MAY KNOCKOUT BA SA PACMAN-THURMAN BOUT?

EDAD 40 na si Manny Pacquiao habang 30-anyos pa lamang si Keith Thurman, pero kumpiyansa raw sa kanyang kakayahan sa laban ang Pinoy boxing champion at may magaganap na knockout bukas.

Babalik si Pacman sa Linggo sa ibabaw ng ruwedang parisukat laban kay WBA welterweight champion Thurman sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas. Plano raw ni Thurman na tapusin na ang boxing career ng eight division world champion.

Ilang ulit nang ibinabanta ni Thurman na plano niyang tapusin si Pacquiao nang wala pang 7th rounds kahit na bago pa man ang 12th rounds o maging sa unanimous decision.

Sa analysis ni Atty. Danrex Tapdasan sa DZMM, sinabi niya na maaring kunin ni Thurman ang unang 6 na rounds, pero pagdating sa gitna ay makikipagsabayan si Pacman at matatapos ang laban sa unanimous decision o mapapatumba sa huli ang Kano.

Habang ayon naman kay Atty. Ed Tolentino, matatapos sa ‘kontrobersiyal na draw’ ang bakbakan.

Pero, aminado raw si Pacman na dikit na laban ang ibibigay niya, kumbaga makikipagsabayan siya sa malapitan at mas maagang matatapos ang bakbakan.

“There is a big percentage that this fight will not go 12 rounds. That is not a prediction, just my analysis. If he goes toe-to-toe with me that will be lovely. It will make it a shorter fight,” ani Pacquiao.

“Keith Thurman is a good fighter. His record shows that. His record also shows who he has fought. His era of opposition is a lot different than mine. The difference between the mentality of my era compared to Keith Thurman’s is I have a strong passion for the sport of boxing and he seems to have other interests. I still have something to prove at age forty.”

“This is not about my legacy. It is about adding an important milestone to my résumé. It is about proving that at forty, I can still fight anyone, that I am still relevant in boxing. I have pushed myself to the limit in training camp and I am prepared to push myself to the limit on July 20. Keith Thurman has talked a good game. We will see how far he is willing to push himself on Saturday night.” (MC)