Former welterweight titleholder Keith “One Time” Thurman will be one of many interested observers for tonight’s Errol Spence Jr vs Danny Garcia fight, and gave his thoughts on the matchup, as well as saying — obviously — that he wants the winner in 2021.
“(Garcia’s) the biggest puncher I’ve faced. But if Spence has that ‘Man-Down philosophy,’ he gonna get you outta there,” Thurman wrote on Instagram. “I think it comes down to who lands the biggest punch first, and how Spence looks after the accident.
“I’ll be watching with great interest on PPV as I want the winner in 2021 and the opportunity to remind the world why Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman is still the top welterweight!”
The 32-year-old Thurman (29-1, 22 KO) is sitting out 2020, and hasn’t fought since his July 2019 loss to Manny Pacquiao. The Floridian has dealt with a series of injuries that also saw him miss time between his Mar. 2017 win over Danny Garcia and his Jan. 2019 return win over Josesito Lopez, which was a fight where he struggled more than anyone anticipated he would. There is some reason, probably, to question if injuries have possibly robbed Thurman of a few of his prime years.
But until we have some proof of that, or some proof that maybe he’s gotten healthy enough to recapture some of his best days, he remains a top contender at 147 pounds, and a top name.
That said, Spence has said repeatedly he has no interest in fighting Thurman. That could change, of course; the bad blood between them is a good way to sell a fight, after all. But first we’ve got to see what happens tonight between Spence and Garcia.