Veteran trainer and ESPN expert analyst, Teddy Atlas, views WBC/WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs) as the only fighter who could topple IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence (22-0, 19 KOs).
Thurman has been out of the ring since winning a twelve round unanimous decision over Danny Garcia back in March to unify their two welterweight titles. Afterwards, Thurman underwent elbow surgery and he's going to be out of the ring until the final quarter of the year.
Last month, Spence pulled off a career defining victory when he traveled over to Sheffield and stopped Kell Brook in eleven rounds to capture the IBF title before a crowd of 27,000 fans at Bramall Lane.
After his big win, Spence immediately called for a showdown with Thurman.
The two champions are both managed by Al Haymon, both fight under the Premier Boxing Champions banner, and both showcase their talents on Showtime.
If they both continue to win, a showdown between the two is inevitable. Spence is likely going to make his first defense on a date in September or October, in his hometown of Dallas, Texas.
"I love Spence. I think he's the full package. The only guy I can see who could possibly beat him in the welterweight division is Keith Thurman," Atlas told Dontae Williams.
"The only guy I would say who could beat him at 147 pounds is Thurman, because he is what I said he was three years ago - the most athletic and the smartest fighter in the division. And to be a champion, to be a great fighter, you have to be smart. Thurman is very cerebral in the ring, and I think he really found himself in the [Shawn] Porter fight."
"I think he found that he's also that fighter who is that pitbull dog when he has to be. A lot of people didn't know if he had that dog in him before the Porter fight. In that fight, he showed the world and he showed himself. So that would be the fight at welterweight - Errol Spence Jr. vs. Keith Thurman. To me, that's the most interesting fight."