What do staff writers from The Boxing Tribune think about this Saturday’s Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia welterweight showdown on CBS? Take a look:
Ted Sares
Amy Green
Based on previous performances, and level of competition, I’m choosing Keith Thurman, but he will have to be 100%, and not let Garcia gain any ground. Thurman will need to smartly avoid Garcia’s dangerous hook, impose his size and strength, and disrupt any offense he attempts with a good jab and wise choice of movement. Box smart, pick the big shots carefully, make them count and don’t leave himself open for surprises. Keith Thurman is powerful enough to KO Garcia and wily enough to outbox him.
Caryn A. Tate
The bottom line for me is that Danny Garcia is a very good counter-puncher, but is clearly uncomfortable when he has to be the aggressor; if Keith Thurman sticks and moves the way I expect him to, Garcia may be forced into that aggressor role. Perhaps Garcia’s biggest issue is his relatively slow and simple footwork, which was put on display during his bout against the agile Lamont Peterson (which I had Peterson clearly winning). When in with a good mover like Peterson, Garcia typically follows his opponent around the ring ineffectively. To my mind, Garcia’s greatest strength is his excellent timing, so it’s entirely possible he catches Keith with a few nice shots. Nonetheless, I suspect Thurman and his team have worked on coercing Danny into being the aggressor, and frustrating him with superior footwork and powerful combinations. I’ll go with Thurman by decision, maybe even split decision (due to judges’ sometimes perplexing favoritism of Garcia).
Paul Magno
If Thurman approaches this fight like he did in his bout with Shawn Porter– coming in with guns ablazin’ and consistent pressure– Garcia won’t have a chance to get set and fight at his comfort level. Garcia needs time and space to be at his best and my hunch is that Thurman and his people know this and will aim to exploit that fact. Garcia is the better all-around boxer in this contest, but Thurman has the perfect style and set of abilities to offset that technical edge with some good, old fashioned raw, awkward aggression. My call is a close split decision in Thurman’s favor, unless Thurman makes the mistake of trying to play the boxer in this bout and allows Garcia to breathe, think, and execute. If that happens, expect Garcia to stop Thurman in the mid-to-late rounds.
Jesse Ian Lardies
Aside from a couple of suspicious decisions (and a few Rod Salkas), Danny Garcia has an impressive resume. The Philly fighter has defeated some legitimate world-class pugs and on Saturday Night his accuracy, power and quite excellent timing will be highlighted. Keith Thurman will struggle to land his meaningful power punches – and there will be moments where he hurts Garcia – however, the gulf of experience and boxing fundamentals between “Swift” and “One Time” might be a bridge too far to cross for the Floridian. This is an intensely interesting welterweight clash that will likely elevate the statuses of both of these champions (and there will be a rematch) regardless of the outcome. Danny “Swift” Garcia and his 11 toes by SD
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