Harsh words have been exchanged as the July 20 showdown between Keith Thurman, and Manny Pacquiao looms closer. Billed as the biggest boxing event of the year, Thurman says that his confidence grows by the day and promises to give the eight-division champion a good fight.
Considering the undercard of the upcoming Thurman vs. Pacquiao bout, the event is easily boxing's biggest night of the year. Thurman, an unbeaten welterweight, is putting his title and perfect record on the line as he faces one of the most legendary and prolific fighters of this generation.
A lot of hype was thrown into the bout. It is considered by many as the biggest bout of the year, and Thurman is confident that both him and Pacquiao, as well as the undercards, will live up to that hype and give the audience a night they will truly remember.
When asked whether the steep admission price justifies the fight audience are expected to witness, Thurman has this to say, "I truly believe so. Look at some of the fights that were dubbed big events this year. The fight between Manny Pacquiao and myself, I don't see how it won't live up to the hype."
If bets and oddsmaker are to be checked, the hype seems to have worked. Despite being ten years his senior, the 40-year-old Pacquiao is still a slight favorite. This is despite the fact that Thurman is younger, and an impressive clean record, the majority of which he won by TKO.
Pacquiao is no stranger to big fights. His 2015 loss to Floyd Mayweather was the most lucrative bout the sport has ever seen. Pacquiao has also been on some of the biggest Pay-Per-View events in the last two decades. Since his loss to Mayweather, Pacquiao racked up four wins, and one controversial loss to Jeff Horn in 2017. His last bout was in just in January when he defeated former four-division titleholder Adrien Broner.
As for Thurman, he is relatively new to big fights. It is true that he has the record to back up his claim, but none of his fights have been billed as a major one, let alone a major PPV event. He is also coming back from a 22-month hiatus following his 12-round win over Josesito Lopez. Moreover, Thurman has also faced several injuries that have significantly stalled his career over the years.
Thurman vs. Pacquiao is scheduled on July 20 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas Nevada.
