Mobile Home | Desktop Version




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:

  • Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
    By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
    By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 10 Jul 2025