By Keith Idec

If Danny Garcia wins his next bout, presumably against John Molina Jr., multiple sources have confirmed that the undefeated WBC world welterweight champion likely would face Keith Thurman in his following fight.

In this scenario, Thurman, the WBA world welterweight champion, would not be expected to fight again before boxing Garcia sometime within the first third of 2017.

The 28-year-old Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs) has been criticized at times since defeating favored Argentine knockout artist Lucas Matthysse (37-4, 34 KOs, 1 NC) in September 2013 for facing a lower level of opposition. He hasn’t fought in the 8½ months since he beat Robert Guerrero by unanimous decision January 23 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Garcia, a former WBA and WBC 140-pound champion, is expected to meet Molina on an undetermined date later this year in the first defense of the vacant WBC championship he won by beating Guerrero (33-5-1, 18 KOs, 2 NC). It also is possible that if Garcia-Molina doesn’t occur sometime in November or December, Garcia could fight Thurman in his next fight in January or February.

Garcia was long rumored to make his first title defense against Andre Berto (31-4, 24 KOs), first on September 24 and later on October 15. Berto said earlier this week, however, that Garcia is “ducking” the former WBC welterweight champ because Garcia has passed on their proposed fight.

The 33-year-old Molina (29-6, 23 KOs), of Covina, California, upset Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov (25-5, 18 KOs) by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder June 11 in Verona, New York. His fight against Garcia would mark Molina’s debut at 147 pounds, though.

Al Haymon, the powerful adviser who works with Garcia and Thurman, would like to match them against one another in a fan-friendly welterweight title unification fight that would be broadcast on free TV. A Premier Boxing Champions main event between Garcia and Thurman would be among boxing’s most highly anticipated fights of next year.

The 27-year-old Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs), of Clearwater, Florida, defeated Shawn Porter (26-2-1, 16 KOs), of Akron, Ohio, by unanimous decision June 25 in Brooklyn. Their highly entertaining, 12-round battle earned immediate consideration for 2016 “Fight of the Year.”

In the immediate aftermath of that grueling fight, Thurman called out Garcia by stating that media members should, “Ask his daddy,” if Garcia would fight him. Thurman referred to Garcia’s polarizing father/trainer, Angel Garcia, infamous for talking trash to his son’s opponents and potential opponents.

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.