moves up fights a 140 pounder moved up and they move up it's a catch weight.

Mike Tyson has to be one of my greatest all time fighters. Muhammad Ali. I like going back looking at the classics like Roberto Duran. I like the old time fighters, when you had a champion in the old days you really had a true champion. Muhammad Ali would take on anybody. You had the greats fighting everybody.

When it comes to boxing I find a way to clear my mind. When it comes to boxing you have to fight. Clear your mind and fight. You can't really think of outside things when you're in the ring.

I only want to fight real champions; I want to fight real opponents, so that I can climb the latter.