Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman media call highlights

Keith Thurman talked to the media via conference call about his upcoming bout with Manny Pacquiao. Thurman had a lot to say.

In the buildup to the Manny Pacquiao vs. Keithurman bout, Thurman has been very vocal about his chances against Pacquiao. Some have viewed his comments as below the belt, but Thurman didn’t let up during his Tuesday, July 9 media call.

When asked about his previous bout against Josesito Lopez and ring rust from inactivity, Thurman responded, “In the seventh round I showed once again that Keith Thurman is not a punk. If you want to fight me, fight me. You want to hurt me, hurt me. If you drop me, you drop me, but you better stop me. As long as you don’t stop me, I’m coming out the champion like I always do because that’s what I do; I box hard, I box smart and I’m always looking for the win. I’m always prepared to challenge myself. I was brought up in this sport, I’m a real fighter, I’m a real boxer, I’m educated and Manny Pacquiao is going to get a piece of it one on one.”

Thurman is very confident. He claimed to be the new Manny Pacquiao and the most exciting welterweight in the world.

“When Keith Thurman fights Manny Pacquiao, if Keith Thurman fights Errol Spence Jr., if Keith Thurman fights Terrence Crawford, I think Keith Thurman is the new Manny Pacquiao,” said Thurman. “I think I am the most exciting fighter in the welterweight division today. I might show some weakness that might give them a little bit of confidence, but outside of that, like Ellerbe mentioned, Keith Thurman has the best resume at 147. Two years out of the game and I still hold the best resume at 147.”

Thurman was in serious trouble against Lopez in the last fight. He took reporters through what went through his mind after getting hurt.

“And then after I got caught again, I then got caught again,” explained Thurman. “I got hit with three big shots that round. I said you better put your hands up. You better move your feet because only you know you’re okay right now. The whole world thinks you’re going to be knocked out. The whole world thinks you’re about to be knocked out. But just get out of this round and let’s show them what kind of champion you really are.”

Thurman discussed a number of subjects including how he used to spar super middleweight champion, Jeff Lacy when he was just 16 years old.

“I was scared sparring Jeff Lacy when I was 16-years-old,” said Thurman. “Eventually he had to tell me, ‘We can’t spar anymore because you hit too hard and I’m a grown man. I want to knock you out and you’re 16 years old. I don’t want to have that on my conscious. So, you can no longer be my sparring partner because you do too much and I want to knock you out and you’re a kid. I don’t want to knock a kid out.'”

Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman goes down on Saturday, July 20 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The pay-per-view coverage begins at 9 p.m ET.