GAGANTI RAW NI THURMAN SI DL HOYA KAY PACMAN

PLANO ni Keith Thurman na siya na ang magpaparetiro nang ganap kay Manny Pacquiao sa sandali ng kanilang sagupaan sa world welterweight title sa Hulyo 20.

Kung ilalarawan ang kahihinatnan ng kanilang bakbakan sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas, isang matinding banta ang sinabi ng American sa kanyang multi-titled opponent legendary Pinoy fighter. “With all respect (Pacquiao’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,” banta ng 30-anyos na si Thurman. Sumikat si Pacquiao kung paano niya dinemolis si De La Hoya noong Disyembre 2008, ang laban kung saan tinapunan si De La Hoya ng tuwalya sa ibabaw ng ring at umayaw na ito.

Nang ipakilala ng emcee sa press conference promotion ng Pacquiao-Thurman clash si Pacman bilang isang senador, may komento si Thurman tungkol diyan na lumabas sa ABS-CBN online. “I’m happy to be sharing the ring with a legend like Manny Pacquiao, but for those who know boxing times change. I believe boxing has come to a new era. Floyd (Mayweather Jr.) is gone, Pacquiao is here, come July 20th he will disappear, OK?” ani pa ni Thurman. “You announced him as a senator, he belongs as a senator in the Philippines.”

Napagwagian ni Thurman ang lahat ng 29 niyang laban, pero ang laban niya noong Enero — ang majority-decision win kontra Josesito Lopez — ang nagpabakasyon muna sa kanya ng dalawang taon.

Sasampa sa ring si Pacquiao na may markang 61-7-2, win-loss-draw record na tinalo si Adrien Broner sa isang lopsided decision victory noong Enero at ginapi si Lucas Matthysse noong Hulyo 2018. “I’ve been boxing for (3) decades and I’ve never been scared or intimidated with an opponent,” saad ni Pacman. “I’m just excited for this fight. I’m fighting undefeated Keith Thurman. He’s the kind of fighter that you can’t underestimate. (The fact that) He’s undefeated gives me more encouragement, motivation to work hard. I will not predict (an ending to) this fight, but I’ll make sure to be 100% conditioned and ready for the fight. Let’s see who’s tougher in the ring. It’s gonna be exciting.”