Australian conditioning coach Justin Fortune warns Manny Pacquiao not to look at Keith Thurman?s last fight ? a rather disappointing showing ? as gauge of how the undefeated American will perform on July 20 in Las Vegas.
?You don?t see Thurman as that guy against Josesito Lopez (last Jan. 26) as the fighter who will show up on July 20,? Fortune told the Bulletin over the weekend.
Thurman struggled against Lopez and was even on the verge of losing, something Fortune doesn?t see happening next month at the MGM Grand.
?We are not preparing for that kind of Thurman. The Thurman who will fight Pacquiao will be somebody who?s going to be at his best because the fighters Pacquiao?s facing will always be at their best,? said Fortune, who arrived in Manila from the US more than a week ago.
?Thurman moves well and he is a good fighter, not the fighter we saw the last time.?
Pacquiao?s training takes a huge step this week with the kickoff of the sparring sessions.
Tim Tszyu, Australia?s fast-rising super-welterweight, has been asked to fly over from Sydney.
?Manny needs someone he can unload his punches on and Tim fits that type of sparmate,? said Fortune, who brushed aside plans to tap local fighters.
?Pacquiao won?t be able to do that against a local sparring partner.?
