- Manny Pacquiao defeats Kieth Thurman by split decision in Las Vegas
- The Filipino champion brawled with the previously unbeaten Thurman to claim the WBA welterweight title
Manny Pacquiao out-dueled unbeaten champion Keith Thurman over 12 all-action rounds on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to capture the WBA title in a thrilling split decision. In the main event, Pacquiao generally out-boxed Thurman and avoided his biggest power shots, winning a split decision through 12 rounds.
Before the fight, Pacquiao, 40, has a 61-7-2 record as a professional, with wins in his last two bouts. He has 39 wins via knockout and 22 by decision. He’s an eight-division world champion who currently holds the WBA (Regular) welterweight strap. Thurman, 30, is 29-0 with 22 victories via knockout. His résumé includes wins over Josessito López, Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter, Robert Guerrero and plenty of others. He’s beaten nobody of Pacquiao’s caliber, but then again, Pacquiao isn’t exactly in his prime.
On this fight, two judges scored it 115-112 to Pacquiao, while the other gave it 114-113 to Thurman, making the Filipino fighting senator to hand him his first defeat of his career.
Pacquiao plans to return to his home in the Philippines where he serves as a senator after the fight, but will be back in the ring soon — he’s just not sure when yet.
He plans to watch the upcoming Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter fight with the hopes of facing the winner in 2020.
