Mayweather scores dominant decision win over Pacquiao
Floyd Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) scored a unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) and confirmed his status as the best boxer in the world on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
After years of hype, in the richest fight in boxing history, billed as the 'Fight of the Century', the unbeaten American used his superior ring skills to outbox Pacquiao over the 12 rounds and the judges scores were 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 in favour of Mayweather.
The 38-year-old Mayweather was in total command for the first three rounds as he jabbed and often landed hard right hands while southpaw Pacquiao, 36, attempted to land his power shots.
In the third round, the Filipino finally backed Mayweather to the ropes and fired a few shots before he was then tied up. Pacquiao got the crowd excited on many occasions in the fight whenever he got close enough to let his hands go, however, each time Mayweather would either hold on or spin away.
In the fourth round, Pacquiao rocked Mayweather with a hard straight left hand that sent him into the ropes, and he then unloaded numerous punches, but Mayweather would cover up and avoid taking much punishment.
Mayweather regained control in the fifth, dictating from distance with his jab until pacquiao landed a crunching combination in the sixth, backing Mayweather to the ropes. But Mayweather was able to block and counter his punches as he dominated the acton from rounds seven to nine.
Pacquiao tried to pile on the punches in the later rounds but could not land any of his big shots as Mayweather boxed, moved and countered, settling for a points win that ended any argument about the number one in the sport.
"He's a hell of a fighter," said Mayweather. "I take my hat off to Manny Pacquiao. Now I see why he's one of the guys at the pinnacle.
"He is a true champion at heart, and we both did our best tonight. When the books are written, it will be a great fight.
"I knew he was going to push and win some rounds. He had some moments, but I kept him on the outside. I didn't get hit with a lot of shots, unless I stood in the pocket. I'm a calculating fighter, but he's a tough competitor."
Pacquiao said: "I thought I won the fight. He didn't do anything. He moved outside. I got him many more times with a lot of punches, I was never hurt. I was very surprised at the scores."
With the win, WBC/WBA welterweight champion Mayweather captured Pacquiao's WBO belt to unify the world titles.
The undercard
WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KOs) defeated Puerto Rican challenger Gamalier Rodriguez (25-3-3, 17 KOs) by KO in the ninth round.
The Ukrainian dropped Rodriguez with a body shot in the seventh and again with a right hook to the head in the ninth before referee Robert Byrd counted him out at 0:50 of the round.
WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) outpointed fellow Mexican Jose Cayetano (17-4, 8 KOs) over 10 rounds in a non-title featherweight bout.
Santa Cruz dominated the entire bout against Cayetano, who took the fight on a week's notice and had nothing at all except his toughness.
All three judges had it 100-90 for Santa Cruz.
Other results on the card:
Jesse Hart W Mike Jimenez TKO 6
Christopher Pearson W Said El Harrak UD 10
Brad Solomon W Adrian Granados SD 10