Danny Garcia vs Keith Thurman

[handsofstone]

Finally this Saturday WBA/WBC Welterweight unification hopefully providing the 1st step in finding out who the top fighter at 147 is, although I'm still sceptical about the Pacquiao/Khan and Brook/Spence Jr fights coming off until their confirmed

Its a cracking match up this one and one that will bring out the best in both men I reckon, 2 top WWs in their prime, both very good boxers, Garcia has the experience, Thurman has the power, I think it might be a bit of a chess match of high quality boxing, Garcia is a very cool customer with tons of top level experience and wont get flustered despite his dad being an absolute helmet and getting a bit energetic, Danny must take after his mum because I like him he always comes across respectful, boxing wise he's always been the type of guy to perform better when against better opponents

Thurman is a great all rounder for me a very good boxer who can mix it up as well as box, I think he's quite unusual in the fact he chooses to box against boxers and fight against fighters when you would imagine trying the opposite would be the obvious gameplan, he didn't mind brawling with Porter and probably made the fight tougher than it could've been but it was better to watch, going back to the Bundu fight he chose to outbox Leonard who was a top level amateur and a very good boxer instead of blitzing him which I thought he would do considering he knows he's a big puncher and Bundu was nearly 40

That's why I think this will be a chess match, Garcia got to keep things tight, stay switched on at all times because he doesn't want to get tagged by Thurman and opened up because even though Danny's tough he's never been in with a puncher like Keith up at WW, I fancy Thurman to win I think he's the better all round boxer, quicker,stronger and moves better, I wouldn't say Garcia is great at anything that stands but he's very good at everything and he does have a cracking left hook and he always finds a way to win, usually even more impressively against better opposition

I'm siding with Thurman on points but really I just hope its no too cagey or tactical

[TheLeprechaun]

Garcia will knock him out. He's a bad style match up for Thurman. The way Garcia is willing to trade punches and throws huge hooks without even looking at the target is going to be problematic for Thurman. Garcia might have the best chin in boxing at the moment considering the flush shots he took from matthysse with no effect whatsoever. Thurman has been hurt a few times now.

I think Garcia is too solid and hes always willing to put himself in harms way to land those big hooks. Thurman might have to be very negative to win and even then I'd fancy the judges to side with Garcia as his style is very judge friendly

[saad muhammad]

Garcia hasn't looked good since the matthysse fight+ protecting him in recent fights with mediocre opposition,I think the whole team including the old man know this is crunch time now,I think they're both vulnerable to the body but Thurman the man on the rise Will stop Garcia with body shots late in the fight!

[revporl]

I think Garcia comes from behind for the stoppage. This is a fantastic match. Looking forward to this so much more than the Haye vs Bellew fight (but ill probably buy that anyway!)

[Counter-puncher]

i agree it will be a tactical matchup

[EdwinValero]

I can see this being one extreme or the other in the fact that it will either be a tactical chess match or an all out war.

I like Garcia I think he's very good in all departments and as people have mentioned, that left hook is pretty hefty. Garcia looks to have a decent chin and if he's gonna win on Saturday I think he's definitely gonna need it.

Thurman for me in this one with a late stoppage. I think Thurman will improve the longer the fight goes and can see him dropping Garcia with heavy shots to the body.

Can't wait for this one, a proper fight between the two best in the division.

[PredatorHayds]

I can see this being very cagey with the occasional furious exchange.
Both have a tendency to make fights closer than they should.
I see the difference being Thurmans size. I see Thurman taking a split decision.

[Tuan_Jim]

Tasty fight. I don't trust Thurman, looks shaky in the chin and stamina departments. Garcia to outman him.

[Stuarty]

I dunno why this hasn't been talked about as much. It's the fight of the year so far arguably. I can't wait to the first bell.

Garcia seems to have a knack of winning when the stakes are high (sounds daft coz he's never lost). He underperforms when he's expected to do better. Gun to my head I'd say Thurman takes it by a few rounds on points but you just can't write Garcia off.

I really like Thurman he's a class act and talks well. This is only his second real test. He has underrated boxing skills and the guy can scrap it out if need be. Garcia himself I don't mind. He's good to watch but a bit dull on his own. His dad being a complete fukk head adds an extra dimension to his 'brand' away from the ring. That cock piece aside its gonna be a hell of a fight!

[Emmseegee]

Im swaying towards Garcia to win this.

I like Garcia but I would definitely be a bigger fan if he tested one of his left hooks on his old mans whiskers.

[Stuarty]

Im swaying towards Garcia to win this.

I like Garcia but I would definitely be a bigger fan if he tested one of his left hooks on his old mans whiskers.

Id rather see Mama Garcia lay in to him with a rolling pin

[Boxerbeetle]

This thread deserves far more attention than the 25 Haye-Bellew threads currently going on...I'm really looking forward to this one, agree that it's going to be very tactical and probably relatively slow paced, but should be extremely interesting.

[handsofstone]

This thread deserves far more attention than the 25 Haye-Bellew threads currently going on...I'm really looking forward to this one, agree that it's going to be very tactical and probably relatively slow paced, but should be extremely interesting.

I think that about a lot of my threads

Nah TBH boxing fans all over the world moan about wanting to see the best fight the best but when they do, it gets no coverage

[Manchester Hitman]

Garcia is a tremendous fighter- I think he will stop Thurman late

[Oiky]

I'm backing thurman by way of pts victory

[Taansend]

Great to see how respectful everyone is of each fighter & how divided people are in their opinions

The first time I saw Danny Garcia was when he was getting outboxed by Ashley Theophane many years ago. I didn't think he'd go far.

He's proved me wrong time & time again since then

I'm a big Thurman fan. His mentality has changed in the last few years & I think he enjoys showcasing his skills now whereas before he was all after the knockout. Of course, you could say that he's just up against tougher opposition now but I think he likes the cerebral aspect of the fight game.

I have no f*cking clue who wins. Truly a 50/50 fight for me. I'm hoping it's Thurman but that's not because I dislike Garcia. I wish the best of luck to both blokes.

Hope I'm awake for it. I have a 10k in the morning then it's Haye Bellew & I might be passed out by fight time.

[Syntax Error]

I'm so looking forward to this.

It's really sad that this genunine superfight has been overshadowed (in the UK) by David Haye's latest mismatch.

Garcia/Thurman is worthy of Sky Sports PPV, such is the quality of the matchup.

[TheLeprechaun]

I haven't seen a Garcia fight where he's clearly not "the man" in there. You know he's the tougher, harder guy. He's ALWAYS willing to exchange punches to land his own as well. Thurman will have to run all night and he might be able to win easy if his footwork is far superior but if Garcia can force exchanges like Porter did, there's only one winner because Garcia for me is the much tougher fighter.

[freddydoesdallas]

I've been up and down about both fighters over the last few years. Really thought Garcia was going to really put himself above the challengers at one point but he's still in that mix. Thurman seemed to have been shoved into the mix of challengers without doing much other than looking decent against much lesser fighters.

If i had to call it then i would go for Garcia as he's got more experience in these big fights and has a generally higher level of opponent on his record.

[ste1983]

Can't wait for this as said above shame its been overshadowed over here by that farce of a card at the o2.

Been going for a Thurman win but these last couple of days I'm edging towards Garcia for some reason.

Only negative as its on cbs in the states they've only got a two hour slot and seem to have gone with showing Lubin/Cota over Fonfara/Dawson. I'm guessing bocksnation will just get the same. Shame would have liked to see Fonfara/Dawson too.

[GlobalBox]

Can't wait for this as said above shame its been overshadowed over here by that farce of a card at the o2.

Been going for a Thurman win but these last couple of days I'm edging towards Garcia for some reason.

Only negative as its on cbs in the states they've only got a two hour slot and seem to have gone with showing Lubin/Cota over Fonfara/Dawson. I'm guessing bocksnation will just get the same. Shame would have liked to see Fonfara/Dawson too.

Just found this on the PBC website but don't know if its accurate or not.
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS THURMAN VS. GARCIA
CBS, Sat. March 4, 9:00 p.m. ET

Keith Thurman vs. Danny Garcia
Erickson Lubin vs. Jorge Cota
Chad Dawson vs. Andrzej Fonfara

Assuming if it's only a two hour slot they can't show all three as you say but there may be hope for us who want to see Fonfara/Dawson. Also Frank might get the off air feed as these companies normally record most of the card in case the two main events go a few rounds each and they are left with 90 mins to fill. Fingers crossed

[ste1983]

Can't wait for this as said above shame its been overshadowed over here by that farce of a card at the o2.

Been going for a Thurman win but these last couple of days I'm edging towards Garcia for some reason.

Only negative as its on cbs in the states they've only got a two hour slot and seem to have gone with showing Lubin/Cota over Fonfara/Dawson. I'm guessing bocksnation will just get the same. Shame would have liked to see Fonfara/Dawson too.

Just found this on the PBC website but don't know if its accurate or not.
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS THURMAN VS. GARCIA
CBS, Sat. March 4, 9:00 p.m. ET

Keith Thurman vs. Danny Garcia
Erickson Lubin vs. Jorge Cota
Chad Dawson vs. Andrzej Fonfara

Assuming if it's only a two hour slot they can't show all three as you say but there may be hope for us who want to see Fonfara/Dawson. Also Frank might get the off air feed as these companies normally record most of the card in case the two main events go a few rounds each and they are left with 90 mins to fill. Fingers crossed

According to Stephen Espinoza on twitter they're only showing the two fights live and couldn't even squeeze in Fonfara/Dawson if either go early. He was getting a bit of stick for it.

[handsofstone]

116-112 Thurman on my card I thought he pulled away in the end, no real drama but I thought it was a real high quality fight, it played out pretty much how I thought it would, I had it neck and neck up until about the 7th, I had the rounds swinging back and forth, Thurman would start sharp one round and win it then Garcia would do the same next, you always felt the power was with Thurman though even though Garcia held his ground and regularly fought his way out of trouble, Thurman buzzed him in the 1st but Danny showing again he's as tough as they come, I thought both men picked their attacks well especially 1st half where they both seem to burst into flurries, I thought it was a great display of box/fighting

[davie]

Garcia is one of these guys that often just does what is required in fights and this time it wasn't quite enough

his output is low and he gets by being cute and neat and tidy. He throws some nicely timed counters and punishes mistakes but tonight he came up against a better fighter, but not by much

The division is still to be decided but with Thurman beating Porter and Garcia, Brook and Spence about to clash, we might be a little closer to knowing the best 147lber

[Autobarn]

Americans seemed to have found it really boring, big fight without passion, intensity or action.