I wish I don’t have to write this.
But if I’m the sportswriter-columnist-opinion maker worth my salt, I have to unload what I think ought to be unloaded.
You see, I’m a little bit worried that Keith Thurman may keep his promise: That of forcing Manny Pacquiao to retire for good after their July 20 confrontation.
Yes, and Thurman, the 29-year old, undefeated WBA welterweight champion, hates the idea that the Pacman was responsible for retiring two former greats in the same division: Oscar dela Hoya and Antonio Margarito.
I mean, what Manny did to Oscar and Antonio was no mean feat. They were solid accomplishments that I sense Thurman is jealous of.
Despite his 29 wins with 22 KOs to his credit, Thurman has not retired any of his foes he defeated.
Like Danny Garcia, who is very much active.
Our Pambansang Kamao has, much earlier, sent Eric “El terrible” Morales to pack home and hung up his gloves. Wow, three great fighters.
So, Thurman is pitching in a hard sell, which we are not buying.
No one, in fact, in the US is buying Thurman’s “retirement” idea.
Tim Bradley, who figured with Manny in a (surprise) trilogy, including an eye-popping draw, has cautioned the African-American titleholder not to over-estimate his (the latter’s) clean record and thus be over-confident.
“He (Thurman) has to watch Pacquiao’s left,” the former welterweight king warned, noting that Thurman has the propensity to go into a toe-to-toe exchange where Manny’s quick hands and lateral movements are Pacquiao’s assets.
Bradley said Thurman should watch several tapes of Pacquiao’s encounters with Morales, Marquez and Mayweather and pick up two or three tips in defense and counterpunching.
Truth is that, in his brawl against Garcia, Thurman got bloodied in the same way he bloodied Garcia. He won via a unanimous decision, leaning on his stamina and endurance, which, I know, will serve him in good stead against the world’s only 8-division world champion.
But Thurman does not have the ring IQ that Pacquiao has learned over the years. His aggressive, swarming style may prove to be his un-doing as did Ricky Hatton who was taken out in two by the Filipino boxing icon.
Yup, this ring IQ is brought to the fore by fighters in the mold of Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones, Marvin Hagler, Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Floyd Mayweather, Pacquiao, and other outstanding boxing greats.
But I still give Thurman a fifty-fifty chance despite his being the clear underdog.
He is younger by 11 years. If his corner plots an effective fight plan designed to tire Pacquiao out, Thurman will try to get a second win in the second half of the 12-round battle.
I think most neutral observers will agree that MP’s KO power has waned a bit, as evidenced in the fighting senator’s last three outings.
Well, as science and medicine have shown, age has something to do with physical degeneration (or deterioration).
My unsolicited suggestion for the Pacquiao camp is to go for an early knockout when the opportunity presents itself.
It is up to Manny to lure Thurman to come out swinging wildly. ### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
