Pacquiao vs. Thurman : The Battle of Two Kings
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 20 Jul 2019
LAS VEGAS - The World Boxing Association (WBA) is weird. Their 147 pound landscape is ruled by two champions.
First is the undefeated Keith Thurman Jr. of the United States - it?s Super Champion.
Then, there?s the legendary Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines- it?s World Champion.
In 2015, the organization?s welterweight throne was up for grabs when longtime champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired. The WBA then elevated Thurman, who at that time was their interim champ - to the status of full champion.
Thurman held and defended the belt successfully since 2015. But a series of injury kept him out of the ring for almost two years.
This prompted the WBA to make Thurman a champion in recess and mandated a welterweight contest between Lucas Matthysse and Tewa Kiram of Thailand in January 2018. The winner then became the ?regular? champ at welterweight.
Matthysse won by knockout but his reign was short lived. He was dethroned on his first defense by Pacquiao in the Battle of Kuala Lumpur last year. Pacquiao blasted him in the 7th round in his first and only defense of the title.
Thurman returned to action and out-hustled Josesito Lopez in the Battle of Brooklyn earlier this year. He welcomed a fight against Pacquiao after his victory in New York and he knew then, that the inevitable battle of champs has to be made.
And so here we are, in the battlefield in the desert, at The Fight Oasis that is the MGM Grand Garden Arena- as we count down the hours to the day of reckoning between the two kings.
They faced for the last time today at the official weigh-in ceremony in the very site of their duel tomorrow night. Pacquiao and Thurman Jr weighed in at an identical 146.5 pounds.
Both pugilists relished in the cheers of their fans and countrymen and welcomed the jeers of the opposing camp. Pacquiao, like his previous battles here, always brings a loud and raucous army with him. Today and tomorrow night will be no different, he was and always will be the crowd favorite.
They sized up each other for one last time, they looked at each other?s eyes with mean intentions and displayed their own version of their championship belts during Fight Week.
Tomorrow night, barring a draw in the final tally, only one belt will matter, only one champ will be raised and only one king will be crowned.
And after that, the 147 pound kingdom of the WBA will not be weird anymore. It will revert to normalcy and have its one true ruler.
Tic, tac, tic, tac. The Battle of Two Kings is amongst us.
You can reach the writer at rrmaze24@aol.com and @Freemazon910 on Twitter.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
LABAN PILIPINAS! Kenneth Llover Ready to KO His Way to a World Title Shot
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 06 Jun 2026Nery Does It Again: Overweight, But Casimero Says Let’s Fight!
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 06 Jun 2026Undefeated Gabriela Tellez to Challenge Elif Nur Turhan for IBF Lightweight World Title June 13 in Glendale, AZ
Sat, 06 Jun 2026SHEFFIELD FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS, FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER FOR PADLEY VS FIAZ – LIVE ON DAZN
Sat, 06 Jun 2026Bruce “2.0” Seldon Jr.: From a Champion’s Son to Heavyweight Headliner
Sat, 06 Jun 2026Mexican fighter ¨Artillero¨Rodriguez passes away after suffering brain injury on weekend fight
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 06 Jun 2026NEGROS OCCIDENTAL PILLARS CROWNED SBA SEASON 2 CHAMPIONS
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 06 Jun 2026Weights from Japan: Llover - 117.7 lbs., Angeletti - 117.5 lbs.
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 05 Jun 2026Antonio Vargas Locked in for Career-Defining Title Defense Against Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez as Training Camp Winds Down
Fri, 05 Jun 2026Weights From ‘Vazquez vs. Lugo’ Event from College Park Center in Arlington, TX, & Broadcast Live on ProBoxTV
Fri, 05 Jun 2026SHEFFIELD FIGHT WEEK PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS JOSH PADLEY AND AQIB FIAZ FACE OFF
Fri, 05 Jun 2026“I would not say Yoka is more dangerous.” Murat Gassiev's coach Kadushin on boxer's training camp
Fri, 05 Jun 2026Homecoming for super middleweight prospect Elijah Garcia to be showcased June 20 on Kingsley Ibeh vs. Dante Stone card in Phoenix
Fri, 05 Jun 2026Amateur Standout Kayla "The Truth" Gomez Set for Professional Debut on MF Pro's "Pugilist Revolution" June 19 in Long Beach
Fri, 05 Jun 2026Tancontian to lead PH team in Sambo Asia-Oceania
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 05 Jun 2026