Philippines, 17 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Pacquiao Decisions Thurman in a Thriller

PhilBoxing.com




Boxing's only eight-division champion is back on top, claiming the WBA Super World Welterweight title in a furious Fight of the Year candidate on PBC on FOX Sports PPV.

The legend of Manny Pacquiao continues.

At an age where most boxers have long-since retired, the 40-year-old Pacquiao turned in one of the finest performances of his career. In front of a raucous, sell-out crowd of 14,356 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Pacquiao became king once more, dethroning WBA Super World Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman by 12-round split decision in a Fight of the Year candidate in the main event of the PBC on FOX Sports PPV.

Glen Feldman scored the bout 114-113 for Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) while Tim Cheatham and Glen Feldman both had it 115-112 for boxing?s only eight-division world champion.

The scorecards reflected the torrid back and forth action in the ring.

"It was fun,? Pacquiao said afterward. ?My opponent is a good fighter and boxer. He was strong.?

Fun, yes. But not easy. Thurman landed 192 power punches, the most ever landed on Pacquiao in the 43 bouts of his that have been tracked by CompuBox.

Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) landed less (113), but his punches seemed to carry greater effect, evidenced by the left to the solar plexus followed by the straight right upstairs that dropped Thurman late in the opening round. It was the first knockdown of the champion?s career.

Thurman rose to his feet wearing a sheepish grin, but he wasn?t entirely out of trouble. Pacquiao?s blazing lefty hands and feet allowed him to land combinations, step to the side and land some more.

Thurman began finding his footing in the third, inching forward behind the jab and working Pacquiao?s body. He carried that momentum until midway through the fifth, when a hard Pacquiao right hook left Thurman?s nose bruised and bloody. Yet ?One Time? continued to come forward, backing Pacquiao up in the sixth and landed several rights to the head.

By the end of the seventh, the momentum had completely shifted. Thurman was now in control, landing his right to the head and body with regularity. Pacquiao wasn?t flurrying as often. The partisan crowd began encouraging him, shouting ?Manny! Manny! Manny!? during the ninth.

?Pac Man? came alive in the 10th, badly hurting Thurman with a left cross to the ribs. Pacquiao pounced, landing another left downstairs that bent Thurman over. The Senator from the Philippines sought to close the show but Thurman showed some savvy, fighting him off to make it out of the round.

Thurman never stopped trying. And Pacquiao had an answer for it all. They took turns landing over the final rounds, although it appeared Thurman had the edge. It wasn?t enough, however, to sway two of the judges, who scored it in Pacquiao?s favor and making him world champion once again.

"I knew it was too close,? Thurman said. ?He got the knockdown so he had momentum in round one.?

?I really love the fans,? exclaimed the jubilant winner. ?Thank you so much for coming here and witnessing the fight. I?m sure they were happy tonight because they saw a good fight. Even though Thurman lost, he did his best. He?s not an easy opponent. He?s a good boxer and he?s strong. I was just blessed tonight.?

Pacquiao says he will return to the Philippines before deciding on who his next opponent might be. For now, the legend continues?and is showing no signs of stopping.

Yordenis Ugas outclasses Omar Figueroa Jr., wins wide decision

In a WBC world welterweight title eliminator, Cuba?s Yordenis Ugas improved to 24-4 (11 KOs) with a 12-round unanimous decision over former world lightweight champion Omar Figueroa Jr.

This one was never in doubt. Ugas, the natural 147-pounder, used his size, strength?and his boxing skill?to dominate the smaller Figueroa.

Ugas got off to a hot start in the first. Toward the end of the frame, he landed a straight hand to the jaw, sending Figueroa stumbling backward to the ropes. Referee Russell Mora properly ruled it a slip, noting that only the ropes held Figueroa up.

The onslaught was on. Round after round, Ugas would drive Figueroa to the ropes and pound away at his head and body. The bigger man dominated the exchanges in close quarters, but Figueroa (28-1-1, 19 KOs) was full of fight. The Weslaco, Texas resident landed his fair share of shots although none appeared to perturb Ugas.

Save for a point deduction in the fifth (for clinching), it all went Ugas? way who cruised to the victory by three scores of 119-107.

Ugas is now in line to face the winner of the September 28th unification bout between undefeated IBF World Welterweight Champion Errol Spence Jr. and WBC counterpart Shawn Porter. The two will square off at Staples Center in California, live on PBC on FOX Sports PPV.

Sergey Lipinets stops Jayar Inson in two

Former world super lightweight champion Sergey Lipinets (16-1, 12 KOs) made short work of The Philippines? Jayar Insong, registering a TKO at 0:57 of the second round.

Insong (18-3, 12 KOs) was a late substitute for John Molina Jr., who pulled out of the fight only 24 hours before due to a back injury.

Lipinets started fast, working Insong?s body in the first. A beautiful counter left hook dropped Insong in the second. He rose to his feet on wobbly legs, but referee Jay Nady had seen enough, halting the action.

Luis Nery stops Juan Carlos Payano with body shot in the ninth

Undefeated Luis Nery extended his KO streak to 11, putting former world champion?and fellow southpaw?Juan Carlos Payano away with a crunching left to the liver at 1:43 of the ninth round.

Payano (21-3, 9 KOs) fought on even terms over the first half of the bout. Nery (30-0, 24 KOs) began figuring him out in the sixth. He took over down the stretch, countering Payano to the body. In the ninth, he landed a single left cross to Payano?s side. Payano crumpled to the canvas, writhing on the floor as referee Vic Drakulich counted him out.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.