By Keith Idec

NEW YORK – Keith Thurman welcomed this hectic fight week.

Nearly two years removed from one of his own fights, Thurman has enjoyed being back in the limelight. The cerebral welterweight champion even has tried to appreciate all the time-consuming things associated with promoting a fight card – attending NBA and NHL games, conducting countless interviews, every bit of it.

Almost all that’s left now is to enter the ring Saturday night for the first time since Thurman became a unified welterweight champion two years ago. Thurman, 30, is set to defend his WBA “super” world 147-pound championship against Josesito Lopez (36-7, 19 KOs, 1 NC) in the main event of “PBC on FOX” tripleheader from Barclays Center in Brooklyn (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

“We’re back on the stage, so we’re gonna perform,” Thurman said during a conference call this week. “We’re gonna give you guys a great performance. And, you know, I mean, you guys are the critics. You get to say what Keith Thurman looks like and who looks like they’re about to be the top guy, and X, Y and Z, and all that stuff. But I’ve always, you know, like I stated when we first were on FOX, I’ve always been the original ‘Problem,’ I am ‘The Truth,’ I’m ‘Swift.’”

Thurman, of Clearwater, Florida, believes he is boxing’s best welterweight. He also understands that some of the boxing public’s perception of him has changed because surgery on his right elbow and a subsequent injury to his left hand have kept him out of the ring since he edged Danny Garcia by split decision in a very competitive 12-rounder in March 2017 at Barclays Center.

There are factions of fans and media that rank WBO champ Terence Crawford (34-0, 25 KOs) and/or IBF champ Errol Spence Jr. (24-0, 21 KOs) ahead of Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC). Thurman also has drawn criticism for at least appearing as if he doesn’t want unification fights against Spence or Crawford at any point in the foreseeable future.

“I belong here,” Thurman said. “I’ve been telling people that Keith Thurman was ranked No. 1. Two years out, do I hold my position? Some people say yes. Some people say no. Let’s say I don’t hold my position. Where do you put Keith Thurman? ‘Oh, if he’s not No. 1, maybe he’s No. 2. Oh wait, but you also have that Crawford guy there. Maybe he’s No. 3.’

“Look, man, I worked my whole life to be at the top of the game. And if you’re ranked No. 1, 2 or 3, you’re at the top. You know? So, I don’t stress that stuff. I don’t look at anything negative. I’m constantly focused on the positive. And I’m stepping back in the ring against Josesito Lopez, to remind the world who Keith Thurman is, what it looks like when he’s fighting, how entertaining I can be, and that I’m an elite fighter at 147.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.