Keith Thurman maintained he can put Manny Pacquiao to sleep when they clash for the undisputed WBA welterweight crown in Las Vegas July 20.
The undefeated fighter from Clearwater, Fla., hasn’t scored a stoppage since 2015, but he believes he’ll end that drought at Pacquiao’s expense.
“My prediction? Less than 6 rounds. I would love to be 30-0, with 23 knockouts. We’ve got 22 and we’ve held those 22 knockouts for a little too long. It’s time to get one more knockout,” Thurman said in an article posted on the Boxing Scene website.
Thurman also bared he’d likely test whether Pacquiao can withstand his body shots.
“I bet none of Pacquiao's sparring partners were going at his body,” Thurman said. “Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman is going to touch the body. I want to know how he reacts.”
Despite being the reigning WBA “super” welterweight king, odds makers favored the 40-year-old Pacquiao over him. And he found it hard to believe.
“I can’t be the underdog because I am the undefeated champion of the world,” Thurman said.
“He’s the legend, but I have 10 years of youth on my side. However, we’ve seen world champions and legends do tremendous things at later dates. For example, Bernard Hopkins won the world title at 45 years old. Is Manny Pacquiao that kind of world champion? Keith Thurman will be the first one to find out.”
source: news.abs-cbn.com
