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“Yeah, I hope to meet the winner of that fight,” Pacquiao told television interviewer after the fight.
“One Time” Thurman tried to bounce back from that first round knockdown but just couldn’t contain the Filipino’s quickness and firepower the rest of the way.
Judges Dave Moretti and Tim Cheatham scored the fight in identical 115-112, both for the Philippine Senator, but judge Glenn Feldman saw it differently, submitting a close 114-113 card.
The split decision verdict was booed lustily by the 14,000 crowd.
Both judges Moretti and Cheatam gave Pacquiao seven rounds. The former saw the Filipino winning in the first, second, fourth, fifth eighth, 1oth and 12th.
Cheatam had then Pacman winning the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, 10th and 12th.
Judge Feldman had Thurman the victor in the third, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th and 12th. .
All three judges gave Pacquiao the first round with similar 10-8 verdict.
For the first time since the combatants started training, the bad-mouthing Thurman acknowledged Pacquiao’s advantage in hand speed, footwork and punching power, blaming the first round knockdown as to have tilted in Pacquiao’s favor.
”I congratulate Manny Pacquiao for his victory. He really won tonight,” Thurman said during the post fight interview with media. “He’s too fast and too strong.”
“I did my best to come back but everytime I did, he kept on coming back.