As we move closer to the biggest boxing match of 2019, Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman both stand to gain a ton from their WBA World title fight on July 20.
Aside from the large paydays due to both men, the winner will be on their way to the next round of Premier Boxing Champions’ unofficial welterweight tournament. The winner of Pacquiao-Thurman will likely battle the winner of Errol Spence-Shawn Porter in a fight that should unify the WBA, IBF and WBC titles.
That unification fight should be especially lucrative. I didn’t call it an official tournament because anything can happen to change up or to delay these matchups. However, as of now, it seems like a probable sequence of events. While the prize for winning on July 20 seems pretty clear, the cost of losing is a little less transparent and different for both men.
A loss for Thurman would be really damaging. With all due respect to Pacquiao, and with acknowledgment of the current odds that are in the Filipino legend’s favor per MyBookie, Thurman has to be able to win this fight if he is to be considered one of the best of his era. He has a 10-year age advantage, a natural edge in size, and at this stage of both men’s careers, he is the bigger puncher. A loss will cause the boxing community to question if he is the same fighter he was before he lost nearly two years to injury.
Likewise, there will be questions as to whether he was ever on par with fighters like Pacquiao. If Thurman cannot beat a 40-year-old Pacquiao, he will have almost erased himself from the conversation around the top 147-pounders in the world.
A loss for Pacquiao, depending on the nature of the defeat, could spark the end of his career. A KO loss, especially one that sees him take substantial damage, will likely have Pac-Mn’s legions of fans wishing for him to retire. I don’t think anyone wants to see another legend of the sport remain in the game too long to take unnecessary punches. Even if he were to lose in that way, it seems Pacquiao might still have a farewell fight for himself and his fans.
Those can be risky too if the opposition is too talented.
If Pacquiao drops a decision, there are a number of ways things could go. If it is a close and controversial decision, Pacquiao’s popularity and status will be unaffected. Fans will group it into the same category as his disputed losses against Timothy Bradley and Jeff Horn. If it’s a one-sided decision loss that really isn’t disputable, Pacquiao will have some tough decisions to make about his future in the ring.
Pacquiao doesn’t have the look a guy nearing retirement. Despite his age, this fight seems to have invigorated him.
His training sessions are reportedly going swimmingly well, and he looks to be in amazing shape. If he has put himself into the best physical position to win, but still falls short?in any way?he’ll have to determine whether he still has the fire to train and compete on a championship level. If you’re Pacquiao, what else is there?
Pacquiao is such a legend, that it’s beneath him to fight the Amir Khans and Yordenis Ugas of the world. If he’s not in the ring with big names and fighting for titles, it’s pointless. No matter how you look at it, both men have a ton at stake and that’s part of the reason the fight is so compelling.
Next week we’ll find out which fighter is left to make the tough call.
