BoxRec

Is Keith Thurman as good as the hype I keep reading?

I've only seen him fight twice and he was poor both times.

Describe poor

We don't know how good a lot of these WW's are because they don't bloody fight each other!

With Floyd gone, I'd have to give Thurman either the #1 or #2 Welterweight ranking. I think I would favor him in a fight with Brook but I'd say those two are interchangeable at the top 2 spots until they fight each other.

Thurman's the real deal for sure but he has been buzzed in most of his fights. He's won every single one of them so he's definitely got heart. But I think most people consider him one of the best WW's and I think he belongs there.

I do have to agree with Nightmare above, now that no one's getting in the Floyd Sweepstakes anymore, it's time for these Welterweights to start fighting each other so we can find out exactly what we got.

He looked like garbage against trialhorse Collazo. Nearly got KO'd by an aging so-so puncher.

Couldn't finish off a blown-up featherweight in Guerrero, and was hanging on during the last 3 rounds.

He only looks decent in comparison to so many ordinary and declining welters.

With a little more experience, Spence will run over him. Just a better, all-around fighter.

This isn't to say that Thurman can't win a title. It's not that hard to do in this era of 50 champions in every weight division. I'm certain that there's an interim belt he can grab.

But the guy's more hype than reality.

Welter division is everything wrong with boxing. All these good fighters. Who don't fight each other. Basically ever. I honestly don't blame anyone who is completely fed up with this sport. It stopped being a sport long ago. It's a clown show and the 147 division sums it up to a tee.

SenorPipino wrote:He looked like garbage against trialhorse Collazo. Nearly got KO'd by an aging so-so puncher.

Couldn't finish off a blown-up featherweight in Guerrero, and was hanging on during the last 3 rounds.

He only looks decent in comparison to so many ordinary and declining welters.

With a little more experience, Spence will run over him. Just a better, all-around fighter.

This isn't to say that Thurman can't win a title. It's not that hard to do in this era of 50 champions in every weight division. I'm certain that there's an interim belt he can grab.

But the guy's more hype than reality.

I disagree. Thurman is little hype and what you see is what you get.

He will not likely end up an ATG but he has decent gifts, skill and heart, he is undefeated and he is not a boring, prima doña hypocrite.

SenorPipino wrote:He looked like garbage against trialhorse Collazo. Nearly got KO'd by an aging so-so puncher.

Couldn't finish off a blown-up featherweight in Guerrero, and was hanging on during the last 3 rounds.

He only looks decent in comparison to so many ordinary and declining welters.

With a little more experience, Spence will run over him. Just a better, all-around fighter.

This isn't to say that Thurman can't win a title. It's not that hard to do in this era of 50 champions in every weight division. I'm certain that there's an interim belt he can grab.

But the guy's more hype than reality.

To be fair, no one has stopped Guerrero or even hurt him badly. Few have even dropped him which was impressive.

caldo2025 wrote:With Floyd gone, I'd have to give Thurman either the #1 or #2 Welterweight ranking. I think I would favor him in a fight with Brook but I'd say those two are interchangeable at the top 2 spots until they fight each other.

Thurman's the real deal for sure but he has been buzzed in most of his fights. He's won every single one of them so he's definitely got heart. But I think most people consider him one of the best WW's and I think he belongs there.

I do have to agree with Nightmare above, now that no one's getting in the Floyd Sweepstakes anymore, it's time for these Welterweights to start fighting each other so we can find out exactly what we got.

Brook vs Thurman would be a great fight well worth paying for. The welterweight division has been packed with talent for so long that its been hard for some guys to stand out. With Floyd and Marquez gone and Manny getting on in age it should be interesting to see how things unfold over the next two years.

I'm convinced that he's overrated. His area of strength is that he has fast, powerful hands. But he often gets himself off-balance, is easily countered, doesn't punch in combinations much (he didn't against Guerrero, but did against Collazo), doesn't use the jab much (also, when he does "jab", it's almost always just a slow feint), and has a low punch output. Also, he is one of the only top 10 welterweights who hasn't fought another top 10 welterweight, so I think the people who place too much expectation on him are basically forming their opinions out of thin air.

He's fought 5 former world champions, solid fighters, and he's whipped them all. He isn't untested, but he has a lot to prove for sure. The competition is about to get good with Porter, and he will look good but will it be enough to change the negative perception of him? Not likely. the fact he hasn't faced the best yet is gonna stick in people's minds. I do remember Paulie and Marcos avoiding a fight with him so it's not all on him, but he will get all the blame for that regardless.

SenorPipino wrote:He looked like garbage against trialhorse Collazo. Nearly got KO'd by an aging so-so puncher.

Couldn't finish off a blown-up featherweight in Guerrero, and was hanging on during the last 3 rounds.

He only looks decent in comparison to so many ordinary and declining welters.

With a little more experience, Spence will run over him. Just a better, all-around fighter.

This isn't to say that Thurman can't win a title. It's not that hard to do in this era of 50 champions in every weight division. I'm certain that there's an interim belt he can grab.

But the guy's more hype than reality.

Whoah, hold on there chief. You do understand that Thurman is American?

Lackeos wrote:I'm convinced that he's overrated. His area of strength is that he has fast, powerful hands. But he often gets himself off-balance, is easily countered, doesn't punch in combinations much (he didn't against Guerrero, but did against Collazo), doesn't use the jab much (also, when he does "jab", it's almost always just a slow feint), and has a low punch output. Also, he is one of the only top 10 welterweights who hasn't fought another top 10 welterweight, so I think the people who place too much expectation on him are basically forming their opinions out of thin air.

Brook has at least defeated a top ten opponent, as you say.

Some of the criticisms in this thread are fair, but im not sure that you guys are seeing the big picture. Thurman definitely has flaws, but when you look at the division, the question is who would you pick to win a fight over him? Khan might give him problems because of the hand speed, but as soon as thurman connected with khans chin he'd be taking a nap.

I see alot of guys taking a liking to brook, and that's fair as he does have some nice qualities. But who has brook beaten besides shawn porter. A guy who as floyd mayweather sr said. "Went a whole fight without throwing a single straight punch" lol. Thurman has beaten better competition than brook thus far in his career. I mean after all he did knock out Diego Chaves who fought to a draw with tim bradley, and was up on the cards in a fight with brandon rios.

diddy wrote:Welter division is everything wrong with boxing. All these good fighters. Who don't fight each other. Basically ever. I honestly don't blame anyone who is completely fed up with this sport. It stopped being a sport long ago. It's a clown show and the 147 division sums it up to a tee.

Completely agree. The Porter Vs Broner fight was refreshing to see, two WW who want to get back into the title frame. There was no crappy Interim, Silver, or International belt on the line, just two guys wanting to push forward. There are so many great fights to be made at WW. It would be great if we could have a Super Six tournament like the SMWs had, but without all the dropouts. My 6 would be:

Brook
Thurman
Khan
Porter
Bradley
Garcia

Nightmare Roy wrote:We don't know how good a lot of these WW's are because they don't bloody fight each other!

Agreed. If there is one division which badly needs a Super Six type of event, it's the Welterweight division. It's hard to understand how (according to BoxRec rankings) the top four have not fought a single fight against each other.

1. Manny Pacquaio
2. Kell Brook
3. Keith Thurman
4. Amir Khan

(and that's not counting Floyd - who never fought any of the top three "younger" guys named above)

beatdown337 wrote:Thurman has beaten better competition than brook thus far in his career. I mean after all he did knock out Diego Chaves who fought to a draw with tim bradley, and was up on the cards in a fight with brandon rios.

Um. Tell me Diego Chaves' best win again? & once you've puzzled that one out, get back to me on how he's a better win than Porter.

Datsue wrote:

beatdown337 wrote:Thurman has beaten better competition than brook thus far in his career. I mean after all he did knock out Diego Chaves who fought to a draw with tim bradley, and was up on the cards in a fight with brandon rios.

Um. Tell me Diego Chaves' best win again? & once you've puzzled that one out, get back to me on how he's a better win than Porter.

Yeah, I'm not quite sure how getting a gift draw against Bradley is better than beating Porter.

As to the OP, I think he (Thurman) might be a bit overrated, not sure. We'd need to see him in against the absolute best to be sure I suppose. But this thread illustrates a lack of nuance, as many do. Collazo sucks, Guerrero sucks, everyone sucks but a few choice guys at the top. In reality these are real tough contenders who would beat most others in their weight class. So those wins, while not being at the absolute top level, certainly count for something.

If anything Thurman is underrated. The OP saw the new Thurman who has had a few too many injuries involving his hands. It's because of this he tries to keep his punch volume low and utilize the ring better. In the Guerrero fight, Thurman paced himself and when he needed to went up a gear and got the KD.
Thurman is the Kovalev of the welterweight division. No one wants to fight him.

It's for this reason I say he's the best welter on the planet right now.