PACQUIAO HUMBLES THURMAN; LOOKS FORWARD TO FIGHT SPENCE-PORTER WINNER
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 Jul 2019
By Eddie Alinea / The Manila Times
LAS VEGAS ? Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao proved the non-believers wrong. Again.
The 40-year-old eight-division champion dropped Keith Thurman on the seat of his pants for only the second time in his 12-year pro-career in the opening round then dealt the American WBA ?super? welterweight belt-owner his first defeat in 30 fights via split decision.
But most important of all, the ?Fighter of the Decade? 2000 showed the world that at his age, he could still win over a much younger opponent and strip him of his crown to unite at least the WBA version of the division.
The brash-talking Thurman is 10 years Pacquiao?s junior.
That was the Philippine Senator?s 62nd victory in 71 fights that also served notice to the other best in the 147-pound division he?s ready to face them all and regain the respect he once enjoyed.
And he intimated that intent to both Errol Spence Jr., owner of the IBF welterweight title since 2017, and former sparring partner Shawn Porter, the WBC titleholder, who both watched Pacquiao-Thurman title encounter.
Spence and Porter are scheduled to meet two months from now at the Staple Center in Los Angeles in what could be the first step to be taken by the Philippine Boxing Champions to ultimately unite the fragmented division.
Manny Pacquiao (L) drops Keith Thurman to the canvas in the first round during their WBA world welterweight title fight Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Wendell Alinea.
?Yeah, I hope to meet the winner of that fight,? Pacquiao told television interviewer after the fight.
?One Time? Thurman tried to bounce back from that first round knockdown but just couldn?t contain the Filipino?s quickness and firepower the rest of the way.
Judges Dave Moretti and Tim Cheatham scored the fight in identical 115-112, both for the Philippine Senator, but judge Glenn Feldman saw it differently, submitting a close 114-113 card.
The split decision verdict was booed lustily by the 14,000 crowd.
Both judges Moretti and Cheatam gave Pacquiao seven rounds. The former saw the Filipino winning in the first, second, fourth, fifth eighth, 1oth and 12th.
Cheatam had then Pacman winning the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, 10th and 12th.
Judge Feldman had Thurman the victor in the third, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th and 12th. .
All three judges gave Pacquiao the first round with similar 10-8 verdict.
For the first time since the combatants started training, the bad-mouthing Thurman acknowledged Pacquiao?s advantage in hand speed, footwork and punching power, blaming the first round knockdown as to have tilted in Pacquiao?s favor.
?I congratulate Manny Pacquiao for his victory. He really won tonight,? Thurman said during the post fight interview with media. ?He?s too fast and too strong.?
?I did my best to come back but everytime I did, he kept on coming back.
Pacquiao, likewise, congratulated Thurman for giving a good fight.
?Keith is a very good fighter. You can never underestimate him,? he said of his opponent. ?I believe he has a great future coming his way.?
Turning his head on his victim, Pacquiao said: ?Don?t be disappointed for your defeat.?
Pacquiao was supposed to fly to Manila via a private plane right after the fight to catch President Duterte?s State of the Nation Address on Monday.
He was advised by the doctors, though, not to. Rule of the fight game is to rest a boxer who fought for 12 rounds or damaged badly to rest for 24 hours.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
EVERY WORD FROM THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR PACHECO VS. ALEEM IN CARSON, CALIFORNIA
Fri, 17 Jul 2026WBO Youth Champion Esteban Garson Signs Agreement with Tuto Zabala Jr.'s All Star Boxing, Inc.
Fri, 17 Jul 2026Wheels and Waves 2026 at August 8 & 9 in Samal
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 17 Jul 2026FM Rico Salimbagat leads IIEE Chessmasters team in Bundesliga
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 17 Jul 2026MCGIRT: WE HAVEN’T SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF PACHECO’S TALENT
Fri, 17 Jul 2026Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame Announces Tickets Are Now on Sale & Special Guests Confirmed for 10th Annual Awards & Induction Weekend
Fri, 17 Jul 2026Puma Half Marathon kicks off July 19
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 17 Jul 2026Asian Youth Chess in China
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 17 Jul 2026NONSTOP ACTION ADDED TO ROACH VS. ZEPEDA WITH STACKED UNDERCARD
Thu, 16 Jul 2026Heavyweight Dainier Pero Looks to Continue His Climb Against Aleem Whitfield Live on ESPN
Thu, 16 Jul 2026Ryan Garcia Set to Defend World Title Against Conor Benn in Paramount+ Global Bout at T-Mobile Arena on September 12 over Mexican Independence Day Weekend
Thu, 16 Jul 2026Fight Result: Yuga Ozaki Stops Jerry Francisco in Tokyo
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 16 Jul 2026Bruno Tarimo returns to Headline Dragon Fire Boxings next event; BOXINGMANIA August 8th in a WBA Championship clash with Junlun Zhao
Thu, 16 Jul 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The WBC Reaps Rewards in Uruguay
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 15 Jul 2026Risky proposition for Charly
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 15 Jul 2026