The Philippines legend, the current senator Mani Bakayo, returned to youthful days and entered history as the world's biggest weight champion by beating Saturday's World Boxing Association champion Keith Thurman in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 40-year-old, who is ten-year-old Thurman, made an exciting match at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in front of a crowd of 14,356 spectators, including American Floyd Mayweather, the heavier weightweight World Champion Light but lighter than average weight.

After dropping his US opponent in the first round, Pakayo remained the best player in the standings against an unbeaten opponent before battling Saturday, but failed to give the knockout, to finally score points after 12 rounds, with two votes in favor of the Filipino 115-112. While the third voted for Thurman 114-113.

"I enjoyed: my opponent a fighter and a good boxer, he was strong," Bakayo said after the victory.

Pakayo drops US rival in first round (Reuters)

Thurman provoked his Filipino rival in the preparations for the feud by promising to "crucify" his religious rival, and then promised to force him to retire.

But Bakiyo, who has increased his record with 62 victories, including 39 knockouts, against seven defeats and two draws, refused after the match to retaliate against Thurman, saying: "I am not one of those boxers who gossip so much, He is very strong, he can box, this young fighter. "

Bakayo, who earned nearly $ 20 million from Saturday's fight, was once again a key player in the Welters' weight after wrestling Wimbledon's weight belt from Thurman.

The Philippine, crowned world champion in eight categories, said he would now return to the Philippines to resume his job as a senator (who has been in office since 2016) before deciding on his next move into the ring. "I think I will fight next year. My decision ".

The victory was difficult and bloody between two world champions (French)

National hero
Bakiyo is a national hero by many, after his sporting exploits put the Philippines on the boxing map and his ascendancy to stardom from a high school student to a millionaire hero who inspires a country in poverty.

At the height of the Nokomiya Bakayo in boxing, the authorities revealed that his isolation had eased both traffic and crime.

"Our king showed no sign of fear and he embodies the spirit of the Philippine spirit, a fighter," Salvador Benilo's spokesman said in a statement.

But some Bakiyo fans, despite being seen as showing strong determination, acknowledged that signs of aging were beginning to appear.

Bakayo, who repeated a 2016 decision to retire from boxing, says boxing is a passion and still feels young.

"It is safe as a legend in the world of boxing, and there is nothing to stop it," said the president of the Philippine Boxing Association Association, Ed Bixson.