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Home » Exclusive: Thurman wants Garcia, doubts Brook credentials, says Mayweather should stay retired

Exclusive: Thurman wants Garcia, doubts Brook credentials, says Mayweather should stay retired

Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs), 27, of Clearwater, Florida, is currently preparing to make the third defence of his title against former IBF champion Shawn Porter – who has recorded back-to-back victories since losing his belt to Britain’s Kell Brook in August 2014. The headlining fight will take place at the Barclays Center in New York on June 25.

Without overlooking Porter – who will be Thurman’s biggest career test to date – ‘One Time’ is confident of getting the win and setting him on his way to becoming the best 147lb fighter in the world.

“Training and camp are going great and I am feeling very good. My injuries have recovered and I am now just looking forward to getting back in the ring. This is a great opportunity for me to showcase my skills and prove that I am the best in the division,” Thurman exclusively told World Boxing News.

“If I knock out Porter I will be the number one at the weight, but to assure that position I need to unify the division. We are in a great period and there are some great fights to be made. I want to face any of titlists and pick up another belt.

“I would love the Danny Garcia fight and I want that WBC belt. I am not a fan of Garcia being at 147lb and he picks his fights – facing someone decent once every three fights. He would have trouble with a lot of the top welters including me, Porter and Kell Brook. The division has three undefeated champions and it is time they faced off,” he added.

While Garcia (32-0, 18 KO) holds the WBC, the other undefeated champion is the IBF-holder Brook (36-0, 25 KO). Although Brook has a great-looking record, Thurman still questions the credibility of it.

He said: “Brook definitely has great potential and he did well to get himself a world title. His record is good but it does not have great credentials. We don’t really like that over here in the USA, someone with his type of record who has only thought one or two top ten guys.”

On the topic of undefeated welterweights, Thurman also had a word to say on recently retired Floyd Mayweather who is rumoured to be making a return to the ring to face UFC star Conor McGregor – supposedly earning himself a record nine-figure payday in the process.

“I am not interested in what Mayweather is doing. He is retired and should stay like that – he just wants to make more money. He can’t fight for five more years so what is the point of coming back for one fight – the dude is done!”