Manny Pacquiao rolls back the years against Keith Thurman

Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao rolls back the years against Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman

Photos from Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions

BNN writer Anish Parekh reports: Pacquiao defeats Thurman by split decision – 114-113, 115-112, 115-112

I have never been so happy to be wrong about a fight.

I didn’t think he had it in him but Manny Pacquiao provided a vintage performance to delight the fans in Las Vegas and become the WBA welterweight champion.

Prior to the title-bout, Thurman crassly said that he would crucify the Pacquiao – a devout Christian – and attempted to be the aggressor in the opening round. He wanted to overwhelm the 40 year old but was made to pay for such folly.

Pacquiao stood his ground in defiance. With the action finely balanced, Pacquiao dramatically tipped the round in his balance, thrashing a left hook to the body, followed by a superb right hand that heavily knocked Thurman down.

The ‘Pacman’ continued his onslaught in the second round. The champion looked perplexed as Pacquiao darted in, did his damage and spun away, with Thurman connecting with fresh air as he swung wildly.

When the bell signaled to end the round, Pacquiao treated the audience with a rare piece of showboating. A message perhaps, to the doubters – myself included – that he still has it.

Thurman’s work was sloppy, his defense was leaky and his strategy was predictable. He walked towards the Philippines senator in straight lines, dabbing out a lazy jab, whilst making it evidently clear that he wanted to launch his straight right hand that was practically cocked back into the crowd.

‘One Time’ has shown a fragility to a sustained body-attack in his contests against Josesito Lopez and Luis Collazo. This was duly noted by Pacquiao, as he landed ripping body shots time and time again that stymied Thurman, as he attempted to build some momentum with aggressive pressure.

As the fight wore on, Thurman grew into the fight, he did begin to have success with his jab, right hook and straight right, which gave him the edge in the seventh round but Pacquiao was on a mission. Whenever Thurman looked like he was turning the tide of the contest, Pacquiao would roar back with blistering shots that would even make winning rounds a painful ordeal for his Floridian foe.

Despite the latter round becoming increasingly competitive, Pacquiao displayed the superior work. Exceptional upper-body movement, blazing combinations and elusive footwork was breathtaking and in the 10th round, a brutal left to the body almost left Thurman breathless. His face was etched with pain and after being momentarily paralyzed, he peddled backwards to avoid anymore punishment from an onrushing Pacquiao that would have surely closed the show.

The pair exchanged leather in the championship rounds, which thrilled the watching public, who made their allegiance to Pacquiao clear with chants of “Manny Manny Manny” and screams normally reserved for rock star’s every time he touched Thurman.

When announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr announced that the bout was a split decision, a flabbergasted crowd booed in disapproval.

Thankfully two of the judges saw what the rest of us did – a legendary performance, by a boxing icon that will live long in the memory of everyone that witnessed it.