'Send the contract': Keith Thurman's stern warning to Tim Tszyu after damaging comeback win
Over 1000 days out of the ring proved to be of no concern for Keith Thurman as he delivered a devastating TKO victory over Australia's Brock Jarvis.
Jarvis entered the ring hoping to pull off the upset, but was left searching for answers in the third round against the former welterweight champion.
Thurman recognised the "weaknesses" in Jarvis' strategy in the second round before lifting the intensity and power in his shots to leave his rival rattled.
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The brash American landed a series of uppercuts to leave Jarvis battling to return to his feet and beat the count, but a stoppage was called following the onslaught.
Keith Thurman lands a punch on Brock Jarvis. Grant Trouville
"My love for the sport is still here, that's why I did what I did today baby," Thurman said.
"I came here to prove to the world that Keith Thurman is back in action.
"I just wanted to get in the ring, box hard and smart. Once I saw all the anger in him I thought I'd let him use that up in the first round.
"I saw him wince ... I knew he was most likely going to crumble like a domino."
The victory has sees Thurman's record extended to 31-1 with 22 KOs, and positions him in frame to meet with fellow Australian star Tim Tszyu in the future.
Keith Thurman celebrates defeating Brock Jarvis Grant Trouville
Tszyu, who was ringside at the event, conceded the bout made him hungry to face Thurman later this year - but he must first get past Joey Spencer on April 6.
"I'm quite pumped up. He just got the appetiser," he said of Thurman's win.
"I can see stuff that I didn't see before ... to witness it now is good for me."
Thurman did not reject the possibility of squaring off against Tszyu, admitting that he will sign any fight contract that is placed in front of him.
Tim Tszyu does his walk to the ring before the WBO super-welterweight world title bout Brian Mendoza. Getty
However, the 36-year-old did not steer clear of warning the former middleweight title holder of what is coming his way facing Spencer.
"I just raised the bar on you Tszyu," Thurman said.
"That's three years of inactivity, you see what I can do? I came back hard baby. You better believe that American fighters don't get knocked down by anyone.
"Tim Tszyu, I look forward to fighting anyone in the world of boxing. If that contract manifests, you know what I'm gonna do ... send the contract, I'll sign it.
"I'll be happy to take the fight."
