LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao, the all-time boxing legend, aimed to prove that he could still take care of business against an elite opponent at age 40.
He did just that as he added yet another enormous victory to his storied 24-year-year career by defeating Keith Thurman, a man 10 years his junior, by split decision to take his undefeated record and welterweight world title before 14,356 on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Pacquiao, who knocked Thurman down in the first round, won 115-112 on the scorecards from judges Dave Moretti and Tim Cheatham while judge Glenn Feldman had I t 114-113 for Thurman. ESPN also had it for Pacquiao, 117-110.
Pacquiao first arrived from the Philippines to fight in the United States as a relative unknown former flyweight titleholder and, in the same arena, knocked out Lehlo Ledwaba in the sixth round of a big upset to win a junior featherweight world title as a late replacement on an Oscar De La Hoya undercard in 2001. Eighteen years later, Pacquiao continued to thrill fans in an arena that has become something of a second home as he took down Thurman in action-packed fight.
Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs), 30, of Clearwater, Florida, who was making his sixth defense against the secondary titlist Pacquiao, had promised to send him into retirement. Thurman, who predicted he would knock out Pacquiao out inside six rounds, said he would make the Pacman “disappear.”
He mocked Pacquiao’s smaller size by saying he had “little T-Rex arms” and claimed that his in-and-out style was made him look like a bunny.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), 40, the iconic senator from the Philippines and the only fighter in boxing history to win world titles in eight weight classes, claimed the trash talk motivated him to work even harder than usual in training camp. True or not, Pacquiao looked sharp. His speed and reflexes were there, as was his stinging power and ability to move in-and-out and side-to-side as he hurt Thurman several times.
They went right at each other with heavy punches from the outset. Each landed solid shots in the first round but it was Pacquiao, with a clean straight hand that connected flush and knocked Thurman down in the waning seconds of the round to elicit a massive cheer from the crowd.
Thurman quickly beat referee Kenny Bayless’ count and the round ended.
Pacquiao rocked Thurman with another straight right hand in the second round followed by a burst of punches from all angles. Thurman tried to fight back but didn’t land much and could not get away from Pacquiao, who chased him down.
When Thurman forced Pacquiao to the ropes in the third round with a flurry of punches, Pacquiao immediately responded to blunt his success as the crowd began to chant “Manny! Manny!”
Thurman tried to get his jab going and land to Pacquiao’s body in the fifth round. He has some success but Pacquiao eventually forced him back and fired combinations. By the end of the round Thurman looked a bit shaky and was bleeding from his nose.
Thurman bounced back in the sixth round as the pace slowed. He got in a few solid shots and appeared to shade the round.
Thurman continued to come on strong in the seventh round, whacking Pacquiao with right hands and leaving him with swelling by his right temple.
Pacquiao rocked Thurman with a left hand in the eighth round and Thurman’s nose began to pout blood again.
There was a fierce toe-to-toe exchange in the ninth round when Thurman forced Pacquiao to the ropes and unloaded but Pacquiao quickly turned the tables.
Pacquiao had a big 10th round, when he visibly hurt Thurman with a left hand to the body. Thurman winced and was on the run trying to get away as Pacquiao swarmed him and belted him with shots.
Thurman connected with a left-right combination in the 11th round as Pacquiao’s temple area continued to swell but it appeared like he would need something dramatic in the final round.
Pacquiao did not look to cruise in the final round, however. He cracked Thurman with heavy punches and stood toe to toe with him to close out the exciting fight.