CALIFORNIA – Masyado umanong “maliit, mabagal at predictable” ang ilan sa mga paglalarawan ni WBC welterweight title holder na si Keith Thurman kay Manny Pacquiao.
“I believe that boxing has come to a new era. Floyd [Mayweather] is gone, Pacquiao is here. Come July 20th, he will disappear. They announced him as a senator, he belongs as a senator in the Philippines. With all respect, he’s a legend, he’ll always be remembered in the sport, but I’m doing to Manny Pacquiao what he did to Oscar de la Hoya,†wika pa ni Thurman sa mga reporters.
Sinagot naman ni Pacman ang pahayag ni Thurman at sinabi na hindi pa siya kilala ni Thurman.
“He was kind of slow and I think he underestimated his opponent,†sagot ni Pacquiao nang matanong ng Boxingscene hinggil sa sinabi ni Thurman (29-0, 22 knockouts).
Ayon kay Pacquiao napanood na niya ang huling laban ni Thurman at pinag-eensayo pa niya itong mabuti at paghandaan pa lalo ng dapat nasa 100 porsiyento ito sa laban para manalo.
Kasabay nito pinayuhan na lamang ng fighting senator si Thurman.
“I expect him to be 100 percent. He will work hard and prepare well for this fight. I don’t want to underestimate Keith,” ani ng pambansang kamao na amy 61-7-2, 39 KOs record.
Matatandaang huling lumaban si Pacman kay Adrien Broner at gaya ni Thurman minaliit din nito si Pacman bago ang laban subalit nabigo namang talunin ng matapos ang bakbakan sa ring.
Nakatakdang makipagsagupaan ang Pinoy ring icon sa Nevada MGM Grand sa Las Vegas sa July 20, 2019.
