Keef Thurman still mentally struggling from Pacquiao loss

[Combat Talk Radio]

https://*******.com/keefstruggling

The former WBA/WBC welterweight champion Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) has been inactive all this time since losing to Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), so he’s been stewing on his experience, and he’s understandably bitter as heck about it.

Thurman, 31, thinks he could have won the fight if he didn’t ease off in the championship rounds and try and settle for a draw. He says once he made up his mind that he was working for a draw instead of a victory, that’s where he blew it.

“There was a certain mindset that I forced upon myself in those final four rounds. There was a moment very similar to this in the Pacquiao fight for me. The only problem is, I didn’t give myself the same speech.

“I said to myself, ‘Dang, man, I think it’s a draw. I think you’re good. Just keep pushing. I don’t know if they’re going to take it from you.’

“But I feel like the moment I accepted a draw was the moment I lost. Pushing for the W is the only way you can guarantee the W. Don’t slack off. Unless you know that you’ve got an eight to two lead going into the championship rounds, don’t ever slack off. My original trainer said, ‘Smart fighters win, and dumb fighters lose.’

In other words Keef is admitting what I said the night of the fight - he let off the gas by round 6 and wasn't trying nearly as hard as he needed to be after getting dropped in the first.

Multiple times he let Manny off the ropes, stopped throwing for long stretches and was pulling his punches on at least two occasions.

He beat himself.

[Beercules]

Papa Pacquiao

[brown_knight06]

Pac spanked him

[pnksntdead]

he just didn’t have the mental toughness to win

[Combat Talk Radio]

he just didn’t have the mental toughness to win

He had mental toughness plenty. But he deluded himself into thinking he was losing wider than he was.

I blame the corner for that, frankly. His performance was perfectly fine until he took the body shot in round 10.

[Pac=Duran]

He had mental toughness plenty. But he deluded himself into thinking he was losing wider than he was.

I blame the corner for that, frankly. His performance was perfectly fine until he took the body shot in round 10.

He just got his ass whipped. He got knocked down hard and in humiliating fashion in round one, then got beaten all over the place late in the fight in a 10-8 round where his glass body was exposed again. He needed a knockdown at least in the championship rounds to have a chance of getting the decision.

[The Big Dunn]

You’d be mentally struggling too if you realized you let Manny win the 1st 6 rounds before you decided to start fighting.

Thurman has no one to blame but himself. He let a winnable fight get away from him.

[Combat Talk Radio]

He just got his ass whipped. He got knocked down hard and in humiliating fashion in round one, then got beaten all over the place late in the fight in a 10-8 round where his glass body was exposed again. He needed a knockdown at least in the championship rounds to have a chance of getting the decision.

That knockdown was straight flash - he didn't think Manny could reach him. He wasn't buzzed or hurt.

Thurman had Manny backed up on the ropes plenty. But he let him off the hook.

It wasn't a blowout for Manny. It was a close fight that Thurman chose to lose.

You’d be mentally struggling too if you realized you let Manny win the 1st 6 rounds before you decided to start fighting.

Thurman has no one to blame but himself. He let a winnable fight get away from him.

Considering he did better against Manny than Broner did even WITH him getting dropped, your point is accepted.

I still feel he shouldn't have lost that fight. I really couldn't understand his strategy that night.

[The Big Dunn]

That knockdown was straight flash - he didn't think Manny could reach him. He wasn't buzzed or hurt.

Thurman had Manny backed up on the ropes plenty. But he let him off the hook.

It wasn't a blowout for Manny. It was a close fight that Thurman chose to lose.



Considering he did better against Manny than Broner did even WITH him getting dropped, your point is accepted.

I still feel he shouldn't have lost that fight. I really couldn't understand his strategy that night.

I’d like to throw shade and said he got paid off but he didn’t.

He just wasn’t prepared and lost to a better fighter.

[Ochoa780]

I didnt think he would win the fight regardless, but am I the only one that thought he made a good account of himself in the second half? Manny looked pretty tore up after the fight too.. I dont think it's a loss to get down on.