Pacquiao-Thurman fight in Vegas, press tour in New York, LA

MANILA, Philippines – After a long pause, the announcement of Manny Pacquiao battling Keith Thurman on July 20 finally crackled on Saturday, May 11 (Sunday, May 12, Philippine time).

Pacquiao, the legendary eight-division world champion, and the unbeaten Thurman will unify the World Boxing Association welterweight crown in Las Vegas, either at MGM Grand or T-Mobile Arena. (READ: Pacquiao to fight Thurman in WBA welterweight showdown)

According to international matchmaker Sean Gibbons, who facilitated the Fox pay-per-view bout between Pacquiao, the regular 147-pound champion, and Thurman, the special champion, a press tour will start in New York on May 20 and in Los Angeles on May 21 to further drum interest for the intriguing bout.

Though already 40 years old, Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 knockouts) showed he’s still at the top echelon of fighters when he dominated four-division world champion Adrien Broner on January 19  at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

A week later, the 30-year-old Thurman broke nearly two years of inactivity to beat Joselito Lopez by majority decision at Barclay’s Center in New York.

Now, they will have to show the world who’s better and deserving to be king.

The summer just got a little hotter! pic.twitter.com/SxcZsEauNq

— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) May 12, 2019

The ring stock of Pacquio, who’s busy attending to pre-election matters in General Santos City, rose again following his lopsided beating of Broner and seventh-round stoppage of Argentine Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 15, 2018.

Thurman, on the other hand, settled for a unanimous decision over Shawn Porter in 2016 and a split decision over Danny Garcia in 2017, before returning against Lopez.

Owing to his youth and clean slate, the 5-foot-7 ½ Thurman has been tagged a slight favorite over the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao, but that could change once the fight buildup starts. – Rappler.com