‘I fought eight hands of Manny Pacquiao’: ex-rivals weigh up Pacman’s chances against Keith Thurman
- Jessie Vargas and Brandon Rios have both tasted the Filipino icon’s vicious speed in the ring
- Pair give Pacquiao the edge to beat unbeaten American Thurman next month
Manny Pacquiao’s former opponents have given the Philippines icon the edge when he challenges unbeaten American Keith “One Time” Thurman in their welterweight showdown next month.
And Brandon Rios, who fought and lost against Pacquiao, says the fighting senator would still have the speed and endurance to topple the 30-year-old Thurman. He said when he fought “Pacman” in Macau in 2013, he was “fighting eight hands of Manny Pacquiao”.
Rios told EsNews on YouTube that he’s convinced the 40-year-old Pacquiao has what it takes to continue his winning ways.
He believes Thurman might still be struggling with an elbow injury and other issues that had sidelined him for 22 months before he made his comeback by beating Josesito Lopez by majority decision in January.
Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) will face Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs) for the WBA super world welterweight title on July 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Bam Bam” Rios (35-5-1, 26 KOs) said: “I think Pacquiao beats him [Thurman] because of the fact that Thurman hasn’t been active and he’s been pretty out with his elbow.
“How will his [Thurman’s] elbow do against Pacquiao’s speed and everything? So I give Pacquiao the edge. I was fighting ******* eight hands against Pacquiao, oh yes. He’s [Pacquiao] quick but he has slowed down a lot.
“The confidence got over me. I got too cocky,” added the Mexican-American of his fight against Pacquiao, which ended in a unanimous decision for the eight-times division world champion at the CotaiArena six years ago.
Jessie Vargas is another opponent who has tasted Pacquiao’s brilliance in the ring.
They fought in 2016 in Las Vegas and the 30-year-old American, who has compiled a record of 29-2-2, with 11 KOs, thinks Pacquiao will pull off another win – but warned that time will eventually catch up to him.
“I think Manny wins,” said Vargas, who also lost against Pacquiao by unanimous decision in their encounter.
“Just because of pure experience and I think that’s why he wins. His speed even though there’s going to be, very soon, come a time and a point when his age is going to show. I’d say no later than 2020, it’s going to be interesting, but I don’t know when.
“The thing about fighters at that age is that you never know when the age hits them, it could be all of a sudden.
“I don’t think it might be for this one [against Thurman[ but possibly for the next one or for 2020.”
Asked if he too faced eight “hands” when he fought Pacquiao, Vargas said: “There was one Manny who was very high velocity, but his speed was on another level.
“He’s jumping back and forth and you know it was hard to find him. He was extremely fast. He helped me with my learning experience.”
Asked how would a boxer prepare to face Pacquiao, Vargas replied: “You have to get light sparring partners who are extremely fast.
“Maybe you should get guys who are lighter like 126 or 130 [pounds] so you can get that speed because that’s the speed that he maintains as a fighter.
“But with that speed and with a constant rhythm, he has very good endurance. The guy is phenomenal, man, he’s 41 [in December] you have to give him credit.
“I don’t think Thurman has the experience that Manny has and that’s going to be his downfall.”
