Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/boxing/article/3019476/manny-pacquiao-still-going-strong-world-reacts-philippines-icons
Sport/ Boxing

‘Manny Pacquiao is still going strong’ – world reacts to Philippines icon’s ‘incredible’ win against Keith Thurman

  • Heavyweight legends Deontay Wilder and Lennox Lewis are impressed by the Filipino’s latest triumph
  • Some fans were angry that it came to a split decision, arguing that ‘Pacman’ was the clear winner
Manny Pacquiao throws a right hand against Keith Thurman during their WBA super welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Photo: AFP

The juggernaut that is Manny Pacquiao keeps on going at age 40 and the world reacted to his latest victory in positive fashion, many saying how incredible it was he was still boxing and winning bouts he was not supposed to win.

Pacquiao became the fifth oldest boxer to win a world title on Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, defeating the previously unbeaten American Keith Thurman by a split decision.

The senator from Sarangani boxed like he was the 30-year-old as he took everything the Florida-native threw at him before winning the judges’ decision and improving his ring record to 62-7-2, 39 KOs against a game Thurman.

“His mindset was different. He came to prove a point and that age was just a number,” said WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, who was commenting at ringside. “After his knockdown [Thurman was knocked down late in the first round] it was a bit of a surprise for him. We all thought the youth and the age and Thurman ... he overlooked that too much and he was too confident. He was sadly mistaken,” said the American.

Former heavyweight great Lennox Lewis, who was also commenting at ringside, said: “It was fair [the decision] but Pacquiao was really leading the way and Thurman had no answer to [Pacquiao’s] footwork, simple as that, and he had to look at the fight and how he needed to fight, he had to factor that one in.”

“Given the thought of [how often] Pacquiao has been fighting, it was not like he has been out for a couple of years. Keith Thurman was out for a couple of years and had a couple of injuries and came back with one fight and this was his second fight after the first fight and he looked a bit rusty.”

“When you look at these two guys you could never tell that one guy was 10 years ahead [older],” said Lennox. “Pacquiao is still going [strong].”

George Foreman, boxing’s oldest heavyweight world champion at age 45 when he beat Michael Moorer in 1994, tweeted: “Congratulations Manny Pacquiao what a Champion. ‘Senator Pac-Man’. What a fighter and Sportsman is Pacquiao. Clean fighter proud of this night. Thurman was good as well, just unprepared this the Pac-Man.”

Some Twitter users were angry that it came to a split decision, arguing that Pacquiao was the clear winner.

“How it was split I’ll never know. Thurman won 4 rounds max in my eyes,” Rishab Prakash said.

“By split decision, are you kidding me? I had it 8-4 for Pacquiao and that is NOT a split decision by any means,” tweeted Shotty.

Said another Twitter user: “Split decision. Got a knockdown in the first round and almost finished it 10th round. I thought it was Unanimous for Pac-Man but I’m glad he got the win,” Dannynoi said.