Pacquiao Beats Thurman To Become Oldest Welterweight Champion In Boxing History
21st July 2019
The eight-division world champion said he will now return to the Philippines to resume his work as a senator before deciding on his next move inside the ring
- Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao rolled back the years to become the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history with a thrilling split decision victory over WBA champion Keith Thurman
- The 40-year-old Pacquiao, 10 years older than the previously undefeated Thurman, delivered a vintage performance before a sell-out MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd of 14,356
- Pacquiao floored Thurman with an electrifying combination in the first round and remained on the front foot throughout a pulsating 12-round duel
LAS VEGAS, United States- Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao rolled back the years to become the
oldest welterweight champion in boxing history with a thrilling split decision
victory over WBA champion Keith Thurman on Saturday.
The 40-year-old
Pacquiao, 10 years older than the previously undefeated Thurman, delivered a
vintage performance before a sell-out MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd of 14,356
which included former welterweight king Floyd Mayweather.
Pacquiao floored
Thurman with an electrifying combination in the first round and remained on the
front foot throughout a pulsating 12-round duel.
Although the
bloodied Thurman rallied in the later rounds to narrow Pacquiao's lead, the
judges scored it in the Filipino's favour. Two judges scored it 115-112 for
Pacquiao with the third scoring it 114-113 for Thurman.
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"It was
fun," Pacquiao said afterwards. "My opponent is a good fighter and
boxer. He was strong."
Thurman had riled
Pacquiao in the build-up to the fight by vowing to "crucify" his
deeply religious opponent, and later promising to send the Filipino icon into
retirement.
Pacquiao, who
improved to 62-7-2 with 39 knockouts, was gracious in victory.
"I'm not that
kind of boxer who talks a lot; we were just promoting the fight," he
said.
"I want to clap
my opponent. He's very tough. He can fight. This guy is a warrior."
Pacquiao, who earned
an estimated $20 million from Saturday's fight, is now a major player in the
competitive welterweight division once again after capturing Thurman's WBA
welterweight 'super' champion belt.
The eight-division
world champion said he will now return to the Philippines to resume his work as
a senator before deciding on his next move inside the ring.
"I think I will
fight next year," said Pacquiao, who was due to fly out of Las Vegas for
the Philippines shortly after the fight. "I will go back to the
Philippines and work and then make a decision."
Thurman meanwhile
had few complaints in defeat, embracing Pacquiao after the final bell in
recognition of an epic contest.
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"I knew it was
too close," Thurman said. "He got the knockdown so he had momentum in
round one.
"This was a
beautiful night of boxing. I wish I had a little bit more output to go toe to
toe. I felt like he was getting a little bit tired, but he did have experience
in the ring. I would love the rematch."
Official statistics
showed Pacquiao landed 195 of 686 punches thrown, while Thurman connected with
210 of 571.
"My numbers
just weren't up to par to be victorious tonight," Thurman said. "The
fight just flew by. I knew I had to do something big in the later rounds but he
was just too good."