Thurman’s view rests on a basic distinction. He argues that Garcia’s reputation as a puncher was largely built against smaller opponents and that the same effect has not yet appeared once the weight goes up. From Thurman’s perspective, that difference matters. Results against lightweights do not automatically apply against full-sized welterweights.
When asked directly about Garcia being described as a puncher at 147, Thurman dismissed the idea. He pointed out that Garcia has not scored knockouts against opponents he considers true welterweights, keeping the focus on what actually happened rather than what can be carried over from lower divisions.
Thurman also placed the discussion within what he sees as a changing picture at welterweight. He said many recent names at 147 are fighters moving up rather than men who have spent their careers there. According to him, this shift makes it more difficult to credit power claims without clear results against opponents established in the division.
In comparisons, Thurman set a higher standard. When Garcia is mentioned alongside fighters like Jaron Ennis, Thurman’s response focuses on demonstrated effect rather than reputation. He questioned whether Garcia’s hitting power belongs in the same conversation until it shows him against similar opposition.
Thurman did single out Conor Benn as a point of reference when discussing natural welterweights, reinforcing his broader argument that physical strength and impact at 147 cannot be assumed. For Thurman, the issue is not whether Garcia can compete at the weight, but whether his defining attribute has been proven to matter there.
The comments reflect Thurman’s longstanding emphasis on division-specific realities. Power, in his opinion, is not a label that travels on reputation alone. It must be established against opponents who share the same physical base. Until that happens, Thurman is unwilling to treat Garcia as a puncher at welterweight in the same sense as fighters who have built their careers there.
Rather than offering a prediction, Thurman’s position draws a line between possibility and proof. At 147 pounds, he argues, that distinction remains central.
