(NI ARIEL BORLONGAN)

LUMAKI ang pag-asa na maulit ang sagupaan nina WBA welterweight champion at dating kampeon na si Keith Thurman makaraang igiit ito ng big boss ng Mayweather Promotions at best friend ni dating pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr, na si Leonard Ellerbe.

Para kay Ellerbe, nakipag-ugnayan sa Premiere Boxing ni Eddie Hearn para sa co-promotions ng sagupaan nina Pacquiao at Thurman na napagwagihan ng Pinoy boxer via 12-round split decision, kailangan talagang muli silang magduwelo para magkaalaman kung sino ang tunay na kampeon.

“Keith has a big heart, he fought his behind off tonight but Manny Pacquiao prevailed and he showed you why he is a great fighter and why him and Floyd are the two best fighters of this era,” sabi ni Ellerbe sa BoxingScene.com.

“I think they need to do the rematch. I think that is the fight to make,” dagdag ni Ellerbe na tutol sa plano ni Pacquiao na labanan ang magwawagi sa unification bout nina IBF welterwerweight champion Errol Spence Jr. at WBC 147 pounds titlist Shawn Porter na nakatakda sa Setyembre 28 sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tumulong si Ellerbe na ihanda si Mayweather sa laban kay Pacquiao noong 2015 kaya batid niyang mahirap kalaban ang Pinoy boxer.

“He is awkward. He has a combination of everything. His footwork, fast hands and angles. It is a combination of everything,” diin ni Ellerbe tungkol kay Pacquiao.