LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The fight is on and one of the biggest fight nights of the year is only a day away.
At their official weigh-in, Friday morning (5 AM, Saturday Manila time) both Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman Jr. made weight below the 147 pound-limit for their WBA welterweight championship clash in a little over 24 hours time.
The fighters registered identical weights at 146.5 lbs. that signifies no further hiccup for the much-awaited bout that sees Thurman risking his unblemished record against boxing’s only eight-division world champion
Met with some jeers from the crowd, Thurman was first to hit the scales, while his opponent Pacquiao had applause greet him when his time came to step on the podium.
Thurman, still taunting the Filipino Senator and boxing icon, vowed it was his time to shine come fight night.
Pacquiao, Thurman make weight at identical 146.5 pounds
Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman Jr. at their weigh-in a day before their fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena July 21 Manila time. Both fighters weigh at an identical 146.5 pounds. Ponciano John Melo
Text and Photos by Ponciano \”John\” Melo Jr.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The fight is on and one of the biggest fight nights of the year is only a day away.
At their official weigh-in, Friday morning (5 AM, Saturday Manila time) both Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman Jr. made weight below the 147 pound-limit for their WBA welterweight championship clash in a little over 24 hours time.
Pacquiao, Thurman make weight at identical 146.5 pounds
The fighters registered identical weights at 146.5 lbs. that signifies no further hiccup for the much-awaited bout that sees Thurman risking his unblemished record against boxing’s only eight-division world champion.
Met with some jeers from the crowd, Thurman was first to hit the scales, while his opponent Pacquiao had applause greet him when his time came to step on the podium.
Thurman, still taunting the Filipino Senator and boxing icon, vowed it was his time to shine come fight night.
Pacquiao, Thurman make weight at identical 146.5 pounds
“It’s my time, and I’ll still be champ by tomorrow night,” he said after the weigh-in.
While Pacquiao, not much for engaging in a word war, thanked the sizeable crowd for supporting the fight
“Thank you for coming to witness a good fight, I want to prove something for this fight. I’m so prepared for this and this is one of my best training camps. We’re all set tomorrow,” he said.
Canelo Alvarez ex-promoter Eddie Hearns predicts that Terrence Crawford will retire after his victory vs Israil Madrimov last August 3, 2024 in Los Angeles.
Crawford is now the 4-division champ after winning by unanimous decision.
However, Hearns said that three fighters are a must fight against Crawford before hanging his gloves – Vergil Ortiz, Jaron Ennis, and Canelo.
“I don’t think Crawford wants a Boots fight. I don’t think Crawford will fight again unless he fights Canelo Alvarez because he’s got money, he’s getting on [in age],” Hearns revealed.
He added that Crawford ducks Ortiz. He also mocked him for getting lucky with the scoring for his fight against Madrimov.
Hearns underscored that 36 year old Crawford is craving for mega-money, mega-fights, and real legacy fights that is why he does not like to fight the undefeated Ennis. He furthered that 27 year old Ennis is like the young Crawford version that is why he is skipping him.
Meanwhile, Crawford still hates Ennis because he is overrated.
Three welterweight champs are on queue against IBF belt holder Jaron “Boots” Ennis (32 – 0) : Brian Norman Jr WBO; Mario Barrios WBC; and Eimantas Stanionis WBA for his undisputed title dream,
Ennis’ promoter Eddie Hearns said that 27-year old Ennis is the future of boxing as he beats everyone. He added that Boots is a special fighter that needs to be tested against the best in the world.
However, boxing experts suggested Ennis to move up to 154 and target Terence Crawford, Sebastian Fundora, Errol Spence, Tim Tszyu, Vergil Ortiz Jr, Israil Madrimov, Serhii Bohachuk, and Erickson Lubin.
Super-welterweight Terrence Crawford is set to fight Israil Madrimov – WBA and WBO interim World Super-Welterweight champ on August 3, 2024 in BMO Stadium – a Soccer-specific stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Crawford will move up to 154 pounds to clash Madrimov for his WBA junior middleweight title. This is halfway to Canelo Alvarez – the super middleweight undisputed champ of the world.
However, undisputed heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk wants to see Crawford beating Canelo. It can be recalled that Usyk smashed Tyson Fury just recently.