By Edward Chaykovsky
WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman (27-0, 22KOs) is not planning to back away from his demand for a unification fight with WBC champion Danny Garcia (32-0, 18KOs).
Last Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Thurman retained his title with a 'Fight of The Year' close points verdict over former IBF champion Shawn Porter.
At the post-fight press conference, Thurman called for the fight with Garcia, who has been out of the ring since winning the vacant WBC title in January with a twelve round decision win over Robert Guerrero. The belt became vacant after champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired last September.
Thurman owes a mandatory defense to interim-champion David Avanesyan, but a unification would overrule that obligation.
Garcia has no fight scheduled on the calendar. There were rumors that he would become a comeback opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and that never happened. There have been rumors of a fight with former champion Andre Berto, but nothing has been announced regarding a date, location or the fight actually taking place.
Until Garcia announces his next defense, or the WBA orders the mandatory with Avanesyan, Thurman will continue to issues challenges for that WBC unification clash. Thurman feels strongly that fight with Garcia would greatly benefit the sport and the fans.
"You’re going to have to ask Danny what he wants to do, but I already said that I want to fight Danny Garcia. I want more than one belt, I want to fight undefeated champions. Me and Shawn Porter had a great match up and I believe me and Danny would be another terrific match up for the sport and for my career, and for his career as well. It’s an opportunity to unify two titles, so I just don’t see a reason why not to make a fight. I’m gonna keep asking for it," Thurman told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
