No crucifixion, just another resurrection
Credit to Author: ED C. TOLENTINO| Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2019 16:16:30 +0000
Not a few fans trooped to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas expecting unbeaten Keith Thurman to pull the curtains down on the illustrious boxing career of Manny Pacquiao.
Thurman supposedly had it all – youth, size, and a killer right straight that has claimed many southpaw boxers. So confident was Thurman that he promised to “crucify” Pacquiao and end his legendary career.
Make no mistake, Thurman tried to make good on his promise. He came out like a house on fire in the opening round, unloading early on Pacquiao. Thurman was actually winning the round until Pacquiao charged forward and floored the American with a blistering left straight to the body/right hook to the head combination. Thurman dropped to the seat of his pants and while he was able to beat the count, he left his swagger on the canvas.
Pacquiao stole the opening round and proceeded to dominate the first five rounds with his aggressiveness, power, and superior work rate. Pacquiao stunned Thurman at the end of the fifth round and left him bleeding on the nose.
Pacquiao was in control until he decided to coast in the middle rounds. Thurman was already employing lateral movements at this point and Pacquiao, in a bid to conserve his energy, sought refuge along the ropes. Pacquiao seemed more interested in enticing Thurman to come forward instead of chasing him.
Thurman took the opportunity to mount a comeback. He took the sixth and seventh rounds and unloaded some vicious right hands at Pacquiao in the ninth round. A pedestrian adversary would have crumbled, but Pacquiao took the shots in stride.
Pacquiao regained control of the fight in the tenth round, when a solid left to the ribcage sent Thurman reeling along the ropes in agonizing pain. Thurman somehow survived and rebounded to land some mean right straights in the eleventh frame, but it was Pacquiao who finished the fight strong.
The decision should have been unanimous but Judge Glenn Feldman developed cataract issues and inexplicably gave the fight to Thurman with a 114-113 score. It’s a good thing that the two remaining judges, Dave Moretti and Tim Cheatham, both scored it 115-112 for Pacquiao. This writer also scored it 115-112 for Pacquiao.
Thurman graciously accepted defeat. While the punch statistics showed that he landed more shots, Thurman acknowledged that his output was not sufficient to overcome the momentum Pacquiao built following the first-round knockdown.
Pacquiao’s ring savvy and experience came in handy. He pressured Thurman early in the fight and repeatedly charged with both fists flailing. As noted trainer Teddy Atlas pointed out, Thurman failed to catch a lunging Pacquiao with his counter right straight. Pacquiao was just too fast for Thurman. Pacquiao would charge with a one-two combination and then wisely slide/dip to avoid any counter from Thurman. Thurman was too slow to react, particularly in the early rounds.
When the fight reached the middle rounds, Pacquiao tried to preserve his energy by occasionally seeking refuge along the ropes. This was a risky move, but Pacquiao didn’t want to drain his fuel tank chasing Thurman who was already employment lateral movements at this juncture. Thurman’s right hand started finding its mark as Pacquiao assumed a flat-footed stance. However, when the fight dragged into the trenches, Pacquiao wisely shifted his assaults to the body to test Thurman’s suspect stamina. One huge left to the breadbasket nearly toppled Thurman in the tenth stanza.
With the victory, Pacquiao legitimized his claim over the welterweight (147 pounds) tiara. Pacquiao wrested from Thurman the “super” version of the WBA welterweight crown which is considered the genuine welterweight strap. At 40, Pacquiao became the oldest boxer to win the welterweight title. Overall, he became the fifth oldest boxer to be crowned world champ, following in the footsteps of Bernard Hopkins (48), George Foreman (45), Sugar Boy Malinga (41) and Bob Fitzsimmons (40).
Thurman absorbed his first defeat in 30 fights, but he acquitted himself well. Unlike Pacquiao’s previous foes Adrien Broner and Lucas Matthysse, Thurman showed up with the clear intent to beat Pacquiao. The 23-month inactivity arguably affected Thurman’s timing and conditioning. Thurman hired two conditioning coaches, but there were reports that he took cortisone shots during training to accelerate the healing process. Thurman was inactive for nearly two years because of a slew of injuries. Still, in defeat, Thurman raised his fistic stock.
Pacquiao has indicated another return to the ring early next year. The names that have cropped up include former champions Miguel Angel Garcia and Danny Garcia. A familiar name, Floyd Mayweather Jr., is also in the cards. It cannot be denied that Pacquiao joined Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions with the end in view of securing a return bout with Mayweather Jr.
For now, Pacquiao is savoring his toughest victory in recent years. Pacquiao was tested to the hilt but pulled through with another unbelievable performance. Admittedly, Father Time remains unbeaten in this sport, but the way Pacquiao is dodging it is beyond compare.
Not a few thought Thurman would make good on his “crucifixion” vow, but Pacquiao instead treated fans to yet another resurrection.
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