Pacquiao-Thurman: Opening Press Conference
Pacquiao and Thurman go head-to-head on July 20th.
Today welterweights Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman held their kick-off press conference, formally announcing their July 20th fight on FOX PPV. The presser streamed live, but can be watched in its entirety in the video above.
Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) enters this off a dominant performance over Adrien Broner at the top of the year. During today’s presser Pacquiao reaffirmed that he’ll continue with his boxing journey while Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs) told the fans and media that this will be Pacquiao’s last fight.
Thurman stepped to the podium first to speak his piece, saying he is very grateful for the opportunity to share the ring with a legend like Pacquiao. That said, Thurman says ‘times change’ and that this is a new era in boxing so he plans on putting Pacquiao out to pasture.
“Floyd’s gone. Pacquiao’s here. Come July 20th, he will disappear” Thurman said of his opponent. “He announced him as a senator, he belongs as a senator — in the Philippines. With all respect, he’s a legend, he’ll always be remembered in the sport, but I’m doing a Manny Pacquiao — what he did to Oscar De La Hoya.”
Then when Pacquiao had his turn to speak — well, you know Pacquiao — he gave his typical spiel that you’ve heard many times over. But when Brian Custer brought up Keith Thurman’s trash talk, saying that he’s going to put Pacquiao to bed when they fight, Pacquiao responded by saying this:
“I’m a kind of fighter that I don’t talk too much, no trash talk, but I do it in the ring — a lot of things. Because he say that, let’s prove it in the ring on July 20th. And you will see a warrior Manny Pacquiao in the ring this July 20th. Because of all he says, let’s prove it in the 20th and I will show you how it is like to be in the ring with me on July 20th. That’s a guarantee.”
Check out the full presser with the fighters facing off at the top!