by Nick Giongco
LAS VEGAS – For Keith Thurman, his fight with Manny Pacquiao this Saturday is done.
“It’s game over, baby,” shouted Thurman on Tuesday before a huge welcoming crowd at the lobby of the MGM Grand.
Thurman even engaged the audience by coming in wearing a black shirt that had “Game Over” printed on it.
“I ain’t changing my motto. I just showed up and it’s game over (for Pacquiao). Manny Pacquiao will be going to feel it,” added the 30-year-old Florida native as mostly those in attendance jeered him for his outburst.
Thurman, who has a 29-0-0 win-loss-draw card with 22 KOs, insists that he is not fazed by Pacquiao’s glowing reputation, stressing that there’s nothing that he has never felt.
While Thurman acknowledges that Pacquiao has fast and hands and feet, this could be his downfall “because he will be coming in and he will be in the zone where I can hit him.”
Pacquiao, 40, is slightly favored to repulse Thurman according to oddsmakers but Thurman notes that he has the upperhand in almost all major facets of the fight.
“I have the size advantage, reach advantage and the ability not to give a f—k. I am not afraid to let it go.”
“If he gets me down he better get me down for good because I will be coming. If you hit him with eight ounce gloves they doing to dance,” Thurman said, remembering what his former trainer told him many times.
Though Pacquiao is pushing 41, Thurman maintains that he will be facing an A-side Pacquiao since he has been quite active.
“No. 1 thing about Pacquiao is he’s been active. He’s 40 but he is active. I know I am getting the real Manny Pacquiao.”
But unlike Lucas Matthysse of Argentina and Adrien Broner, Thurman warns everyone that he won’t be there for the paycheck.
“Matthysse allowed Pacquiao to do too much. Like Broner, he did Manny Pacquiao to do too much.”
“I just believe that Keith Thurman is a very, very different fighter. I believe I present challenge not to one but to all in the welter division. I know this game.”
Ever the motor mouth, Thurman believes that Pacquiao’s legend will be history come fight night.
“I get a shot to show the world that MP is no-do no more.”
