Keith Thurman has taken the first ?L? of his pro boxing career with a lot of dignity, not complaining about scores or tactics or anything else that happened on Saturday night, when he dropped a split decision to Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
The 30-year-old Thurman praised the Filipino legend for his performance at the post-fight press conference.
?He was fast, he was strong. The short steps ? everything that Manny Pacquiao always has been, he has a lot of it still left in him,? Thurman said. ?I felt like I was gonna give him a pressing fight. Even though he knocked me down, I didn?t care, I wanted to be in his face. I felt like he was getting a little bit tired in the later rounds, but he does train hard. He trains hard. He kept his hands up.
?He?s been in so many wars that now he knows what not to do. He knows how to utilize his defense a little better, and that was a little bit surprising to me. ?
Thurman (29-1, 22 KO) says that Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KO) being more active than he has been over the last couple of years played a big role.
?I knew going into this fight that he?s been the more active fighter than me, and even at the age of 40, that?s probably the best thing he had going for him, the constant activity to keep him staying in shape.
?I told everybody I?m getting back this year after two years, and I just thought that Keith Thurman getting back, being the original Keith Thurman, would be able to walk away with a victory today. I felt like I had a good training camp. I could?ve had a better output in my numbers to go toe-to-toe with Manny Pacquiao, because he always brings the high output. But it was a great fight, man. I feel like I tested him and I tested myself.
?I wish I could?ve given him more. The rounds were flying by, and it is what it is. This is a sport. You gotta lock it in round-by-round, and the judges saw it their way, and he?s now the new champion. Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao.?
