TMZSports.com
EXCLUSIVE

Keith Thurman Betting $10k On Myself to KO Pacquiao ... Before Round 3

How's this for confidence ... Keith Thurman is so certain he's gonna knock out Manny Pacquiao in the 1st or 2nd round, he's putting $10,000 up so he can cash that extra check!!!

Keith and Manny are squaring off at the MGM Grand on July 20 -- in a fight Thurman thinks he'll EASILY win.

"I'm younger. I'm gonna let my hands go in a way that Adrian Broner didn't," Thurman tells TMZ Sports ... "I'm gonna make it a fight!"

Remember, Broner LOST via unanimous decision when he fought Pacman back in January -- Keith says Broner simply didn't come with any offense that night.

As for the bet, Keith says he's already 100% certain he'll get the W ... but wants to put some added pressure on himself to close the show early.

"That's motivation! I can't go 3 minutes going 'tap, tap, tap' when I got $10k on the round!"

Thurman obviously respects what Manny's accomplished in the ring -- but says when you break it down, Pacquaio simply can't hang his Keith's style ... violence and speed.

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