Manny Pacquiao celebrates his win against Adrien Broner in the WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring against undefeated champion Keith Thurman on July 20, six months after retaining his WBA (Regular) welterweight title.
The Filipino boxing legend on Sunday announced the news on social media.
The summer just got a little hotter! pic.twitter.com/SxcZsEauNq
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) May 12, 2019
Pacquiao dominated Adrien Broner for 12 rounds in his last bout on January 19 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs), the reigning WBA (Super) welterweight champion, is expected to give Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) a stiff challenge which the fighting senator didn’t get against Broner and Lucas Matthysse, whom he stopped in seven rounds in July last year.
The 30-year-old Thurman edged Joselito Lopez by majority decision in his previous fight last January.