by David P. Greisman

Barry Hunter doesn’t have a pick for the March 4 unification bout between welterweight titleholders Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman. That’s because it depends.

“If it’s a boxing match, I think Thurman. If it’s a dogfight, then I think it’s for Danny,” said Hunter, who trains Lamont Peterson and Rau’shee Warren, among others. “Danny is a better fighter as far as going toe-to-toe. Thurman, people don’t give him enough credit for his boxing ability. I think he is a better boxer than an inside fighter. Both of those guys have amateur pedigrees. Danny can box also. But I just think he’s a stronger fighter than he is a boxer.”

Peterson came up just short against Garcia in early 2015, giving up early rounds on the scorecards while spending more time moving instead of throwing, but taking over in the later rounds as he landed after putting Garcia along on the ropes.

Garcia is a strong counterpuncher. Thurman has shown some boxing skills, though he also was able to handle rougher fights with the likes of Diego Chaves and Jesus Soto Karass in 2013 and Shawn Porter last year.

Peterson, meanwhile, fights on Feb. 18 against David Avanesyan, with the hope of a victory propelling him among the top names at 147 — a list that will include the winner of Garcia-Thurman.

Pick up a copy of David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsamazon or internationally at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsworldwide. Send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com