Boxing’s only eight-division world champion, Philippine Senator and regular WBA welterweight champion Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao returns to face undefeated Super WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in
a powerhouse 147-pound showdown broadcast live on Saturday, July 20
from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. With his speed, power and
tremendous boxing skills, Thurman represents the most dangerous
challenger that the future Hall of Famer Pacquiao has faced in recent
bouts. This high-stakes match will firmly give the winner a claim for
the top spot in one of boxing’s deepest and most talented divisions.
Tickets for “Pacquiao vs. Thurman” can be purchased online at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices now.
The live broadcast of “Pacquiao vs. Thurman” presented by Fathom
Events, Premier Boxing Champions and FOX Sports is set for Saturday,
July 20 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. CT / 7:00 p.m. MT / 6:00
p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. AK / 3:00 p.m. HI. Boxing fans throughout the U.S.
will be able to enjoy the event in more than 175 select movie theaters
through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). A complete list of
theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website (theaters
and participants are subject to change).
A three-time Fighter of the Year and the Boxing Writers Association
of America’s reigning Fighter of the Decade, Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs),
who hails from Sarangani Province in the Philippines, is the only
sitting Congressman and Senator to win a world title. Pacquiao’s boxing
resume features victories over at least seven current and future Hall of
Famers, including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio
Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel
Marquez.
In his last match on January 19, Pacquiao put on a vintage
performance against four-division champion Adrien Broner, scoring a
12-round unanimous decision in the 70th match of his illustrious career.
It was his first time fighting in the U.S. in two years. Before that,
he scored an impressive knockout over Lucas Matthysse to win his version
of the WBA welterweight championship in Malaysia last July 15.
The 30-year-old Thurman (29-0, 22 KOs) is the longest reigning
welterweight champion in boxing, having collected his WBA title with a
stoppage victory over Diego Chaves in 2013. He has successfully defended
that title eight times and became a unified welterweight champion when
he defeated Danny Garcia by split decision to win the WBC title. Thurman
was out of action for nearly two years due to injuries before getting
back into the ring with a hard-fought victory against Josesito Lopez in
January. His power punching earned him the nickname “One Time.”
“Fight fans coast-to-coast were thrilled to watch Pacquiao’s victory
over Broner live and larger-than-life in their local cinemas in
January,” said Ray Nutt, Fathom Events CEO. “We’re pleased to partner
again with our friends at FOX Sports and Premier Boxing Champions to
bring another of Pac Man’s highly-anticipated bouts to the big screen.”
