SPANISH HARLEM – In hindsight, I thought I would only right a paragraph about this fight but once I started typing, I couldn’t stop.
I wanted to talk about the New York Yankees and this series in Minnesota, (the games felt like a three-day Home Run Derby) but Manny Pacquiao won out this time, only fitting.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman
As many of you know, I wasn’t too high on Pacquiao in this fight, even though he was the betting favorite going in. While The Pacman will go down in boxing history as one of the best ever, you had to think that this was a dangerous fight to take. Keith Thurman is young and was undefeated in his career when this fight started. He was a legit threat to win this. Father Time is not kind to boxers that don’t know when to hang it up and the cycle usually goes like this: An older champion is thinking about retirement but the money is just too good… he eventually takes that match that everybody wants to see… It’s against the up-and-comer, who is hungry to show the world that he is ready to take the mantle… He is faster and stronger than the older champion and eventually that win propels the younger guy to stardom… or at least some money fights.
That did not happen on Saturday night, as Manny Pacquiao turned back the clock and won a split decision that got interesting later in the rounds. In the first round, Pacquiao got the only knockdown of the fight but you knew when it happened, that it changed everything for Thurman. Whatever game plan his corner had coming into the fight was now scrapped. Pacman dominated the early rounds with flurries only he could land, coming from different angles to confuse Thurman. It was classic Manny being Manny, contorting his body in ways no boxer should, like he drank from the Fountain of Youth.
Thurman was no slouch though, he sneaked in and stole two rounds out of 6 (in my eyes) – and I’m sure some would say he won more than that. His confidence was growing and soon that led to a more aggressive style. More body shots and counter punches to the chin made this fight an entertaining one after all. I guesstimate that in the 10th round, Pacquiao caught Thurman with a body blow that stunned him and tilted whatever momentum was brewing. The Pacman did everything he could to win the fight, he looked like the better boxer that night. It was only a matter of time before the crowd knew it too.
Another great win for Manny Pacquiao in an already Hall of Fame Career.
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