There is just one week left
before Senator Manny Pacquiao once again climbs into the boxing ring for his
latest fight as the People’s Champ of the Filipino people, and the stakes
perhaps have never been higher. His American opponent, Keith Thurman has one specific
goal in mind. While past Pacquiao opponents have generally talked of beating
the one-time Eight-Division World Boxing Champion decisively, Thurman has
emphasized his goal of permanently retiring the Pambansang Kamao from the sport
he intends to give his whole lifetime. Manny has let his foe talk his talk as
he prepares for Saturday night/Sunday morning, when the two will clash for
Thurman’s title in Vegas.
Inquirer.net reports that Manny Pacquiao is already raring to go
against Keith Thurman for the latter’s WBA (Super) Welterweight title on the
so-billed “Welterweight Supremacy” fight card. The fighting Senator was back in
California’s Wild Card Gym for more training this past Saturday, July 13, but
by this point he feels he is sufficiently motivated to take on the
trash-talking American already. For his weekend training routine the Filipino
Pride engaged in two three-round sparring matches with A.B. Lopez and Jessie
Roman, and then hit the mitts for six rounds.
While supremely confident, Manny
is also well aware of his opponent’s fight record. Thurman is undefeated at 29
fights, 22 won by way of knockout. It is these stats that he has been counting
on to prove his word of being able to retire Pacquiao, to the point that he had
bet $10,000 on himself to win in that manner. Boxing analysts however are not
too sure of his KO chances according to ABS-CBN
News. Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan notes that despite Thurman’s
stoppage figure, five of his six most recent bouts went the distance, with all
his impressive KO’s being from his earlier days.
Commentator Ed Tolentino adds
that Keith Thurman runs the risk of falling for a psychological effect of Manny
Pacquiao’s fighting style, where the Pac-Man could start the match as an active
aggressor, irritating the American into forgoing any tactical boxing and
instead trade punches with him. Tolentino observes that should Thurman be
goaded into a straight brawl then Pacquiao will dominate him just as he did
Adrien Broner just this January at the MGM Grand, which led to a unanimous decision
victory. That is the same venue as the match with Thurman, something he will need
to take mind of.
The Pacquiao vs. Thurman fight “Welterweight
Supremacy” for the WBA Super Welterweight championship will be fought on the
evening of July 20 at the MGM Grand in the US, which will be Sunday morning, or
July 21 for Philippine audiences.
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