Manny Pacquiao has become the WBA Super champion at the age of 40 – outpointing previously undefeated welterweight Keith Thurman in a split decision in Las Vegas.
Thurman was knocked down in the first round but a thrilling fight went the full distance.
The American, 30, had been looking for his 30th straight win.
Two judges scored it 115-112 to Pacquiao, while the other gave it 114-113 to Thurman.
Pacquiao – a world champion at eight weights – was fighting for the 71st time in a stellar career that has seen seven defeats, but with four of those losses coming in his past 11 fights before the meeting with Thurman.
Thurman had a height, reach, weight and age advantage over Pacquiao, but was chasing the fight from the beginning and started to bleed from his nose in the fifth round.
He recovered in the middle of the fight, but Pacquiao stormed back to take the last few rounds.
The Filipino – a senator in his homeland – could now face Britain’s Amir Khan. Last week he denied claims that an agreement for a bout in Saudi Arabia was a already in place for November.
Khan claims the bout will take place in Riyadh on 8 November.
Source: BBC
