KEITH, SARILI IPINUSTA PACMAN, KO SA 1ST RND

MUKHANG malaking pera ang binunot sa bangko ni Keith Thurman upang ipusta lamang ang sarili sa MGM Grand’s sports book laban kay Manny Pacquiao sa bakbakan nila sa Linggo.

Maghihintay na muna ang unbeaten WBA welterweight champion hanggang sa ang tayaan sa laban nila ni Pacquiao ay pumabor sa kanya. Bahagyang paborito si Thurman nang unang ianunsiyo ang kanilang laban, pero si Pacman ang naging paborito kahapon sa MGM Grand (-155/+135).

Subalit, nabanggit ng hambog na si Thurman na hindi siya pumusta sa sarili para talunin ang Pinoy legend sa bisa ng unanimous decision sa kanilang PPV main event sa Linggo. Mas pupusta raw siya sa sarili dahil magwawagi siya ng knockout kung hindi sa unang round, sa 2nd o sa 7th round.

Ang taya niya sa bisa ng panalong knockout sa una o 2nd round ay 60-1. Ang panalo ni Thurman sa 7th-round knockout ay pumoste ng 40-1 kahapon.

Pakay ni Thurman na maghintay hanggang Linggo para ihayag na ang kanyang taya. “Well, to be honest, we were waiting because so many people are betting Pacquiao,” saad ni Thurman kasunod ng presscon. “So, we’re waiting. We believe that the odds are gonna keep being not in my favor, which is gonna allow me to really maximize my bets. So, I went to the bank today. We got the money ready, but we haven’t gotten the ticket yet. Because, you know, they’re still gonna shift. It’s not Friday night. All the fans aren’t here at the MGM yet. And, you know them, Asians, have been getting it in. I think I’ve offended a lot more other Filipinos than I did Manny Pacquiao.”

Nang tanungin naman si Pacman hinggil sa umano’y pagpusta sa knockout ni Thurman, ngumiti lang si Pacman at sinabing, “Thank you for the donation.”

Ipinaliwanag ng 30-anyos na si Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC) ang kanyang dahilan sa pagpusta sa sarili ayon kay Keith Idec ng BoxingScene. “Oh, you know, we’re going for the overall victory. And then we’re going for first-round knockout, second-round knockout and then, lucky-number-seven-round knockout. You know? At the end of the day, it’s a sport. I’m a winner in life. But to bet on myself for the opening rounds, it makes me do what I said earlier, which is swing, swing, swing, you know? So, I just wanna open up. I like to encourage myself. And, in boxing, man, we really don’t have a knockout bonus, man. If ‘One Time’ Thurman gets a first-round knockout, somebody’s gotta pay me. So at least the MGM Grand can pay me. It’s fun, it’s playful, but it’s a little bit a part of my strategy. I don’t recommend it for every fighter. Every fighter’s their own, but I like it.”

Habang ang 40-anyos naman na si Pacman (61-7-2, 39 KOs) ay hindi pupusta sa sarili. “No,” sagot ni Pacquiao, “I don’t bet [on] myself.” (MC)