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ALL TOP WELTERWEIGHTS WANT TO FIGHT PACQUIAO SAYS THURMAN By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Tue, 09 Jul 2019  Several boxing aficionados and fighters criticized Keith Thurman's decision to fight Manny Pacquiao, who at 40-years-old is considered by detractors to be at the twilight of his boxing career. Thurman replied that every famous welterweight like IBF champ Errol Spence, WBC titlist Shawn Porter and WBO king Terence Crawford were all aiming to fight Pacquiao. He thinks some of them are now dismayed because they lost to him in the opportunity for a multi-million fight with the eight division champion. * * * ?I wanted to fight Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather six years ago at the age of 24. I was never presented with the opportunity at that time. I?m presented with the opportunity today. So the opportunity?s not coming tomorrow, it?s here today. I?ve got to take full advantage of it,? Thurman was quoted by Boxing News. * * * Thurman believes that every fighter in the welterweight division wanted this fight. Spence, Porter and Crawford would want to face Manny Pacquiao as long as he is still an active fighter and he wanted to make more exciting fights for the fight fans. "I just think this is one of the best match ups of the year and I definitely believe it could be one of the best fights of the year once we start trading," added Thurman. * * * Strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune predicts that Thurman will run during the fight with Pacquiao on July 20. ?This is a pre-technical fight so we need Freddie (Roach) there because his knowledge is what we need. This guy (Thurman) is not going to come forward. It is more of a technical fight absolutely ? he won?t go toe-to-toe with Manny. He will run,? Fortune told The Manila Times. * * * Fortune explained the importance of the Hall of Fame trainer in Pacquiao?s camp. ?He (Roach) is the one with knowledge. Freddie has been in this business for 40 years. He trains Manny for 16 years. So Freddie knows more, and he already trained 40 world champions. There?s a reason for that." The former Australian heavyweight boxer said they need Roach's point of view because he?s in the game longer. "Once Broner was hit by Manny. He couldn?t do anything with Manny. So again, we have to find him and that?s why we need Freddie for the preparation and sparring." * * * Spence says he dislike Thurman more than he dislike Porter. ?I really don?t, you know, care anything about Shawn Porter or what he has going, or anything like that. So, I don?t know where he got that from ? that I?m jealous of him, when I fought on pay-per-view. He hasn?t even fought on pay-per-view yet, so I mean, I don?t know.? Spence dislikesThurman mainly because the unbeaten WBA Super welterweight champion is unwilling to fight him. * * *  Manny Pacquiao (C) runs at the hilly Griffith Park in Los Angeles Monday morning July 8. ?He?s been a guy I?ve been wanting to fight for a long time,? Spence said. ?Even when I was like 14-0, I wanted to fight him. And plus, I just think he?s corny overall. He?s just a corny individual.? Spence said later during the podcast that he hopes to fight Thurman after beating Porter, if Thurman can beat Manny Pacquiao in their upcoming WBA welterweight title fight. * * * If Thurman and Spence would come out victorious respectively over Pacquiao and Porter, Spence is still not sure the fight with Thurman will happen. ?Keith still don?t mention my name, really,? Spence was quoted by Boxing Scene. ?He keeps saying that we?re gonna fight late 2020.? Spence (25-0, 21 KOs), who comes from DeSoto in Texas and Porter (30-2-1, 17 KOs) of Las Vegas have agreed and signed contracts to face in a welterweight title unification fight on a still undetermined date. * * * NBA'S big moves include Kawhi Leonard choosing to be with the Los Angeles Clippers, and also Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both signing with the Brooklyn Nets. Kemba Walker will replace Irving's position as the point guard at the Boston Celtics. The Warriors lost Durant, but they got All-Star guard D'Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade with the Nets. They also re-signed Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney. Jimmy Butler will be transferring from Philadelphia to Miami Heat, while Al Horford will be heading to Philadelphia 76rs from Boston. * * * Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons are interested in Russell Westbrook as reported by The Athletic. A potential trade between the Rockets and Thunder in which Russell Westbrook would be shipped to Houston is considered to be a "long shot" posted Tim MacMahon of ESPN. * * * Oklahoma City Thunder was looking at the possibility of trading former MVP Russell Westbrook. But it will not be easy to trade Westbrook because of his huge contract which is four years and about $171 million left and his playing style don't make him the most attractive acquisition according to Matt Eppers of USA Today. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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