Manny Pacquiao eager to make trash-talking Keith Thurman eat his words

Pacquiao opens Manila training camp in preparation for Thurman. Photos by Wendell Alinea/MP Promotions

MANILA, Philippines—Keith Thurman has been saying a lot of smack against Manny Pacquiao ahead of their welterweight unification fight in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, plans to let his fists do the talking and show Thurman that he is biting off more than he can chew.

“I’m so motivated for this training camp, for this fight because my opponent has been saying a lot of things,” Pacquiao said in Filipino Tuesday after training.

“I’m really motivated because I want to make him eat his words,” Pacquiao, who stressed that bragging is not in his nature, added.

The undefeated Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs), who is 10 years younger, vowed to send the 40-year-old Pacquiao into retirement the way the Filipino superstar forced Oscar De La Hoya to call it quits.

Pacquiao, who’s been on a tear in his last two fights when he stopped Lucas Matthysse in the seventh round and delivered a 12-round demolition of Adrien Broner, has no plans of slowing down.

“This is a big challenge for me being a 40-year-old and fighting a 30-year-old. I want to prove that I can still get it done.”

Thurman, who holds the WBA (Super) welterweight title, was 21 pounds overweight during their recent US press tour that started in New York and ended in Los Angeles.

“I got a little bit of a sweet tooth,” he said as posted on the Manila Bulletin.

Pacquiao doesn’t have anything sweet to offer.

“I’m not bragging. I’m just determined to make him eat his words.”