BEVERLY HILLS, United States (AFP) - Keith Thurman has vowed to retire Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao as the two fighters traded verbal jabs ahead of the World Boxing Association battle for welterweight supremacy.
The undefeated Thurman, 30, takes on Pacquiao in Las Vegas on July 20 in a contest that pits the WBA's "super world champion" against the body's secondary "world" champion.
Thurman (29-0, with 22 knockouts) returned from a near two-year layoff to retain his title with a 12-round majority decision over Josesito Lopez on January 26.
Eight-division champion Pacquiao, who last fought in a one-sided demolition of Adrien Broner in January, is 10 years older than his American opponent.
And as the two men came face to face at a press conference in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Thurman vowed to make the age difference count.
"Pacquiao's last fight, Pacquiao's last fight," Thurman said, while pledging to "dismantle" the 40-year-old Filipino icon.
Pacquiao, who mixes a political career as a senator in the Philippines with professional boxing, laughed off Thurman's threats of annihilation.
********Keith Thurman speaks next to Manny Pacquiao during a press conference ahead of their WBA Welterweight Championship fight.