Photos by Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions
MANILA, Philippines—Freddie Roach isn’t the main man in Manny Pacquiao’s corner for the Filipino’s upcoming fight against WBA Super World welterweight champion Keith Thurman, but he still has high praise for his former student.
In a report from BoxingScene.com, the Hall of Famer is confident Pacquiao will beat Thurman in as many ways as possible when the two pugilists slug it out for the WBA belt.
“Manny is so unbelievably fast, he’s 40-years-old and moving around the ring with the same speed he had when he was just a seven-division World champion,” said Roach of Pacquiao who’s the only boxer to hold World titles in eight weight classes.
Roach, who now operates under chief trainer Buboy Fernandez, even likened Thurman’s style to a condiment and that it’s obvious why Pacquiao became the betting favorite in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao (61-7-2) enters the fight, which is scheduled on July 20 at MGM Grand, as the -115 favorite (a bettor has to put in $115 to win $100) while Thurman (29-0) is at -105.
“Manny has Keith Thurman’s number. Thurman is slower than Heinz ketchup,” said Roach. “Manny is going to beat him 57 ways on July 20. The fans know it, and the sports books know it.”
“Manny has gone from underdog to a betting favorite. Manny is money for this fight. It’s going to be champagne and Lobster Thermidor for us!”
This will be Pacquiao’s first crack at the WBA Super World welterweight belt although he holds the sanctioning body’s regular 147-pound championship, which he won from Lucas Matthysse back in July of 2018.