Floyd Mayweather beats Manny Pacquiao on points to maintain his unbeaten record and win the richest fight in boxing history – The ultimate ring announcer Michael Buffer introduce the national anthem of the Philippines while Hollywood actor & singer Jamie Foxx rip on the American anthem,He has a white suit on, that’s surely ramped up the pressure on him.
Philippines national anthem is sung by a small contingent of softly-voiced singers in the corner of the advert – covered ring..Pacquiao is the first through the corridors. He has a white headband on, a white t-shirt and he is bouncing on his toes. Red gloves, he smiles and lifts his hands in the air. What a moment this is… and Freddie Roach, his trainer, stops his charge and takes a selfie as they walk towards the curtain.
Floyd Mayweather dresses in a zip-heavy jacket. It’s shiny, black and white with gold sleeves. A few boos. The lights race around the arena, you can feel the electricity.Into the ring, a jog around, he has seen this place before. This is game-face stuff from Floyd.
The faces of the celebrity present at the ringside are :Robert De Niro, Ben Affleck, Clint Eastwood, John Voight, Justin Bieber, Evander Holyfield, Sting, Tom Brady, Bradley Cooper. The list of A-list names sat near in the MGM is never ending.
ROUND ONE
Cagey opening, feel your way in, a couple of jabs from Mayweather. Then he tries to go to the body.In goes Pacquiao near the ropes but just as he realises he is in counter-punch territory he gets tagged, right hand, best shot of the early exchanges.
The orthodox-southpaw stances sees their feet clash once. That’s how close these men are. Another jab from Mayweather gets nothing but glove. He is just about nicking this round and a counter right hand will definitely see him take the edge after three minutes. He tempted Pacquiao in and caught him sweetly. It didn’t rock Pacquiao but he felt it.
ROUND TWO
There is almost a silence in the arena, such is the intrigue. Pacquiao is backing up his man to the ropes but the balance and defensive skill of Mayweather is as good as ever. In rushes Pacquiao, a big left body shot but it’s well telegraphed by Money Man, he fields it. Mayweather is pawing him away and then bang, in dives the American sharply.
A right hand and a stinger. He looks sharper early on, more aware, more alert and explosive.“That was Floyd Mayweather’s round. It started to open up later on. The crowd are living and breathing every punch.”
ROUND THREE
Floyd Mayweather lands a jab on Manny Pacquiao….Manny Pacquiao rolls his shoulder, he looks for an angle, can he get in? Not quite, he throws himself into range but can’t get anywhere near this ballerina. Referee Kenny Bayless has to break the pair on the ropes. Is a tussle Pacquiao‘s only hope? Now he corners Mayweather but the head movement is blistering, allowing the WBA & WBC champ to avoid serious contact.
The feinting is good from Mayweather, when under fire he springs back out of range. Dance, dance, dance. Round over. A nice right hand from Mayweather ends it. Not much in the three minutes but the elusive nature of Money Man is standing out.
“Mayweather won it clearly and cleanly. What’s worrying for Manny is to make sure he keeps his left hand up. He is going to get dropped”
ROUND FOUR
The speed of Mayweather under attack is absolutely incredible. Even against the ropes he just ducks low so he can’t be punched on the back of the head. It’s a brave style, he puts himself in the firing line but has every confidence of getting out of it.
But hang on, what is happening here? Pac Man has his man backed up and sweating. Four shots, wallops too and the roars are deafening. This is more like it from the Filipino. His opponent had no choice but to get a guard up and take some punishment there. Hearts were racing, the world gasped. Pacquiao smiles on his way back to his corner. We have a fight!
“The crowd are willing Pacquiao on here. They are so partisan. If they could get in the ring with him they would.”
ROUND FIVE
Floyd will know that last round was far from his own, what has he got in response? You can feel the respect between the two. A chess match? I’ll throw when you throw. Make your move.
A quiet opening minute to round five, forward comes Mayweather at speed, he thrusts himself onto Pacquiao with three shots but they barely landed. Shuffle, shuffle, Mayweather darts out of range, then a left jab and another, neither land. Pacquiao feints, will he throw? No. Lateral movement and Mayweather is out of range. Great boxing, technically brilliant from the showman. This will be his round. Nothing devastating, just too good.
“That was the best round of the contest so far for Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather was under pressure. How will he respond? On our scorecard now, it’s two rounds apiece. It couldn’t be closer.”I’m saying if Pacquiao keeps backing off, he’ll get trapped in. I’ve got it 3-2 to Mayweather.”
ROUND SIX
Pacquiao has to up the pace, he’s being played by his opponent here.He starts round six energetically, that’s the stuff he needs but a clinch sees referee Kenny Bayless yell “keep it clean”.
Back comes Pacquiao, he lets a few go with Mayweather again confident near the ropes. Three cross shots get the crowd roaring. They know he is up against it and has work to do. These punches don’t look measured from Pac Man but they at least show willing and he will take that round.
Again, not a lot in it but the increased intensity is working for him. Can he sustain it? We are halfway, I’d say 4-2 Mayweather.
ROUND SEVEN
We are past halfway in arguably the biggest fight the sport has seen. The heavy blows are yet to land and round seven is no different. Mayweather has set up camp behind his jab.
That left hand rises from his body from nowhere but BANG, a two-punch combination from Pacquiao looks busy and glances his man. It didn’t fully connect. That’s as good as it gets for him in seven.Nothing in the round. Good luck calling that one.
“Manny is quite severely marked up under the right eye, that’s from the jab. They are getting a bit reckless, and I like that.” Floyd Mayweather Snr tells his son in the corner: “I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you man.” A wake up call or genuine concern?
ROUND EIGHT
A swinging right from Pacquiao is wild and gets nothing but he lands a juicy one in the centre of the ring. Mayweather curls up like a ball to take it and absorb any follow up – none arrives.
“Manny, Manny,” chant the crowd. They want a bit more from their man. My word this is tense. Mayweather leans back out of range and counters with a straight right. A very good shot. He is just doing enough time after time. Left hook from Mayweather is slappy. An almost arrogant shot, he slapped around the defence of Pacquiao.
That’s given him some confidence, his hands are low. Two steps forward from Pacquiao, two steps back from Mayweather. He assumed control of that round halfway through and didn’t relinquish.
“I thought that was quite a big Floyd Mayweather round. It was one minute, 41 seconds in before Pacquiao got his act together in that round.” “On our cards, Mayweather won the last three rounds and is leading 5-2.”
ROUND NINE
Mayweather’s feet are floaty as he skips, ducks and does what he needs to do, felt that one though, a straight left from Pacquiao caught him in the kisser. No lasting damage.
Pacquiao gets his man backed up to the ropes but as he draws his right he gets one in the middle of his face for merely thinking about landing a punch. He cannot get inside. Will he need to get reckless? Another slick counter from Mayweather, it’s a left hand. No doubt again, Mayweather’s round. Dominant, classy, unbeatable? “Back him up,” yells Floyd Mayweather Snr as his son leaves the corner for round nine.
ROUND TEN
Now is the time Manny. You have nine minutes to fix up a fight you’re losing, a fight you will always be remembered for.The #Filipino walks his man into a corner. A flurry follows but again it’s ducked and eluded. He must be feeling the frustration. Pacquiao dives in, two-shot combo, the second with the left caught his man. Better stuff but again he is sent packing with nothing much to show for it.
Mayweather is the gatekeeper to his own brilliant defence and he ain’t giving no key up easily here. Pacquiao just cannot get into that pocket of space to land anything powerful. The effort is there, the energy not what it once was and he goes back to his corner smiling. That has to be a smile of frustration. “We have Mayweather leading 6-3. It’s quiet now as the crowd favourite Pacquiao tries to gain momentum.”
“I’m giving that round to Manny Pacquiao. I found that round extremely odd. I’m wondering whether Mayweather was trying to tee him up for a stoppage and that might be because he’s getting tired.”
“Be careful with the elbows”, referee Kenny Bayless tells the Mayweather corner.
ROUND ELEVEN
Round 11 opens with an immediate straight right from Mayweather to the face of Pacquiao, a shot of encouragement and the American wants to follow that one up with a hook but it’s ducked.
The confidence is oozing. He knows he is closing in on greatness. Gets in close, upper-cut lands. You could hear that one. This is now becoming a bit of a schooling. Jab from Mayweather, walks forward, jab again. There is only one man – a defensive genius – landing.
He briefly gets cornered and the blurry hands of Pacquiao release but there’s no one home. It’s stick or twist time for Manny. He is going to have to start diving in. The bounce in Mayweather‘s jump is getting higher, the guy is at ease here.
“Manny knows. He’s not stupid, he’s disappointed. Manny needs a knockout, and that would be a fluke shot.”
FINAL/ROUND TWELVE
Floyd Mayweather knows how to impress the judges and his low hands are those of a showman. As Pacquiao comes in, Mayweather counters with a right. The pair clinch, Pacquiao has barely been able to engage in a clinch all night.
A minute left, Mayweather is showing off, dancing left, right, back left, he’s like a slalom skier. Mayweather lifts his fist to the air as we get close to the bell, no punches of note landing. There’s the bell. Boxing’s greatest show is over.
This is it. The final three minutes. What have you got Manny? It has to be big.
“If this is Mayweather in decline, then I’d like to see him at this best. This is turning into a brilliant display by him. I’ve got it 7-4 to Mayweather.”
BELL RANG FOR THE LAST ROUND
Manny Pacquiao raised his hands to the air on the bell. That has to be hope rather than belief..There is an energy in the Mayweather corner, father and son embrace. Pacquiao‘s corner is far more subdued.
We await the decision. Up on the ropes Mayweather gets to celebrate, boos are fired his way.“They can’t beat me”, he says as he steps down.
WAITING FOR REFEREE DECISION
“Mayweather was the favourite and boxed like a favourite.” Three judges will call boxing’s biggest night. Mayweather is up on the ropes again. Pantomime. Manny Pacquiao‘s face is now one of defeat. Here we go, judges verdict coming.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER JUNIOR WINS
Floyd Mayweather wins on a unanimous points decision. It’s scored 118-110, 116-112, 116-112.
Floyd Mayweather speaks from inside the ring: “I want to thank God for this victory. I want to thank all the fans that came and those around the world. He’s a hell of a fighter. Now I see why he is one of the guys at the pinnacle of the sport of boxing.
“I knew he was going to push me. He had moments in the fight but I kept him on the outside, I was a smart fighter I out-boxed him. We did what we had to do tonight, I’m truly blessed.
Floyd Mayweather consoles Manny Pacquiao
“I calculate the fighter. He’s a tough competitor. My dad wanted me to do more but I had to take my time and watch Manny very close.
“When the history books are written, it was worth the wait. My last fight is in September and then it’s time for me to hang it up.”
Floyd Mayweather has fought 48 times and won 48 times.The reasons for his undefeated record were underlined, written in bold and tattooed onto the inside of our eyelids tonight. Hard to hit, fast, strategically on point. Love him or loathe him, Floyd Mayweather is a boxing artist and we are about to hear from him…
MANNY PACQUAIO REACTION
Manny Pacquiao tells fans at the MGM Grand he thinks he won the fight: “It’s a good fight, I thought I won. He didn’t do nothing, just moved outside.
“I got him many times. I think I won the fight. He is moving around and it’s not easy to throw a lot of punches if your opponent moves around. I can handle his power, it’s not strong like other opponents. It’s not about size. I’ve been fighting bigger than him and it’s not a problem.”
PUNCH STATISTICS
Floyd Mayweather Beats Pacquiao Unanimous Decision - See The Highlight from The Match in Case You Missed It
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