Manny Pacquiao knows what it feels like to share the ring with Keith Thurman.
The two men met back in July 2019, with Pacquiao challenging Thurman for his WBA welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
It was the Filipino icon that came out on top, claiming a split decision victory to become the oldest welterweight world champion of all time and hand Thurman what is the first and currently only defeat of his professional career.
Since then, Pacquiao has returned to the sport in July after a four-year absence, when at the age of 46 he was held to a majority decision draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
Thurman also recently returned from a lengthy absence of his own, stopping Brock Jarvis inside three rounds back in March after three years away, and he now heads into a WBC super-welterweight title fight against Sebastian Fundora later this month.
Having fought for 36 minutes against Thurman, Pacquiao made it clear in the aftermath of their bout exactly what he made of his rival’s power, which Fundora may need to take notice of.
“He’s a warrior, very heavy-handed. His journey doesn’t end with this fight.”
23 of Thurman’s 31 victories have come by knockout, displaying the power that he has ahead of his bid to become a two-weight world champion.
Fundora will hope to stop that from happening when he faces Thurman on October 25, as he looks to replicate the performance that saw him claim a seventh round retirement victory over Tim Tszyu in his latest world title defence back in July.
