Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia title fight signed for March, but Garcia has tune-up first on Nov. 12

It was announced Wednesday that welterweight titleholders Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia will meet in the first quarter of 2017, and that in preparation, Garcia is set to fight a tune-up on Nov. 12.

The stay-busy bout will headline a PBC on Spike card from Garcia's hometown of Philadelphia. The opponent: Samuel Vargas, a no-hoper who was knocked out by Errol Spence last year.

It's disappointing that Garcia is feasting on another unworthy challenger, and this fight won't be contested for his WBC 147-pound title. Garcia is one of the sport's best fighters and has proven his status with victories over Lucas Matthysse and Amir Khan.

Since then, the only elite fighter he faced was Lamont Peterson, whom Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs) faced via disputed draw last year.

However, it's not uncommon for boxers to take tune-ups before big fights, and make no mistake, Thurman-Garcia is a truly great fight the public will be salivating for.

PBC spokesperson Tim Smith told Paste BN Sports the Thurman-Garcia unification bout is signed for a date in March. The fight could represent the biggest bout on the PBC series to date.

"He wants to be sharp when he gets in the ring with Keith Thurman early next year," Smith said. "He wants to be at 100%. He wants to be at his physical and mental peak. And trust me, this fight between Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman will be for supremacy of the welterweight division."

"We've seen this year two guys that are going to be fighting soon, they've taken an entire 2016 to prepare for their big match later this year."

Smith didn't specify, but is clearly referring to the Nov. 19 fight between light heavyweights Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev on HBO pay per view. The marquee fight has been marketed since 2015. Each man has taken what amounts to two tune-up bouts this year to build interest for the marquee bout.

Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs) is rated No. 2 by Boxing Junkie at welterweight. His last fight came in June when he outpointed Shawn Porter in a slugfest. It's unclear if Thurman will take a stay-busy fight as well, but he's expected to take the rest of 2016 off as he recovers.

Garcia hasn't fought since a January decision win over Robert Guerrero.

(Photo of Garcia by Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)