LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 20, 2019 — Under the bright lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the ageless wonder Manny Pacquiao reminded the boxing world that legends don’t retire—they evolve. In a thrilling welterweight showdown for the WBA (Super) title, Pacquiao, at 40 years old, toppled the undefeated Keith “One Time” Thurman by split decision and etched his name into the record books as the oldest fighter to capture a major welterweight crown.

It was a sold-out, electric night in Las Vegas, and from the opening bell, Pacquiao wasted no time establishing dominance. Thurman, known for his bravado leading up to the bout, paid the price for an early lapse. With just seconds remaining in the first round, Pacquiao unleashed a precise right hand after a blistering body shot, flooring Thurman and sending shockwaves through the arena.

That knockdown proved pivotal—not just for momentum, but in what ultimately became a tightly contested fight on the scorecards. Pacquiao surged in the early rounds, piling on the pressure and busting up Thurman’s nose with flurries that recalled his prime. The younger Thurman regained rhythm in the middle rounds, showing heart and high-level counterpunching, but the veteran’s savvy and explosive bursts kept the tide red in favour of the Filipino icon.

The tenth round was another turning point. A crunching left hook to the ribs visibly staggered Thurman, forcing him into full retreat. The pain was evident, as he momentarily removed his mouthpiece just to draw a deeper breath—an image that captured how much damage the aging champion could still inflict.

Though Thurman landed more total punches and held an edge in accuracy, Pacquiao’s relentless pace, timely power shots, and crowd-rallying moments told the story. Two judges scored it 115-112 for Pacquiao, with one dissenting at 114-113 for Thurman.

With this victory, Pacquiao joins George Foreman as the only boxers to win world titles two decades apart—a staggering achievement. The bout generated 500,000 PPV buys and over $37 million in revenue, a testament to Pacquiao’s enduring star power.

One thing is certain—Manny Pacquiao is far from finished.