The experts weigh in on Thurman-Chaves ‘war’
Keith Idec, The Record/BoxingScene.com
Keith Thurman KO 10 Diego Chaves: Keith Thurman, who has faced stiffer opposition than Diego Chaves, will wear down his heavy-handed opponent and stop him late.
Record: 5-2 [Golovkin TKO 8 Macklin]
Keith Thurman TKO 10 Diego Chaves: Diego Chaves may be one of the better unknown commodities to fight on a major card in recent years in the United States, but Keith Thurman is one of the best young talents in American boxing.
Thurman will face his first serious test, but will eventually take Chaves out late in the fight in an action-packed bout.
Chaves will bring the fight, and Thurman’s superior technical skills will be the difference. We might see Thurman’s chin tested for the first time, as well as his power verified. Thurman TKO 10.
Record: 4-0 [Golovkin TKO 10 Macklin]
Matt Richardson, Fightnews.com
Keith Thurman KO Diego Chaves: While I’m not completely sold on Keith Thurman — he beats the guys he’s supposed to beat the way he’s supposed to beat them — I’m less sold on Diego Chaves.
After all, Chaves is the same guy who fought a 12-11 fighter in his very last fight. Yes, he seems to punch hard, but so does Thurman. Barring any surprises chin-wise for Thurman, I like him to win this fight, probably by a late stoppage.
Record: 8-5 [Golovkin KO Macklin]
Keith Thurman KO 9 Diego Chaves: Keith Thurman’s speed gap over Diego Chaves should be telling in an occasionally exciting fight.
Record: 8-5 [Golovkin KO Macklin]
Michael Rosenthal, THE RING Magazine
Keith Thurman KO 9 Diego Chaves: The fighters are 42-0, with 36 knockouts. Someone is likely to get knocked out.
I believe that will be Diego Chaves, although I acknowledge he’s a question mark because he has fought almost exclusively in his native Argentina.
Keith Thurman has gradually faced tougher opposition and is passing his tests. Thurman by ninth-round KO.
Record: 8-5 [Golovkin KO 7 Macklin]
Joseph Santoliquito/THE RING Magazine/RingTV.com/CBS Sports
Keith Thurman W 12 Diego Chaves: I like Keith Thurman by decision over Diego Chaves. This should be an exciting fight. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a few knockdowns.
Record:10-3 [Golovkin KO 7 Macklin]
John Scully, former trainer of RING and WBC lightheavyweight champion Chad Dawson
Keith Thurman UD 12 Diego Chaves: I’m suspecting Keith Thurman will try very hard for the KO against Diego Chaves, but won’t get it. He will get a unanimous decision win, though.
Record: 10-3 [Golovkin KO Macklin]
Keith Thurman KO4 Diego Chaves: Diego Chaves leaves Argentina for only the second time in his career as he takes on power-punching Keith Thurman in a fight that should be fun while it lasts.
Both fighters have very high knockout percentages, but are either of them for real? While Thurman’s competition has been slightly better, neither fighter has really stepped up. I think we will learn that Thurman’s punching power is legit, but also, that he can box a little too.
Chaves has a seek-and-destroy style that has kept him unbeaten, but he will be attempting to compete at an entirely different level. Golden Boy has selected Chaves for a reason, and I think Thurman blasts him out and looks good doing it.
Record: 3-0 [Golovkin TKO 10 Macklin]
Keith Thurman TKO 7 Diego Chaves: Diego Chaves, yet another hard-hitting Argentine, is undefeated with a high KO percentage.
Chaves will be Keith Thurman’s toughest fight to date. Thurman says he’ll be throwing bombs all night. I believe him. Thurman by seventh-round TKO.
Record: 7-5 [Golovkin KO 7 Macklin]
Keith Thurman KO 8 Diego Chaves: A very intriguing looking match up of two punchers. Keith Thurman is 20-0 18 KO’s with 1 No decision, while Diego Chaves is 22-0 with 18 stoppages. Interestingly both have gone the twelve round distance before.
This has the looks of a shoot out, however I think early on both will be cagey, looking for opening’s before seeing what the other has to offer. I believe that by the mid rounds things will start opening up and slightly lean towards Thurman.
I think his win last time out over durable former champion Jan Zaveck will have brought him on while Chaves has been inactive for 10 months which may hurt him. I go with Thurman to get the stoppage in around eight.
Record: 2-1 [Golovkin KO 9 Macklin]
By a whopping 15-0, shutout, the experts see Keith Thurman perhaps scoring his 10th knockout in his past 11 fights against welterweight rival Diego Chaves.
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Photo by Pat Lovell, Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions
Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]