By Josh Peter

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — If creative insults are the measure, Keith Thurman beat Manny Pacquiao by TKO Wednesday at the Beverly Hills Hotel during a news conference to promote their July 20 boxing match in Las Vegas.

Thurman mocked Pacquiao for his short, “T-Rex arms” and for his “bunny rabbit hop.’’

“I don’t know if you noticed that, he got these little T-Rex arms,’’ Thurman said.

Then there’s Pacquiao’s signature, bouncing style in the ring.

“This little bunny rabbit, the way he hops around the ring, I’m not going to lose to no bunny rabbit,’’ Thurman said. “Believe that, OK? Hey man, look, he’s not Tupac when he does a little hip hop, if you feel me, you know?’’

Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs) suggested those issues are more than laugh lines as he prepares to fight Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas in a welterweight bout that will be available on pay-per-view and televised by Fox.

“This is a big fight as far as the stage goes, but, you know, Pacquiao’s a little fighter,’’ said Thurman, who at 5-foot-7 is 1 1/2 inches taller than Pacquiao.

But for all the jokes about Pacquiao’s bunny hopping and T-Rex arms, this is no joke: The Filipino star has won world titles in eight weight divisions and at 40 still looks like a formidable welterweight.

In January, Pacquiao dominated 29-year-old Adrien Broner in a unanimous decision. So on Wednesday, there was Pacquiao, wearing a familiar sly smile, as Thurman, 30, talked trash.

“A lot of my opponents say useless words before the fights,’’ Pacquiao said. “When we get into the ring, it will change.’’

After a 22-month layoff following an elbow injury that required surgery, Thurman returned to the ring in 2019 and looked rusty in a victory by majority decision against Josesito López. Pacquiao figures to be a bigger challenge — at least in the ring.

Pacquiao closed his portion of the news conference by reciting Scripture.

Offered Thurman, “I know he likes to quote bible verses, so I’ll let you know he’s going to get crucified.’’

Article courtesy of Josh Peter & USA Today

Photo courtesy of PBC