LAS VEGAS ? Manny Pacquiao gives out a test that he believes Keith Thurman will flunk Saturday night (Sunday noon in Manila) at the MGM Grand.
?I am going to teach him a lesson,? Pacquiao said, riled up by Thurman?s non-stop trash-talking even during their official weigh-in on Friday.
?I hope Keith Thurman studied hard because Prof. Pacquiao gives out very hard tests,? said the 40-year-old champ, who will attempt to dislodge Thurman as the World Boxing Association ?super? welterweight champion.
Pacquiao, the regular champion, is slightly favored to beat the loudmouthed Florida native, whose antics have clearly gotten under the eight-division champion?s skin.
?He really talks a lot,? said Pacquiao, who scaled in at 146 ? lbs.
Thurman, younger by 10 years, also came in at 146 ? lbs and was in his element during the pre-fight ritual despite the cascade of boos that he received from the predominantly-Filipino crowd.
Thurman was first to step on the scales officially before Pacquiao followed to the delight of the audience that watched the whole affair that lasted minutes.
During the traditional staredown, Pacquiao (61-7-2 with 39 KOs) and Thurman (29-0 with 22 KOs) looked at each others? eyes for 27 seconds before the American started ranting anew.
Pacquiao just smiled and turned away as those in attendance jeered Thurman, who twice made the cut-throat gesture to show the crowd how confident he is in his bid to send his fancied foe into retirement.
?It?s my time and (would still be) still champion tomorrow night,? said Thurman, who opened as the slight favorite before the tables turned earlier in the week.
?Manny Pacquiao won?t do anything to me,? added Thurman, who at 5-7 ? is taller by almost two inches.
Sean Gibbons, the right-hand man of Pacquiao, was in the frame during the intense staredown but could not remember what Thurman said but noticed that Thurman looked ?so juiced up.?
?He had those crazy eyes, bulging (from the socket),?said Gibbons.
?He kept on jabbering. I could not hear exactly what he said as I kept on looking at those crazy eyes. I expect him to be throwing early and the Senator chopping him down,? added Gibbons.
Odds continued to swing in favor of Pacquiao on the eve of the fight.
The MGM Grand sportsbook listed Pacquiao -175 ($175 wins $100) while Thurman +155 ($110 wins $155) late Friday night. Other betting lines include Pacquiao by KO +200 and Pacquiao by Decision +150 and Thurman by KO +600 and Thurman by Decision +220.
Another interesting line: will go (11 full rounds) -340 and won?t go (11 full rounds) +280.
The third man on the ring will be veteran Kenny Bayless while the three judges are Dave Moretti, Glenn Feldman and Tim Cheatham, all from Las Vegas.
