LOOKING back, Keith Thurman reminds Manny Pacquiao a lot about Ricky Hatton.
Less than two weeks before the two finally gets to face inside the ring, Pacquiao admitted seeing a shade of Hatton in the way Thurman talks and goes around town bragging he’ll beat and retire for good the Filipino boxing icon.
“Thurman reminds me the most of Ricky Hatton, of fighters that I’ve faced,” said the 40-year-old Pacquiao during an open media day workout at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, California on Wednesday, 10 days before he battles the unbeaten, brash-talking Thurman in a world welterweight championship fight.
“Will it be the same result? You never know.”
Boxing fans for sure know what Hatton went through in the ring against Pacquiao, who delivered one of the most devastating knockout wins in boxing history with his two-round demolition of Hatton in their world light-welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand in May of 2009.
Hatton, now retired, was never the same fighter he was following that overwhelming loss.
Leading to the fight, Thurman continues to thrash talk the Filipino senator, who is coming fresh from a dominant, 12-round unanimous decision win over Adrian Broner last January in Las Vegas.
“Manny has heard the thrash talk from Thurman and he’s not happy about it,” long-time Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said.
Pacquiao however, is just letting the 30-year-old Thurman do his antics outside the ring. Come fight night, the only fighter to win eight world division title said it’s his turn to do his own business.
“The more Thurman talks, the more it will help me,” he said. “His words are motivating me and encouraging me to work even harder day after day.”
What’s more, he’s not discounting the possibility of the 12-round match not going the distance.
“There’s a big chance that this fight is not going the distance. I’ll be prepared, but I’m thinking it’s not going 12 rounds,” said the Pacman.
Big, bold words from Pacquiao, and which is something he rarely does.
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