DALAWANG buwan bago sumiklab ang July 20 welterweight showdown sa pagitan nina eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao at Keith “One Time” Thurman sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, tila umaapaw na ang kumpiyansa ng huli na kanyang tatalunin ang Pambansang Kamao.

Deklara ni Thurman: “Manny Pacquiao is beatable. He’s been beaten before in his career. He’s a fan favorite and a legend. For me his boxing tactics are predictable. He fights in spurts and you have to take advantage of that. You have to be respectful of his power. But I believe my movement, athleticism and ring knowledge will be able to present him something he’s not seen in all his years of boxing.”

Nagharap sa unang pagkakataon si Pacquiao, Philippine Senator at regular WBA welterweight champion, at si Thurman, ang undefeated Super WBA welterweight champion, sa New York sa press conference ng two-city tour ng kanilang 12-round encounter na ipalalabas sa pamamagitan ng FOX Sports PPV (pay-per-view) event at mula sa pinagsamang promosyon ng MP Promotions, Mayweather Promotions at TGB Promotions.

Si Thurman, 30 anyos (29-0, 22KOs) ang ‘longest reigning welterweight champion sa boxing’, ay kinulekta ang kanyang WBA title via stoppage kay Diego Chaves noong 2013. Walong sunod na beses niyang naidepensa at na-unified ang korona nang talunin si Danny Garcia para sa WBC crown.

Paniwala ni Thurman, taglay niya ang bilis, lakas at skills para magbigay ng mabigat na laban sa future Hall of Famer na si Pacquiao.

Halos dalawang taong inactive si Thurman bunga ng injury, at nagbalik lamang sa aksiyon noong Enero, kung saan tinalo niya si Josesito Lopez.

Noong Enero rin nang talunin naman ni Pacquiao si Adrien Broner via unanimous decision.

“I’m extremely excited for this opportunity to get a fight that I’ve wanted for a long time,” wika ni Thurman.