by Nick Giongco
LAS VEGAS – Committing boxing’s biggest mistake – fighting with overconfidence – is one thing Manny Pacquiao said he is not going to do as he approaches the July 20 showdown with undefeated American puncher Keith Thurman.
In a Q&A with scribes on Tuesday at the VIP Lounge of the MGM Grand, site of Saturday night’s title clash, Pacquiao reveals that there was just one fight of Thurman that he saw on video.
Pacquiao, 40, didn’t even bother to finish the entire fight with Danny Garcia of Puerto Rico, adding that he opted not to see Thurman’s other select bouts.
The one with former sparring partner Shawn Porter?
No.
How about the fight with Josesito Lopez wherein he almost got stopped? Pacquiao shook his head anew.
The one who threw the question looked puzzled.
“I might end up underestimating him (Thurman),” Pacquiao, an eight-division champion, told the confused fellow.
Thurman was in deep trouble in the seventh round against Lopez in
their bout last January and looked to be a punch or two away from being knocked out.
But Pacquiao, a veteran of 70 fights and a professional since 1995, knows the dangers of how too much confidence can lead to.
“I might get careless,” he said.
