Famous last words

I recently came across a story about super WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s latest victim Keith Thurman written by John Dennen in Boxing News, a weekly London trade publication that’s been around since 1909, longer than The Ring Magazine which made its debut on the shelves in 1922.

I’ve been a loyal Boxing News reader since the 1980s but I failed to renew my subscription this year, missing out on the issues that reported on Pacquiao’s fight against Thurman. Our dear family friend Jing Rivera Nejad, who lives in London, worked out the renewal and back issues were sent to include the coverage of the Pacquiao-Thurman WBA unification duel.

Going over the back issues, I was stunned by a story headlined by Thurman’s quote “Roach has pumped Manny’s head with lies.” This was over two weeks before the fight and Thurman predicted Pacquiao’s downfall like a predator sizing up its prey.

At the time, Thurman held the super WBA welterweight crown and Pacquiao, the regular version. He was also undefeated then. The fight was to unify the super and regular WBA belts. Thurman said he chased Pacquiao for six years but never got the chance to come to terms until it finally happened.

“Every welterweight in the division wanted this fight,” he said. “Errol Spence, Shawn Porter, even Terence Crawford would take this fight. Everybody wanted this fight as long as Pacquiao still wanted to be an active fighter and wanted to make more exciting fights for the fans.” It’s no secret that Pacquiao is a ticket to a big payday and to claim a win over the future Hall of Famer is a big feather in anyone’s cap.

Thurman looked down at Pacquiao whom he ridiculed by pointing to his short arms like the extinct T-Rex. “It’s not going to be easy for Pacquiao with those short arms of his,” he said. “I think standing on the outside is really beneficial for me. He’s 40 years old and I want to mix it up with a legend a little bit in there and see who touches who first and who makes who back up. Pacquiao’s going to get the results of me being in some of the best shape that I’ve been in a long time.”

Thurman said even as Pacquiao has fought legends in the past, he’ll be up against a younger, tougher opponent. “He’s never been in the ring with me,” he said. “I know Freddie Roach is pumping his head up with a lot of lies and he’s going to find out the truth. I’m going to be a lot more active from the beginning. He’s not going to be able to coast into taking his time and waiting until the seventh round before he starts letting his punches go. It’s going to be a fight from the start and then we’ll see if his age happens to show or not. Ultimately, I’m not convinced that Pacquiao belongs at the top of the welterweight division in today’s generation.” Thurman appeared to be trying hard to convince himself he would beat Pacquiao.

Boxing News writer Paul Wheeler agreed with Thurman and picked him to win on points. “Thurman remains an explosive puncher when unleashing fast, slashing blows from either of his fists,” said Wheeler. “He’ll have youth, size and power on his side. Many of the rounds will be hard to call but with his versatility, mobility and draining body attacks, Thurman can retain his WBA strap on points.”

Both Thurman and Wheeler were proved wrong when Pacquiao scored a knockdown in the first round and won by a split decision in Las Vegas last July 20. “Obviously, he caught me with my hands down,” said Thurman. “I was aware of Pacquiao’s springiness. I was aware that I should have done my head movement but being aware and doing what you have to do are two different things in the ring. The opening rounds didn’t start off the way I wanted to. Pacquiao had a lot of momentum from the knockdown. I’ve got an 0, I’m not afraid to let it go. If you can beat me, beat me. I was beaten and that’s the sport of boxing.” Thurman spoke like a man who just ate humble pie. 

Boxing News editor Matt Christie wrote this fitting climax to the story: “If we look at his supreme accomplishments and the fighters he has beaten, if we recognize the fearlessness he’s exhibited when testing himself against bigger and younger adversaries, then the only conclusion to draw is that Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest of them all.” Amen to that.