Boxers, however great, are destined to retire, and one reason that might convince them to fade out finally is a resounding defeat. It was a fate suffered by Oscar De La Hoya, and according to Keith Thurman, the same thing will happen to Manny Pacquiao. He will make the Pacman disappear, the American vowed.
Thurman and Pacquiao will face off in a unification bout scheduled on July 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. If Thurman is to be believed, it will be the last for the Filipino boxing legend. The two will class as welterweights and Thurman is convinced he will emerge the winner.
"I have no intention of losing to Manny Pacquiao. I don't see him winning any way, shape or form," the UK-based Mirror reported Thurman as saying.
The trash-talking fighter added that after July 20, Pacquiao would be no more as far as boxing is concerned.
"For those who know boxing and truly understand boxing history, times change. I believe boxing has come to a new era. Pacquiao is here. Come July 20 he will disappear," Thurman declared.
Critics have asserted that Thurman was not his old self when he fought Josesito Lopez after a layoff of nearly two years. But the American said he would be a different animal when he climbs the ring next week. The objective is to destroy the legend that is Pacquiao.
"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to destroy a legend and create my own legacy," Yahoo Sports reported Thurman as saying.
He will box aggressively, which he believes is the key to achieve an emphatic win. Thurman said he has nothing to lose, so it's only right to give everything he has against the boxing icon from the Philippines.
"I worked hard to be a champion. I've always wanted to fight some of the greatest names in the sport of boxing. It's my first pay-per-view. New territory for me. Not new territory for Manny Pacquiao," said Thurman.
For his part, Pacquiao said Thurman struggled his way to a win against Lopez, so pundits were right to say that he's a changed fighter. Thurman remains undefeated, but it doesn't mean he is favored to dominate Pacquiao, who will be slugging it out on his 71st professional fight on July 20.
In fact, "Pacquiao is a slight favorite, according to most Las Vegas and Internet sports books," Boxing Scene reported.
Pacquiao said boxing fans could expect an interesting bout, adding he is expecting Thurman to deliver on his promise - to play aggressive and give the audience what they will pay for.
"I'm pretty sure he's different for this fight because he already came back and he'll work hard for this fight. I know he's focused and thinking that he needs to train hard, to show 100 percent condition," the Pacman said.
