Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3015965/keith-thurman-says-hell-bet-us10000-himself-ko-manny-pacquiao-inside Boxing
Manny Pacquiao? I’ll bet US$10,000 I KO him inside two rounds, says Keith Thurman
- Unbeaten American hits back after Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach claims he’ll make ‘a huge score’ betting on the Filipino icon
- ‘Manny better get me before I get him – that’s his only option,’ says Thurman
Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman stand face to face during their news conference in New York. The two are set to fight in a welterweight world championship boxing bout on July 20 in Las Vegas. Photo: AP
Keith Thurman has boasted he will bet US$10,000 on himself knocking out Manny Pacquiao in the first or second round when they meet on July 20 in Las Vegas.
“One Time” made the claim in response to comments by Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, who said he will make “a huge score” betting on the Filipino eight-division world champion.
“I don’t think it’s a good bet, but you gotta believe in your fighters,” unbeaten American Thurman told TMZ. “I’m gonna put some money down on the fight too. Man let’s go for the first or second round knockout, why not?
“You don’t wanna just make money, I don’t wanna bet straight up. I gotta bet on the KO. How about 10k a round? At least that’s motivation. I can’t go through minutes going tap, tap, tap when I got 10k on the round. I gotta swing a few times, you gotta try to hit a home run. Round one and two baby.”
Bookmakers have installed 30-year-old Thurman (29-0-0, 22 KOs) as the slight favourite ($1.72) against Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs), who is $2.1 to reign victorious at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
It’s the first time the 40-year-old has been an underdog since he fought Floyd Mayweather in 2015, and he hasn’t been the ranked outsider since his 2008 win against Oscar De La Hoya, when he was $9 to win by stoppage. De La Hoya famously quit on his stool at the end of the eighth round, with Pacquiao becoming a superstar.
Manny Pacquiao connects with a right to the head of Oscar De La Hoya during their welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in December 2008. Photo: AFP
“Every fight I’ve ever taken, I’ve never felt like the underdog, they’ve never made me the underdog,” Thurman added. “I always felt like I was gonna be coming out on top.
“Even if they win some rounds they’re not winning the fight. I don’t think Manny’s style could ever beat my style. I just really understand the game very well.
Pacquiao reportedly earned around US$20 million for his win over Adrien Broner in January, and can expect to make the same for this bout.
Making the rounds out here in LA and had to talk to my guy at @TMZ. #OneTime pic.twitter.com/YdzJ2HO51q
— Keith Thurman Jr. (@keithfthurmanjr) June 22, 2019
There has been no official word on Thurman’s purse for the fight, which will be his first on pay-per-view as a headliner.
“If Freddie Roach is betting his fighter’s gonna win the fight, he’s not winning the fight,” Thurman said. “Every fighter does have a chance. And the best thing about Manny Pacquiao is he does come in the ring with speed and power.
“He better get me before I get him, that’s his only option. He’s not winning round by round. I’m younger, I’m gonna let my hands go in a way Adrien Broner didn’t. That fight was one-sided. I’m gonna make it a fight.”