Keith Thurman works out for members of the media ahead of his fight against Manny Pacquiao on July 20th at St Pete Boxing Club on July 10, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines—Keith Thurman isn’t shy to show his brash nature, often referring to himself in the third person.
But that’s not the only thing he did to show off his loud attitude.
The WBA Super World welterweight title even called himself as the next Manny Pacquiao, just mere days leading up to his fight against the boxing legend.
According to RingTV’s report, Thurman said he always delivers the best fights—just like Pacquiao can—and that he brings the same entertainment factor as his opponent.
“It doesn’t matter who it is, when Keith Thurman fought Shawn Porter, it was nominated fight of the year. When Keith Thurman fought Danny Garcia, the fans had a tremendous show,” said Thurman in the report.
“Keith Thurman fights Manny Pacquiao, or Keith Thurman fights Errol Spence, or Keith Thurman fights Bud Crawford, I think Keith Thurman is the new Manny Pacquiao.”
Thurman (29-0) will stake his title against Pacquiao (61-7-2), the WBA “regular” champion, on July 20 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and he believes he’s the most entertaining of all welterweights—an obvious jab at the Filipino.
Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division World champion, is arguably the sport’s most entertaining fighters of all time after his furious style allowed him to rack up titles after titles in the 2000s.
From 2001 to 2011, Pacquiao went 22-1-2 and won titles across six weight classes marking the best decade in his illustrious career and in turn making him a global superstar.
Of those 22 victories, 14 were stoppages.
Thurman, though, doesn’t have the same frantic style as Pacquiao but he does have 22 knockouts under his name with his last one was back in 2013 when he stopped Jesus Soto Karass to become the interim WBA World welterweight champion.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, scored his last stoppage win when beat Lucas Matthyse for the WBA 147-pound “regular” belt on July 15, 2018.
“I think I’m the most entertaining fighter in the welterweight division today,” said Thurman. “You can’t really take much away from me. You can throw some criticism and shots if you want.”
“Like I said, I bring entertainment to the welterweight division, always have, always will. If I win, I’m your entertainment. If I lose, I’m your entertainment. Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman is one of the greatest welterweight fighters in the world today, hands down.”