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AFP
Manila/Las Vegas
Fans in the Philippines roared their approval and rose to their feet on Sunday, imitating the punches of Manny Pacquiao, as they declared that their idol was still a boxing force at the age of 40 with his stunning victory over American Keith Thurman.
The Filipino legend rolled back the years to become the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history with a thrilling split decision victory over WBA champion Thurman.
Filipinos from street vendors to lawmakers went wild, pumping their fists in the air during the first round of the fight. Pacquiao, 10 years older than the previously undefeated Thurman, delivered a vintage performance to win before a sell-out MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd of 14,356 which included former welterweight king Floyd Mayweather.
Pacquiao floored Thurman with an electrifying combination in the first round and remained on the front foot throughout a pulsating 12-round duel.
Although the bloodied Thurman rallied in the later rounds to narrow Pacquiao’s lead, the judges scored it in the Filipino’s favour. Two judges scored it 115-112 for Pacquiao with the third scoring it 114-113 for Thurman.
Despite Thurman’s threat to send Pacquiao into retirement in the Las Vegas showdown, fans of the eight-division world champion were thrilled to see him eat his words as they packed into gyms, military camps and movie theatres all over the country to watch the fight.
“It was wow, wow, wow! He is amazing. He showed himself a true Filipino, a hero,” 51-year-old Raquel Sanders told AFP after watching the bout in a Manila sports complex.
“It was fun,” Pacquiao said afterwards. “My opponent is a good fighter and boxer. He was strong.”
Thurman had riled Pacquiao in the build-up to the fight by vowing to “crucify” his deeply religious opponent, and later promising to send the Filipino icon into retirement.
Pacquiao, who improved to 62-7-2 with 39 knockouts, was gracious in victory.
“I’m not that kind of boxer who talks a lot; we were just promoting the fight,” he said.
“I want to clap my opponent. He’s very tough. He can fight. This guy is a warrior.”
Pacquiao, who earned an estimated $20 million from Saturday’s fight, is now a major player in the competitive welterweight division once again after capturing Thurman’s WBA welterweight ‘super’ champion belt.
The eight-division world champion said he will now return to the Philippines to resume his work as a senator before deciding on his next move inside the ring. “I think I will fight next year,” said Pacquiao, who was due to fly out of Las Vegas for the Philippines shortly after the fight. “I will go back to the Philippines and work and then make a decision.”
Thurman meanwhile had few complaints in defeat, embracing Pacquiao after the final bell in recognition of an epic contest.
“I knew it was too close,” Thurman said. “He got the knockdown so he had momentum in round one.
“This was a beautiful night of boxing. I wish I had a little bit more output to go toe to toe. I felt like he was getting a little bit tired, but he did have experience in the ring. I would love the rematch.”
Official statistics showed Pacquiao landed 195 of 686 punches thrown, while Thurman connected with 210 of 571.
“My numbers just weren’t up to par to be victorious tonight,” Thurman said. “The fight just flew by. I knew I had to do something big in the later rounds but he was just too good.”
Earlier, a pumped-up Pacquiao had danced into the ring to the strains of Rocky movie anthem “Eye of the Tiger” to bring the crowd to its feet.
Deafening chants of “Manny, Manny” rolled around the packed arena as Pacquiao immediately set about building an advantage.
Towards the end of the round, the crowd erupted as Pacquiao sent Thurman crashing to the canvas, uncorking a left to the ribs before detonating a right hand on the American’s jaw.
The Pacquiao excitement also lit up the online world with fans in the social media-obsessed nation using the hashtag #StillA40rce.
“Senator Pacquiao proved that age is just a number and (he) still can make another legend,” said Twitter user @rinrin_irene.
However, tragedy dampened the mood in Manila’s Marikina suburb where a 68-year-old fan collapsed as he was watching the bout in a gym. He was rushed to the hospital but declared dead on arrival, police said.
The man had a heart illness and could have gotten “excited” and “overjoyed” upon watching Thurman getting knocked down, Marikina police said, but added doctors had yet to issue a medical report.
Pacquiao is considered a national hero by many as his athletic feats have put the Philippines on the boxing map.
His rags-to-riches rise from high school dropout to millionaire champion is a source of inspiration in a nation mired in poverty.
In Pacquiao’s heyday, authorities said his fights stopped traffic and crime.
But Pacquiao, also an elected senator, stirred controversy when he entered politics as he endorsed the death penalty and issued gay slurs in 2016 for which he later apologised.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman hailed his ally’s victory. “Our pound-for-pound King did not show any signs of intimidation as he embodied what a Filipino spirit is all about - a fighter,” Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Some Pacquiao fans said while their idol had proven his mettle, he showed signs of aging. “He can still fight but not a long bout because he gets tired. A younger fighter would have more endurance than an older fighter,” said Willieboy Ramos, 50.
Pacquiao, who reversed a 2016 decision to retire, repeatedly says boxing is his passion and he still feels young.
Philippine boxing chief Ed Picson said only Pacquiao could decide on his future.
“His place in world boxing as a legend is secure ... He has nothing more to prove,” said Picson, secretary general of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.Brilliant Manny floors Thurman to capture
WBA crown
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22/07/2019
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