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| Manny Pacquiao looked like a much younger fighter after knocking down the previously unbeaten Keith Thurman. |
He may have lost some of the speed and power when he was in his prime, but thte 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao showed that he still had plenty of boxing left in him.
From the start of the fight in Las Vegas Saturday, the amazingly fit and energetic Pacquiao seemed to surprise champion Keith Thurman, who tasted defeat the first time in his boxing career.
The Filipino boxer quickly lunged in to deliver a barrage of punches to the body and head and just as quickly, Pacquiao would jump back and out before Thurman could counterpunch. Pacquiao knock down of Thurman in the first round looked like vintage Pacquio, pleasing the partisan audience at the MGM Resort.
In the middle rounds Thurman seemed to realize that he was being outscored and managed to win a few rounds but Pacquiao remained unfazed. Pacquiao fought back enough to counter the points being made by his opponent.
The older Pacquiao showed his stamina by becoming the agressor again the 10th and 11th rounds, apparently hurting Thurman with body blows.
Pacquiao's aggressiveness in the early rounds and Thurman's strong comeback mad the outcome of the 12-rounder uncertain even with the sold-out audience favoring the Filipino.
The first judge gave the fight to Thurman but the next two judges awarded the WBA world welterweight crown to Pacquiao. Post fight analytics showed that Pacquiao outpunched Thurman by 686 to 571.
It was the Filipino senator's 62nd win of a remarkable 71-fight career that has spanned 24 years. The welterweight crown is the ninth title for Pacquiao. Veterans at ringside described the performance as Pacquiao's best since his dazzling win over Antonio Margarito in 2010.
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