For Manny Pacquiao, competing inside the boxing ring is never about taking care of a grudge or settling the score.
Pacquiao will headline Saturday’s FOX pay-per-view against unbeaten welterweight champion Keith Thurman live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“For me nothing is personal. I have to do my job and there is nothing personal with him. Our job is to fight and he has to prove something, and I have to prove something. That’s why I’m so motivated for this fight and this training camp. It’s also my first time fighting on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View, so I’m excited to fight on Saturday, Pacquiao said. “I’m just always smiling no matter what Keith says. It’s easy to say things, but it’s not easy to do it in the ring. I’ve been in this sport longer than Keith Thurman, so my experience will be the difference.
“This is going to be an exciting fight and a once-in-a-lifetime fight. Like he has said, there is going to be a lot of action in the ring. I respect my opponent because we both believe we can give a good fight to the fans. That’s our first concern. The fans and the enjoyment of the fans. “That’s Thurman’s style to talk a lot. Like I said, it gives me more motivation to focus, and it has helped me a lot leading up to this fight.”
The card also features Omar Figuerora vs. Yordenis Ugas, Sergey Lipinets vs. John Molina Jr. and Luis Nery vs. Juan Carlos Payano.