Filipino professional boxer and politician, Manny Pacquiao has been crowned the new WBA (Super) welterweight champion after his victory against Keith Thurman in Las Vegas last night.
The 40-year-old secured a split decision victory to hand the American the first defeat of his professional career having previously won all 29 bouts before stepping into the ring with 40-year-old ‘Pac-Man’.
The judges scored fight 115-112, 115-112 and 113-114 in Pacquiao’s favour after 12 rounds bout.
After the bout, Pacquiao said: ‘I was blessed tonight.’
“He’s a good boxer, he’s strong,” says Pacquiao, who becomes the oldest holder of a major welterweight title in boxing history. “I was blessed tonight.”
The 30-year-old Thurman, who had called the bout a “legacy fight” said:“I wish I had a little bit more output to go toe-to-toe. I felt like he was getting a little bit tired. But he did have experience in the ring,” Thurman said.
“My conditioning, my output was just behind Manny Pacquiao. It was a great night of boxing. I would love the rematch. It is what it is, baby.”