By Chris Williams: Danny Garcia came away from his recent fight against Errol Spence Jr last December with respect for his power, saying that he rates him three times more powerful than Keith Thurman.
Danny Swift (36-3, 21 KOs) lasted the full 12 rounds with IBF/WBC welterweight champion Spence (27-0, 21 KOs), but he took enormous punishment in that fight.
The 5’7″ Thurman is a good puncher, but he never proved that he could upper-tier elite-level fighters. The guys that Thurman has knocked out have been mostly lower-ranked guys, who were nowhere near the best.
Thurman’s second anniversary from the last time he fought will be coming up in July, and it’s starting to look like he may be finished as a relevant fighter.
With all these old-timers coming back, Thurman can do the same and make money, but he’s not likely to win another world title if he stays outside the ring much longer.
Thurman looks like he’s content after his payday against Manny Pacquiao in 2019 and settled into domestic home life. It’s too bad. Thurman was a good fighter when he was still hungry and not getting injured left and right.
Spence destroys an older Pacquiao
“If Pacman fights as good as he did against Thurman, it’s going to be a good fight,” said Danny Garcia to Fighthype on his thoughts on a match between Errol Spence Jr and Manny Pacquiao.
“But if this is an older Pacman, it might be a short night, but you don’t know,” said Danny Garcia.
Pacquiao, 42, hasn’t fought in almost two years since July 2019, and he’s in the same boat as Thurman is in with his inactivity hurting what’s left of his career.
While there’s been talk of Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) potentially fighting Spence next, Chris Williams doesn’t see it happening. If Pacquiao comes back, it’ll almost surely be against little Mikey Garcia for an easy payday.
Pacquiao isn’t going to risk getting pummeled by the younger, bigger, and stronger Spence. Spence would be like the equivalent of a Sherman tank against the much smaller 5’6″ Pacquiao.
It would be like watching a replay of Spence’s fight against Mikey. If Spence fought hard, he’d knock Pacquiao out easily.
Spence above Thurman power-wise says Danny
“I think it’s his size and strength,” said Danny Garcia on what Spence has going for him.
“I thought Thurman was the better-skilled fighter than both of them. Thurman had better defense and was faster and stronger.
That was easily the hardest fight of the former two-division world champion Danny’s 14-year professional career.
Five months later, Garcia’s nose seems like he’s giving him problems, as he was rubbing it nonstop during an interview this week. Danny looks worn out from the fighter he was before he met up with Spence.
Hopefully, he’s alright and able to make a move up to 154 that he’s expected to take.
Spence isn’t as fast or a power puncher as Thurman, but he’s a lot physically strong.
“He’s three times stronger than Thurman,” said Danny Garcia. “But I feel like all the welterweights are kind of on the same level.
“I have been in there with all of them, and they’re all on the same level, all of them. It’s just who has the better night,” said Danny Garcia.
Spence is definitely stronger than Thurman, and he looks like the much bigger fighter. If Thurman had fought at 140, he’d have had a long run as a world champion.
What has held Thurman back from becoming a star is a lack of interest in staying busy with his career. Like Mikey Garcia, Thurman made some money and has just sat, calling out big names that he has no chance of fighting.
