By Scott Gilfoid: 23-year-old Keith Thurman (18-0, 17 KO’s) is very soon going to be the main guy in the welterweight division in a couple of years once Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao age out of the sport. Whether those two are still around in a couple of years or not, Thurman is going to be the best fighter in the welterweight division by then.
Thurman is only 23, and punches like a mule kicks and he’s only going to get better with time. When Thurman reaches 25, he’s going to be blowing through the old timers like Pacquiao and Mayweather, and dominating the other top guys like Andre Berto, Victor Ortiz and Devon Alexander. Thurman may not be quite as fast as those guys are, but he’s so strong that doesn’t matter. He makes up for his lack of hand speed by just being naturally strong. He’s a nature boy with that raw strength, like someone who was born on a farm. That power is going to get better in time, and it’s going to be difficult for anyone to stay in there with him for very long.
Thurman really impressed recently when he blew out a good fighter in Orlando Lora by a 6th round TKO last month. Lora is the type of fighter that doesn’t go out easy, but Thurman made it look effortless with his left hooks to the head and big right hands.
Right now, Thurman is still being groomed for greatness. Although he wants guys like Tim Bradley, Paulie Malignaggi and Mayweather, he’s not going to get those fights yet. But I believe Thurman would destroy Bradley or Malignaggi. He can beat those guys because he can box as well as slug. He doesn’t just punch hard, he fight well too when he needs to. He may not be ready for Mayweather right now but give Thurman a year and I think he’ll be able to hang with him then.
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