By Ryan Burton

Many fans and insiders feels that the winner of the upcoming Keith Thurman (26-0) versus Shawn Porter (26-1) showdown will be the best welterweight in the world.  Logic suggests that both combatants would also agree with that theory and would want to be able to stake claim to mantle (in the welterweight division at least) that Floyd Mayweather left open with his retirement.

So far the best victories on Thurman's resume are Robert Guerrero and Diego Chaves and the Florida native feels that beating Porter isn't enough for him to gain supremacy in the talent laden welterweight division.

"No I don't agree with that opinion. To really be the best welterweight in the world it takes more than one fight. The real reason why you are not going to have the best welterweight in the world is because the pound for pound best - Floyd Mayweather - just left the sport. I have been telling people that after this fight, if I win the fight, Keith 'One' Time Thurman then becomes arguably the best welterweight in the world," Thurman told BoxingScene.com.

"It becomes an argument. I am happy to be at the top. I am happy for people to be throwing my name out there like that and for me to be classified as the top dog but I believe the top dog is going to have to hold down the welterweight division for a little bit longer and it is very difficult, you are going to have a large debate because we have 4 world titles in the welterweight division and we have 3 world champions who are undefeated and that is what is going to make it very controversial on who is the #1 welterweight at this time. If Shawn was to win, you could argue that he is elite but he was already beat by Kell Brook so you can not argue that he is the best."

Thurman believes that a victory over Porter gets him half way towards his goal of becoming the best welterweight.  He feels that he would need one more victory over an upper level fighter in the division to stake his claim as the best of the best.

"That is how I think. That is how I look at this fight. Winning brings me one step closer to being the best welterweight but I just feel like we got to get rid of one of these undefeated champions whether it be Kell Brook or Danny Garcia before you can really start talking about who is the best at 147. There are just too many champions right now and definitely too many undefeated records at 147," said Thurman.

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