MORE TRASH TALKING FROM THURMAN
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 04 Jul 2019
Unbeaten American Keith Thurman blamed Manny Pacquiao didn?t do a "goddamn thing" in his controversial 2017 loss to Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia. ?[I thought] it was a draw. What did he [Pacquiao] do? Round-by-round, what did he do? 12 rounds! He didn?t have him out ? in one round [he had him hurt], can you count? Fool can you count?? he told Fight Hub TV. The WBA Super champion is now resorting to more trash talks while the fighting senator is now the betting favorite for their July 20 WBA unification tussle.
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?That?s why I don?t got respect for him! He ain?t do nothin? to Jeff Horn, bro! And then Crawford went southpaw and beat Jeff Horn completely southpaw." Then he is confident he can retire Pacquiao. ?I know I made a big one. ?Retire Manny Pacquiao.? But at the end of the day, you?ll see what happens, when the fight happens.?
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Thurman said after watching the Pacquiao-Horn fight he gave the Filipino icon the nickname ?T-Rex Arms? because of his shorter reach. It was an insult that made Pacquiao angry and more aggressive in training. ?Jeff Horn was bigger. The size was apparent. Every time Manny ducked, Jeff Horn leaned on top of him, right? He manhandled Manny Pacquiao, right?... And you?re telling me Manny did something? No, he didn?t! Those hands didn?t touch!?
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In another interview, Thurman lambasted Pacquiao?s style and vowed to knock him out. "So I believe that with my ring knowledge and the way that I?ve boxed throughout the years, I just believe that Manny Pacquiao?s style was never a good style against my style. And I plan on proving that and just going toe to toe and testing him, man to man. I really don?t think that Manny Pacquiao is going to take my talent. I am looking for a KO. We?ll see if he can survive, ? Thurman was quoted by Tempo.
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Trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao is bothered by Thurman?s insults. "I think Manny?s bothered,? said Roach. ?It?s good that Manny doesn?t like his opponents because he fights better. I?ve seen that in Manny all the years we?ve been together.? When Pacquiao is irritated by an opponent's trash talk, it will result in his relentless offensive during the fight. Earlier, Thurman vowed to ?crucify? Pacquiao and derided him when he was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.
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Thurman's trash talk probably makes Pacquiao more furious than other previous bad-mouthing foes like Floyd Mayweather, Adrien Broner and Timothy Bradley among others. But the senator, religious as he is, did not show it in interviews and press cons. Pacquiao was quoted by AFP: "He (Thurman) is giving me more motivation and determination to work hard and prove that it's not true. I'm happy that he's saying that ... It gives me inspiration to focus and do the best that I can in the ring."
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Roach said the trash talk of Thurman betting $10,000 on himself is a lot of nonsense. ?Odds are going up and down,? he said. ?Guys are betting so there is some action in the fight for sure. I believe Thurman betting on himself motivates Manny even more. It?s not really big money. I bet $20,000 for Manny and I don?t gamble. I use betting as playing around.?
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According to his strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune, Pacquiao?s body has a ?freakish? capability to recover with a ?ridiculous? metabolism that makes him burn 7,000 calories a day. To keep his weight up, Pacquiao eats 7,000 calories or more a day because he burns so much, Fortune said. Pacquiao is around 150 pounds presently and the limit of the fight against Thurman is set at 147lbs. It would be so easy for the eight division world champion to get the weight limit. Fortune sided he was never strict with Pacquiao?s eating habits because the WBA regular champion is so dedicated and disciplined.
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When the Toronto Raptors traded for Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs last summer, they understood that he may not stay for a longer period. Reports were all over that Leonard is apprehensive on playing in Toronto, but the Raptors posted the best regular season record in the league. In a fitting climax, they finished the season by defeating the defending champions Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals.
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The entire basketball world is eager to know what team Leonard finally decides to join this summer. He met and talked with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, but until now no information came out as to which of the three teams he would like to sign with. According to a ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, teams have been warned that if they would leak any information about their meeting with Leonard it could ruin their chances to acquire the services of the two-time Finals MVP. He added that possibly an announcement would be officially made on the 4th of July.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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