Going by their immediate last fights, setting up the WBA world welterweight championship between Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman was never easy. But give it to the fabulous merchandisers at Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, there’s a burning matchup waiting at the boxing bend in July.
His status as eight-division world champion is unshakeable. But it is obvious Pacquiao has promptly been tagged the underdog in the July 20 fight based on the fighters’ widely contrasting age and ring record.
Thurman, 30, is unbeaten; Pacquiao, 40, has lost a total of seven times, including a crushing lights-out knockout in 2012.
Pacquiao, listed as regular (secondary) WBA welterweight titleholder, also pales as a crown pretender against Thurman, the reigning WBA super welterweight champion.
It will be a WBA unification championship.
There are experts who fear a dismal end to Pacquiao, but nothing honestly complete has been told about Thurman who, like it or not, is checking in for the championship as a repaired fighter who has not figured in very relevant bouts for over two years.
Pacquiao’s last two outings were sizzlers.
Thurman could barely survive against a 16-1 underdog in January.
Pacquiao himself would not deny that he had found Thurman rusty, although he readily assured the WBA super welter champion is the toughest opponent available out there (?).
“I thought his style would match up with mine, he had looked rusty but that won’t be an issue,” Pacquiao stated.
Pacquiao added he expects an action fight from Thurman.
“I’ve always looked for the best challenges in my career,” Pacquiao stressed.
Thurman’s last fight in January after coming from a 22-month layoff due to injuries was trashy, but the undefeated champ nevertheless survived.
Didn’t Thurman look he needed further rehabilitation, or at least a solid tuneup match before taking on the fabulous and ageless Pacquiao?
Pacquiao predicts fierce, fiery combat.
The tougher the better, Pacquiao also promises killing combat because, he swears, that’s what fight fans expect and deserve.