Pacquiao Hands Thurman First Loss

Even at the age of 40, Manny Pacquiao continues to produce highlights and extend his boxing legacy. Pacquiao, WBA (Regular) welterweight champion took a decision win over WBA (Super) Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman to win the Super title in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card in Las Vegas on July 20.

While Thurman managed to come out with some strong punching in the first, Pacquiao managed to catch him with a right hook late in the round to score a knockdown. Thurman attempted to come back in the second frame, but while he landed some more, he was still facing trouble from Pacquiao’s speed.

Pacquiao continued with the right hook in the third, as did Thurman with the body shots, though Pacquiao rocked him once more in the fourth. Thurman again came forward and forced Pacquiao to eat strong punches, but Pacquiao hit a major counterpunch that sparked a flurry in the closing seconds. By the time Thurman got back to his corner after the fifth, his face looked busted up well.

Thurman started to take control over the next couple of rounds, including a near-dominant seventh in which he came out aggressive and answered everything Pacquiao landed on him. The fight’s pace slowed over the next couple of rounds as Pacquiao gained back control. Thurman found success in the 10th, but once again, he ended up chased by Pacquiao.

Thurman fired all he could in the 11th, with the 12th featuring plenty of exchanging before the judges’ cards.

One judge scored the bout a highly controversial 114-113 in Thurman’s favor, but the other two judges gave Pacquiao the nod 115-112.

With the win, Pacquiao now becomes the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history.

The rest of the main card saw Yordenis Ugas defeat Omar Figueroa Jr. in a WBC title eliminator, while Sergey Lipinets and Luis Nery, respectively, scored finishes of Jayar Inson and Juan Carlos Payano.

On the undercard, Caleb Plant stopped Mike Lee to retain the IBF Super Middleweight Title and Efe Ajagba bested Ali Eren Demirezen in a heavyweight bout.

Main Card Results:

WBA Welterweight Championship: (Regular Champion) Manny Pacquiao def. (Super Champion) Keith Thurman via split decision (113-114, 115-112,115-112)

Yordenis Ugas def. Omar Figueroa Jr. via unanimous decision (119-107, 119-107, 119-107)

Sergey Lipinets def. Jayar Inson via TKO (Rd. 2, 0:57)

Luis Nery def. Juan Carlos Payano via KO (Rd. 9, 1:43)

Undercard Results:

IBF Super Middleweight Championship: (c.) Caleb Plant def. Mike Lee via TKO (Rd. 3, 1:29)

Efe Ajagba def. Ali Eren Demirezen via unanimous decision (97-93, 99-91, 99-91)