‘I’m a bad man,’ Thurman warns Manny

Undefeated world welterweight champion Keith Thurman is definitely behind living legend Manny Pacquiao in the race to hit peak form in time for their WBA welterweight unification championship fight.

Based on camp reports, Pacquiao has reached his desired championship form much ahead.

Said Pacquiao: “If there’s an opportunity to knock him out, I will take advantage of it.”

Pacquiao himself is certain Thurman will come fully prepared for the championship.

“This is not just Josesito Lopez he will be fighting. I hope he has worked hard and reached 100 percent.”

Pacquiao added he has not focused for a fight the way he’s focused right now.

Thurman would not detail how truly ready he hopes to be for the championship, which he calls the biggest fight of his career.

Curiously, Thurman often prefers to point to the dazzling manner he survived and won his last fight in January against Lopez, which he took straight from a 22-month layoff caused by injuries.

Thurman did not touch on his unblemished 29-0 record, with 22 knockouts. He instead proudly bared how he recomposed himself as his first knockout loss loomed.

He explained: “I got caught, I was in danger. I remember after I got caught, I got caught again.”

Thurman revealed he got hit with three big shots in that round but was able to hang on, moving his feet and putting up his hands.

He had to tell himself the whole world thinks he was about to be knocked out, but he had to get out of the killer round to show the world the kind of champion he is.

It’s not Thurman’s way of saying he would be ready for all the shots Pacquiao is expected to deliver inside the ring in Las Vegas on July 20.

It’s his way of saying he will be very tough and hard to conquer.

How does he hope to deal with the fiery and famous Pacquiao, the world’s only eight-division champion?

“I’m going to hit him as soon as I can hit him. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to destroy a legend and create my own legacy.”

Nothing new there. Thurman has been professing since day one his plan to crucify and retire Pacquiao from boxing.

First, Thurman said he has placed a bet on himself to finish off Pacquiao before Round 3.

He has relented and said a few days ago he hopes to dispose of Pacquiao inside six rounds.

For the record, Freddie Roach said Thurman, a well-rounded warrior, has visibly slowed down in his last three fights.

Thurman would not discuss the rehabilitation he had undergone, but confirmed therapy and mental exercise as part of the reparation regimen to prepare him for a world championship war.

He will be ready, but there will always be doubts on his exact durability.

Thurman said: “If Manny Pacquiao is that man that beats me, I am going to shake his hand and congratulate him. But Pacquiao must know that when Keith Thurman steps into the ring, he’s a bad man.”

Unlike Pacquiao, Thurman  has yet to lose a professional boxing bout.