Keith Thurman: Knockout Artist Extraordinaire

On Saturday, 26-year-old Floridian Keith Thurman will defend the WBA interim world welterweight title he’s held for over a year against Italian fighter Leonard Bundu (fight card begins Saturday, 9 p.m. ET on Showtime). Bundu’s never lost — his career record stands at 31-0-2 — but Thurman has reason to be confident. He’s a confident guy in general, as his desire for a fight with Floyd Mayweather and general quotability this week will attest, but he backs it up with substance. Like Bundu, he’s never lost, and he’s got a weapon that makes him dangerous every moment he’s in the ring: power. What kind of power? To give you an idea …

21 of his 23 career wins are by KO.

He can end a fight in a hurry.

There’s a reason he goes by the nickname “One Time.”

In his words: “Getting knockouts and creating knockouts — that’s what One Time’s all about. I can get you out at any time, any given moment, any round.” Which he does.

And he’s been doing this since his career started.

He worked his way up the ladder, knocking out opponents all the while.

Now he fights for his late former trainer, Ben Getty.

Getty died suddenly and, according to Thurman, “There were no signs of what was going on.” His death hurt, but Thurman pressed on.

Now, he wears Getty’s name on his trunks in the ring:

And he always keeps his advice in mind. That advice?

“Don’t ever lighten up on your power.”

So far, so good.