His fight with shawn porter is coming up in a month, so I'm wondering what's his strengths and weaknesses? Anyone know?
Although he came up mostly known as a banger, he's got pretty good boxing skills and ring IQ. His weakness right now I would say is that his chin is suspicious. Exciting fighter and I'm looking forward to this fight.
I don't think he paces himself well... not too bad. He might have a soft body but the sample size isn't large enough to determine. I know he leaves his chin out. I'm iffy on this because I feel like it's been forever since I last saw him fight.
For one, he does need a stylist. His photo shoot at the Barclay's was awful. Hilarious shoes and that hair.
Strengths are he's a good boxer, throws good body shots and has a good jab. Weaknesses are he folds after a good body shot and that he can't fight inside.
Thurman is a explosive offensive fighter with heavy hands in both fists. His greatest strength is coming forward behind a flurry of fast punches (in this regard he has some similar traits to the "power boxing" of 147 pound version of Shane Mosely but not as much offensive depth and the awkward fast full power flurries of a Jean Pascal). He has light feet and will bounce forward with small hop steps and he likes to really load up, throwing from the hip with full commitment behind his punches. His punches do have a slight roundness to them but they are real bombs and very quick and very hard so even a missed punch will still have the power to push an opponent back. He has good timing and even though he looks wild he fights with full belief in his power. His offense is varied and he throws a good assortment of heavy left hooks, long right hook from the outside (an unusual punch) and uppercuts. His jab is more of a measure of range, yet still effective and sets up those flurries.Thurman can be countered inside those round punches but it will take someone with a hard chin and willingness to absorb the power and then push him back. Danny Garcia has the chin and countering ability but I don't think he has the work rate. Thurman's defense seems to be mostly reflexive upper torso movement, not much traditional parry or a high guard. Thurman doesn't return his punches to his face, his fists go back to the chest region. These small weaknesses could come to light over a long tough fight and hopefully we'll find out as he steps up. We haven't seen to much inside fighting from him, this might be because of his power as opponents are weary or just that the competition hasn't been at the highest level yet. Vs Soto Karass Thurman (a tough grinder) he showed some wicked round hooks on the inside but the idea that he can be countered is still there. Thurman's footwork (the light 1-2 forward-backward) bounce, is a tell, a skilled boxer could stop that forward movement with a strong and movement jab. Quintana is slick southpaw who could implement such a game plan but Thurman smashed him with long round body punches. Quintana never could open up which suggests that Thurman's power is real. At the moment Thurman's offense is dominating ALL the time and we haven't seen him put on the back foot for long periods of time nor have a stylist stifle his offense with a crisp jab. He is fun to watch and talented for sure but he is still 2-3 fights away against the A level competition from being declared "the man".
Name me a fighter who doesnt have a question about their chin. I think his weakness is not knowing if he wants to be a puncher or a boxer. If he ever finds that perfect in between and becomes a boxer/puncher in the truest sense he could be absolutely special. Id like to see him work with Freddie whom i think would be a perfect trainer to bring out his best.
Glass body Lack of self confidence Can't fight on the inside - This is a position that rarely occurs against Porter though anyway...they both like to fight on the outside with the main aggression in terms on positioning being them classic Porter bum rushes which half the time end up in a clinch.
