Is Keith Thurman on Upset Alert Tomorrow Night?

There's definitely questions to be asked about how fit Thurman is but I think the level of mismatch here is so pronounced that I wouldn't read too much into it. He's fighting a guy moving up who was just knocked out by a guy who was himself moving up. Shades of Danny Garcia vs Rod Salka if anyone remembers that. The thing is, anything other than a quick knockout for Thurman is basically an L for him and even if he gets it he's not really proving anything.

Seems a 50-50 to me. Sure, 3rd person Thurman of 6 or so years ago wins this, but this Thurman, who fights once every 2 years and looked like crap against Lopez, and lost to Senator Pacquiao, is no sure-thing to win here. Barrios lost to Mr. Tank, but he didn't disgrace himself, in fact, Floyd Exhibitionweather had Mr. Tank down. Nash out.

I don't think so.

While Barrios I think Barrios will provide opportunities for Thurman to land something, I'm not entirely sure Keith will be able to consistently find those openings and pull the trigger to take advantage. One guy is coming up in weight, coming off a stoppage and hasn't ever really shown to be more than above average. The other guy is coming off a long layover, battled injuries and hasn't looked impressive in his recent bouts. It's hard to say which fighters' red flags will be more prevalent come fight night. Right? Barrios looks to be a good fighter but that's all he is. Doesn't seem to have the extra gear to be elite in any weight class. Thurman WAS elite and is the bigger puncher, stronger fighter, a natural WW with better skills....BUT, we have no idea what type of fighter he is at the moment. I think this fight can provide some really entertaining moments and someone is likely to be stopped. If Thurman can blast Barrios out of there early, then he needs to jump right back in the ring with a top WW later this year. Enough with his long layoffs.

While Barrios I think Barrios will provide opportunities for Thurman to land something, I'm not entirely sure Keith will be able to consistently find those openings and pull the trigger to take advantage. One guy is coming up in weight, coming off a stoppage and hasn't ever really shown to be more than above average. The other guy is coming off a long layover, battled injuries and hasn't looked impressive in his recent bouts. It's hard to say which fighters' red flags will be more prevalent come fight night.

The fight definitely has that feeling. I wouldn’t be surprised at all I would be feeling better about the upset had Barrios not gotten stopped by Davis in his last fight. But honestly it's not like he took a beating. Virgil Hunter will come up with a good game plan but if Barrios can not take Thurman's shots, especially early on, then none of that will matter.

The fight definitely has that feeling. I wouldn’t be surprised at all

If Thurman's hands are really healed, and his timing is at least 70% of what it was, I could even see a KO win for Once Upon A Time within a few rounds. But if Thurman's version is around the lines of what we saw vs Josesito Lopez, an upset is absolutely possible. Yep, he really may end up getting to Barrios in the first four or so rounds and hurting him and possibly stopping him. But if he can't? Then what? Thurman relied on his athleticism in the past and clearly it has to have slipped a little...Then will he still have the same punch resistance? Will he be able to take it to the body? Will Barrios actually invest to the body?

If Thurman's hands are really healed, and his timing is at least 70% of what it was, I could even see a KO win for Once Upon A Time within a few rounds. But if Thurman's version is around the lines of what we saw vs Josesito Lopez, an upset is absolutely possible.