(NI VT ROMANO, Saksi Ngayon, Sports Editor)

LAS VEGAS – Solidong pinili nina Mexican legends Erik Morales at Marco Antonio Barrera si eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao na siyang magwawagi laban kay Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman, sa kanilang welterweight battle sa Sabado (Linggo sa Manila) sa MGM Grand Garden Arena dito.

Sa Legends roundtable discussion nitong Huwebes, magkatabi sina MOrales at Barrera, habang nasa likuran nila ang isang interpreter, kasama sina dating champion Winky Wright at current WBC champion Shawn Porter.

“It’s gonna be a complicate bout, no doubt about it,” panimula ni Morales, na magugunitang tatlong beses hinarap si Pacquiao.

“But knowing Pacquiao, starting in the second round, that’s when he’s gonna try to charge,” dagdag niya.

Si Pacquiao ay tinalo ni Morales noong 2005 sa una nilang pagkikita. Pero bumawi ang Pambansang Kamao sa sumunod na dalawang beses pa nilang paghaharap.

Sinabi pa ni Morales na naging ‘technical’ siya nang talunin si Pacquiao. At iyon din ang maaaring gawin ni Thurman, ang WBA welterweight super champion,  para manalo.

“I was very technical (against Pacquiao in our first fight). That’s what Keith Thurman needs to do,” esplika ni Morales, may 52-9, 36 KOs nang magretiro noong 2013.

Gayunpaman, aniya: “It’s either gonna be (a) decision (win for) Pacquiao or maybe a late knockout by Pacquiao.”

Para naman kay Barrera, si Pacquiao ang mananalo, pero nakakasabik aniyang panoorin kung ano ang gagawin ni Thurman sa laban.

“I think Manny Pacquiao (will win) by decision but we always have to take into account the plan that Thurman has. It could play a part,” lahad ni Barrera, na dalawang beses tinalo ni Pacquiao at tuluyang nagretiro noong 2011. “Psychologically, fighting Pacquiao is tough.”

Mas pinili naman ni Wright si Thurman, na ayon sa kanya ay mas may lakas.

“Thurman by KO or by decision. He has fast movement, I like him all the way,” lahad nito.

Para naman kay Porter, reigning WBC welterweight champion at tinalo ni Thurman ng unanimous decision noong 2016, kapag hindi nagawa ng Florida-native sa kaagahan ng laban ang dapat niyang gawin, malabo itong manalo kay Pacquiao.

“If Thurman doesn’t want to touch Manny in the early going, if he gonna lay back, shadow box, Manny will win by a late decision,” sambit ni Porter.