Pacquiao hands Thurman first loss in throwback performance

By Justin Hackman

21/07/2019

Pacquiao hands Thurman first loss in throwback performance

Manny Pacquiao W12 Keith Thurman: In what was arguably the most entertaining, while simultaneously the most competitive Manny Pacquiao fight in years, a legend further added to his legacy as perhaps one of the greatest fighters ever in boxing, winning a split decision over a sharp, focused, and previously unbeaten Keith Thurman.  The speed of Pacquaio’s feet, hands, and head were simply too much for Thurman, which was apparent in the first round, as a charging Manny dropped Thurman flat on his back with a straight left to the body and a lightning quick right hook to the jaw.  The back of Thurman’s head seemed to hit the canvas faster than the punch itself.  Not losing his wits however, Thurman rose and instantly silenced the pro-Manny crowd with a crisp and powerful right hook upstairs of his own to stop Manny in his tracks--an exchange that could not have made for a more accurate illustration for what became an incredibly intense twelve round fight.  By the start of round 5, Thurman had begun to land thunderous combinations on Pacquiao, even perhaps briefly stunning Manny and forcing him to cover up along the ropes.  But Manny being Manny, as frequently as Thurman landed over the course of 12 rounds, he never allowed the momentum to favor the younger fighter for long.  The Filipino’s savage flurries found their mark over and over again on the head and body of Thurman, proving to be decidedly more consistent and more damaging throughout.  The official scores were closer than anticipated, but the guy who beat the other guy ended up officially winning too, by scores of 115-113 for Thurman, and 115-112 twice for Manny, who improves to 62-7-2 (39 KOs).  Keith Thurman enters the first mark in his loss column at the hands of a boxing immortal, and even after tonight’s performance in defeat, he has not relinquished his status as one of the top-tier fighters at welterweight.  He drops to 29-1 with 22 KOs. Source: PBC on Fox PPV