Keith Thurman unified the WBA and WBC welterweight belts with a split-decision win over Danny Garcia.
Fight fans have had a few inconsistent years but finally it’s all coming together. 2017 has had a huge first quarter and this weekend exemplifies that. This Sunday at 1pm AEDT join The Roar for live round by round coverage of the undefeated welterweight clash between Keith “One Time” Thurman and Danny “Swift” Garcia.
Manny Pacquiao may still be active, but he is essentially on the farewell tour circuit. The winner of Thurman versus Garcia will take the crown as the man to beat at 147.
Garcia established himself in lower divisions and has recently stepped up in weight. His resume may have impressive names on it, but they weren’t natural welterweights. Danny’s is always a threat with heavy hands and impeccable timing but he is coming into the fight as the underdog.
Thurman is a fighter who has largely been avoided for most of his career due to his potential. As a result his biggest win is Shawn Porter. Although his resume isn’t as impressive as Garcia’s, his performances and abilities still out him in favour with the bookies.
A naturally bigger man who can move and box from the outside is a fight made to frustrate Garcia.
Unfortunately for Thurman, Garcia has made a habit of winning fights the bookies think he shouldn’t.
This is without a doubt the hardest fight to pick who will come out on top. Ultimately Thurman has never faced someone like Garcia and regardless of how fast or strong you are, it’s hard to win when you get timed – just ask Amir Khan.
In the end this should be a great fight for boxing fans and an entertaining card all around with Erickson Lubin fighting Jorge Cota and Emmanuel Rodriguez fighting Omar Andres Narvaez in the prelims.
This Sunday at 1pm AEDT join The Roar for live round by round coverage of the undefeated welterweight clash between Keith “One Time” Thurman and Danny “Swift” Garcia.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Thurman said he thought he won it wider than the score cards and announced "one time became two times". Danny thanks his dad, team, god and Al Haymon. Said he thought he was the aggressor and set the pace but "it is what it is".
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
The official ruling is a SD for Keith Thurman!
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
The fight is done and the judges cards are being collected. The crowd was pro-Garcia, the commentators pro-thurman, I scored it a draw. This could go either way.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Last ten seconds, Thurman plants and leads with a back uppercut that doesn't score, Danny replies with 3. They settle in and throw 4 more each. 3 land for Danny, 2 for Thurman. Bell rings. Garcia round
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Garcia forces Thurman into the ropes and throws four body punches
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Thurman is just peddling the outside looking to avoid any confrontation. Danny Jabs in, moves at an angle and takes a body shot to land one on the should and two body shots
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Round 12! Thurman does the same, circling and jabbing without landing. Garcia is looking to plant and land. He moves forward and hits the gloves 4 times. Thurman double jabs the gloves and moves around.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Thurman lands a left to the body and so does Danny in return. Thurman keeps circling and peddling but isn't doing anything with it. Garcia moves forward to try and capitalize on Thurmans lack of activity, he backs him into the corner and only finds the body once. Round ends Garcia
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Thurman out-throwing Garcia in this round about 6-1 but only one body shot has landed.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Round 11 begins Thurman circles with a machine-gun jab but it's all on the gloves
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Garcia lands the best of 3 combos against thurman but then Thurmans lands a big left in the dying seconds. Garcia lands the left to the body on the bell. Garcia round
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Garcia lands a right hand and steps back, then lands the right to the body and steps back, and does it one more time. Thurman comes forward and hits gloves. Garcia steps in to land a left and also reciev a left before moving out
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Thurman circling on the outside and throws a double that lands, danny steps through and lands one. The crowd is chanting for Danny now and Danny calls Thurman to come forward.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Round 10 begins.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Thurman lands one body shot but Garcia returns with two Thurman comes in to engage and swings wildly, Garcia does the same and lands 2 or 3 more The bell rings as they exchange and garcia tries to pull out of a punch too late. No penalty though. Thurman round
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
The crowd is booing from the lack of action from Thurman Garcia keeps pushing forward and lands the odd punch. Danny catches Thurman coming in and gets a jab to the head witha right hook to the body.
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Garcia lands a right to the body of Thurman, directs him to the corner and tries to land a 2 punch body combo but it wasn't effective. Thurman lands a jab
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Round 9 begins!
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Garcia is blocking almost everythiing Thurman throws, he's done his research. Danny didn't land anything but a right in the last seconds of the round. Thurman Round
Graeme Cross
Roar Guru
Thurman lands a right but misses a left. Garcia replies with a rright and then receives a soft left.