Keith Thurman is bowed but not broken!
After going head to head, the living legend Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KO’s) soundly conquered the younger and previously undefeated Keith “One Time’ Thurman (29-1, 22 KO’s). In doing so, not only did Pacquiao reaffirm his greatness, he also walked away with Thurman’s WBA super world welterweight title. Armed with this strap, Pac-Man now has more than a big name and significant payday; he is also a very relevant belt holder in the 147lbs division.
In the build-up to this exciting prizefight, Pacquiao exuded his typical smiling, positive-energy persona. Naturally, the grinning bruiser displayed confidence. However, he never gave in to any over-the-top trash talking. This was anything but the case for Keith Thurman. For his part, One Time simply could not talk enough smack!
FROM ZERO TO 1OO REAL QUICK!
Thurman proclaimed to all that would listen that Pacquiao was old, his arms were too short, and he did not have the greatest ability to box. The confident Floridian went to so far as to say the Pac-Man’s herky-jerky style was tailor-made for him. Once in the ring, none of these things proved to be true!
The fight could not begin worse for the WBA champ, as he was quickly floored in the first round. True enough, it was a flash knockdown and Thurman was not truly hurt. However, the immediate momentum, and most of the crowd, swayed with the 4o-year old superstar. It would be a momentum that ultimately, Keith Thurman would never recover from.
The former champion certainly had his moments in the fight where he landed nasty flush shots on Pacquiao. On numerous occasions, Pac-Man was forced to prove that he had maintained a world class beard. And on numerous occasions, he proved that he had. In reliable fashion, Pacquiao simply landed more of the visible, crowd-wowing shots. Every time Thurman got a rhythm going, Pacquiao seemed to stun him or otherwise out shine his efforts. This was one fun action-fight!
WHATS NEXT?
In the aftermath, both Thurman and Pacquiao were gracious and classy in their post-fight comments.
“I do know that I’m a true champion! Keith “One Time” Thurman always been a true champion. I will be back on the top of the sport of boxing, and you know, I mean, you gotta go with the flow.
“You gotta take the punches as they come and if you get knocked down, you lift yourself up. That’s what champions do. So, like I said, we’re not going nowhere and we’ll be back like I promised you guys. Keith “One Time” Thurman brings the best fights in the welterweight division, fight me baby, fight me!”
It will be interesting to see what happens next for both of these men. Will Thurman really come back? Who will he chose to come back against? Will One Time face one of the big bosses of the division, or a soft touch? Will Pacquiao face Terence Crawford, the winner of Spence v Porter or will he finally leave on this high note and retire to his life as a politician?
By: Bakari Simpson
