by Nick Giongco
Keith Thurman wants no less than a knockout against the great Manny Pacquiao on July 20 in Las Vegas.
Sounding supremely confident during a break in training, the unbeaten Thurman told boxingscene that he is going for a “statement” victory in their 12-rounder aimed at unifying the welterweight titles they both have.
“Of course we want to look good defeating Manny Pacquiao. The less credit he gets the more credit I get. The more credit he gets the less credit I get. It’s a real fight. We’re fighting for status. We’re fighting for history. We’re fighting for legacy. We’re fighting for world titles,” said Thurman, 30, 10 years younger than the Filipino star.
Doing just that is plain and simple, insists Thurman.
“So I believe that with my ring knowledge and the way that I’ve boxed throughout the years, I just believe that Manny Pacquiao’s style was never a good style against my style. And I plan on proving that and just going toe to toe and testing him, man to man. I really don’t think that Manny Pacquiao is going to take my talent. I am looking for a KO. We’ll see if he can survive.”
Holed out in sunny St. Petersburg in Florida since May, Thurman warns everyone who is dismissing him that he was just a shell of his normal self the last time he saw action.
“They saw me against Josesito Lopez. I told the world that that’s not the best Keith Thurman that they’re going to see,“ he added.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, has been making heads turn over in Hollywood under Freddie Roach, who came out with a witty note on a whiteboard, telling just how his seasoned fighter will handle an upstart like Thurman.
“Thurman is slower then Heinz ketchup,” wrote Roach. “Manny will beat him 57 ways on July 20th.”
Earlier in the day, Pacquiao received a surprise well-wisher in his Los Angeles mansion.
Mexican legend Erik Morales showed up and had breakfast with Pacquiao, who reminisced the good old days with his bitter rival.
Morales beat Pacquiao the first time they met in March 2005 on points but lost the rematch and the rubber match in 2006, both by stoppage.
