Stanionis is undefeated with a good knock out record but not experienced enough to beat Thurman I thought Thurman was going to fight Claressa in an exhibition match, well this is the fight where Thurman will prove to Claressa that he is a dangerous fighter so she will stop pestering him.
It should be enough because Thurman is a championship-level fighter, while Stanionis is relatively unknown and hasn't had significant fights against well-known opponents. The contrast here is clear, and I personally feel that this fight isn't what I expected. I thought Thurman would have the opportunity to face a more popular fighter.
Stanionis has never fought a fighter as tough as Thurman, so this is his acid test as a champion, checking his fight highlights he is good but he has fought fighters that cannot be considered top rank so this is the fight that will define him if he deserves to a real champion.
I still consider Crawford, Spence, and Ennis as the top names in the welterweight division.
Indeed, Thurman's recent fights haven't been against popular boxers. It seems like a big step down, especially considering that one would expect him to face opponents at the top of the rankings. I was personally hoping to see him fight someone like Spence, but with the rematch activated, or perhaps Ennis.