KEITH THURMAN has given Errol Spence Jr the edge against Danny Garcia – and says ‘the time is now’ to face the Texan afterwards.
Spence defends his unified welterweight titles against former champion Garcia this weekend, his first fight since surviving a horror car crash.
But Thurman, 32, has backed his rival to shake off any ring rust to retain his belt and will be ready waiting to finally settle their score afterwards.
He told SunSport: “I definitely give Errol the edge, I think he has the better boxing pedigree, being a former Olympian.
“I do think it’s time to see out The Truth. If he gets past this fight I would love to be in the ring with Errol.
“I think it’s a fight fans have been wanting to see for years, and I think the time is now as long as he stays at 147.
“He’s fighting all my competition. He’s fighting Danny – I beat Danny – he fought Shawn Porter – I already beat Shawn Porter.
“A lot of injuries have gone by but that’s done. I’m ready. You want it, let’s get it.”
Spence, 30, added the WBC strap to his IBF crown last September by beating Porter, 33, after a thrilling 12 rounds.
But a month later he somehow escaped death in a high-speed collision, with dramatic footage revealing his Ferrari flipping over.
It backdated his fight with 32-year-old Garcia – scheduled for January this year – with the pair now set to headline almost 12 months on.
The winner will go into 2021 as the dominant force in the welterweight division, where Thurman is plotting his the chance to reclaim the throne.
He has been out of action since losing to Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, 41, last July, where he surrendered his unbeaten record and WBA title.
Thurman has sat on the sidelines since, recovering from a surgery on his left hand.
And despite the huge welterweight unification ahead of him, the American refuses to feel out in the cold.
Instead, he will mark a comeback of his own as he plans to return where he left off – at the top of the division.
Thurman said: “There’s nothing to really get frustrated about, but it’s given me more time to focus and analyse how I want to get back into the sport.
“That’s all I’ve been doing, focusing on my own health and wellbeing, my weight management and I’m just waiting for whatever comes next year.
“We’ll have to see what contract ends up coming my way.
“What kind of opponent comes my way or if I’m a challenger to an opponent, whatever it is.
“Right now, we’re playing it by ear but it will definitely be next quarter.
“We’re not ready to take a date in January, but anything after that I’ll be ready for.
“I’m ready for everybody, man. I just want to fight.”
