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Blog: Mayweather claims title as world’s best fighter with decision over Pacquiao

Pacquiao: “I thought I won”

MayPac

Isaac Brekken / AP

Floyd Mayweather Jr., right, is embraced by his father, head trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., at the finish of his welterweight title fight against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Las Vegas.

Updated Saturday, May 2, 2015 | 10:32 p.m.

Mayweather-Pacquiao at MGM Grand

Security watches over the crowd as boxing fans exit the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Launch slideshow »

The last exchange was an embrace.

The generation’s two best boxers, and bitter rivals for the better part of a decade, hugged in the middle of the ring shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. They had just engaged in 12 rounds and 36 minutes of combat that while competitive, was also definitive.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. secured the title as the most dominant fighter of the era, out-boxing Manny Pacquiao en route to a unanimous decision (118-110, 118-110, 116-112) in one of the longest-anticipated bouts in boxing history.

“When the history book is written,” Mayweather said while still in the ring, “it was worth the wait.”

Mayweather, who improved to a perfect 48-0, was already set to go down as perhaps the best defensive fighter ever, and Saturday only improved his case. Pacquiao, who dropped to 65-6-2, was never in danger of getting stopped, but not a single judge ever had him ahead in the fight either.

The Filipino couldn’t track Mayweather down early, resulting in losing each of the first three rounds on every scorecard. He staggered Mayweather with a left in the fourth round, but by then the locally based welterweight champion had a scoring advantage too large to relinquish.

Mayweather out-landed Pacquiao 148 punches to 81, including 67-18 in jabs and 81-63 in power shots, according to CompuBox. The Las Vegas Sun scored the bout 115-113 Mayweather, who won the fight on virtually every media member’s scorecard.

Pacquiao still had a tough time accepting the loss.

“I think I won the fight,” Pacquiao said. “He didn’t do nothing. I got him with solid punches.”

The crowd at the MGM supported Pacquiao, booing Mayweather as he took a victory lap around the ring. Mayweather is now two victories away from surpassing Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record but stressed that he would never get to 50 wins.

As he’s sworn for the past several months, Mayweather announced he would retire after fulfilling his current contract with Showtime in September.

“It’s time to hang it up,” he said.

Mayweather’s final fight will likely produce a spectacle, but it will be tough to top the meaning of a victory over Pacquiao. Both fighters had their moments, but Mayweather earned the distinction as the greatest of the past 20 years.

“I knew he was going to push me,” Mayweather said. “I knew he was going to win some rounds, but I’m a smart fighter. I didn’t take a lot of shots.”

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for more coverage of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao later.

Live ringside updates from Sun reporter Case Keefer:

• Pacquiao: "I thought I won the fight. I thought I outboxed him."

• Floyd promises, yet again, that he has one more fight on contract with Showtime. "My last fight is in September, then time to hang it up."

• Mayweather: "I knew he was going to push me. I knew he was going to win some rounds. But I'm a smart fighter. I didn't take a lot of shots."

• Mayweather: "First off, I want to thank all the fans for this victory...He's a hell of a fighter. I tip my hat off to Manny Pacquiao. Now I see why he's one of the guys at the pinnacle at the sport of boxing."

• Mayweather wins 118-110 and 116-112 (2X). Still undefeated. Place is booing.

• Awaiting what's often the scariest moment in boxing — judges' scorecards.

• Mayweather in defensive mode, getting away from most of Pacquiao's punches. Stiff right hook from Mayweather, however, when Pacquiao lets his hands down momentarily. Pacquiao is lunging for shots but Mayweather isn't even breathing hard. He's as fresh as the start of the fight, it seems. Pacquiao lands a left against the ropes with 40 seconds to go and the crowd comes to their feet. Pacquiao hits Mayweather with a combination. Mayweather coasted the final round so Pacquiao will take that one but it's not enough.

Mayweather-Pacquiao Fight

Floyd Mayweather Jr. connects to the chin of Manny Pacquiao late in their fight Saturday, May 2, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Launch slideshow »

• Pacquiao throws wildly against the ropes but only one, maybe two punches, get through. Mayweather backs up, and counters Pacquiao's next advance. Then Mayweather comes forward himself with 15 seconds to go. Mayweather snaps Pacquiaos head back near the end of the round. Big frame for the undefeated fighter.

Eleventh Round: Big combination for Mayweather to start the eleventh round. Pacquiao imitates a clinch. Less booing when he's the one slowing the action. Mayweather has found his range, and is getting out of the way of most of Pacquiao's punches. Pacquiao backs Mayweather into the ropes but doesn't have the same zip he had earlier to land and put Mayweather in trouble. Mayweather calmly circles and jabs. Mayweather counters effectively in the middle of the ring, but it's still anyone's round with a minute to go.

• Two more counter rights from Mayweather on Pacquiao advances, and Mayweather seems to have calmed in the 10th. He'll take that one.

• The 10th is another close frame. Pacquiao scored first with a right but Mayweather back in countering mode, which is what he does best. He's slightly ahead with 30 seconds to go.

• Pacquiao goes body-body-head against the ropes, affecting Mayweather who circles out. Back in the middle, Mayweather lands a right flush to Pacquiao's eye which is still swollen. Nice exchange at the end where it was tough to see who won. Really really close round but I'm leaning Pacquiao 10-9.

Ninth Round: Pacquiao tries to stay aggressive. Mayweather uses his head movement to duck under most of the combination but he's been slow to engage with any offense of his own. Pacquiao landed a couple of left hands through the first half of the round, the only shots with any substance. Mayweather gets some back with a right, then lets Pacquiao come to him and counter. Another close round...

• Slow end to the round but Pacquiao lands the last shot. He won that round, and the crowd knows it. 77-75 Mayweather overall.

Eighth Round: Pacquiao mixing shots to the body and head. His feet are moving quicker, and not giving Mayweather as much of a chance to counter. Halfway through, Pacquiao backs Mayweather into the ropes and lands one shot before Mayweather escapes. Mayweather's lip is swollen but he's back to jabbing in the middle of the ring...

• Mayweather seems to be ahead somewhat comfortably but never know with the scores.

• Back in the middle, Mayweather lands several jabs unanswered. But Pacquiao sends him back with a left. Comes forward hard, but Mayweather coolly evades. Slower round, but that's what Mayweather needed. He took another up to go up 68-65.

Seventh Round: Mayweather lands first with a right. He's in his famous stance, shoulder forward, looking to roll. He counters Pacquiao successfully on two straight advances. It seems to alternate rounds at this point whether Mayweather's defense is engaged or not. Right now, he's not letting Pacquiao hit him at all. The crowd boos as they clinch again....

• Hard body shot from Pacquiao that Mayweather can only answer with a jab when he backs towards the middle of the ring. Mayweather's right is still his best weapon, and he closes the round with a couple successful shots. But this round belonged to Pacquiao. 58-56 Mayweather overall.

• Mayweather lets his jab loose, but it's Pacquiao who scores on the counter. Pacquiao gets confidence to come forward and throws back-to-back big combinations. Most of the punches miss Mayweather but enough find a spot that he's taken control of the round...

Sixth Round: Pacquiao blasts Mayweather to the body but takes a counter as a consequence. He's back to chasing Mayweather around the ring. Mayweather lands another right but Pacquiao gets some points back with a combination against the ropes. Mayweather doesn't let him close the distance for long by clinching up...

• Pacquiao is the aggressor late but Mayweather is in his usual rhythm. Great head movement is not allowing Pacquiao to score. A round much like the first three where Pacquiao was more active but Mayweather more effective. 49-46 Mayweather through five.

• Pacquiao loads up another haymaker with his left hand. It may have worked last round, but Mayweather is quicker on his feet and backs out of the way. Pacquiao lands a jab in the middle of the ring about a minute in. Action has slowed until Mayweather pounds Pacquiao with a right and follows with an uppercut. Pacquiao looks to re-establish with body shots but Mayweather is sticking and moving with jabs....

Fifth round bell rings and we're back...

• Mayweather circles, and looks fine. He starts jabbing to keep Pacquiao at bay. It works but Pacquiao gets in another punch before the end of the round. Most dominant round of the fight, and it goes to Pacquiao. 39-37 Mayweather overall.

• Mayweather is covering up as Pacquiao tees off. The best stretch of the fight just went to Pacquiao. "Manny" chants are deafening in the arena as another right hands scores for the Filipino when they re-engage

• Pacquiao backs Mayweather into the ropes and throws one of his famous combinations. He grazes Mayweather with a right but comes up mostly empty otherwise. Back in the middle of the ring, Mayweather succesfully counters. But then Paquiao clocks him with a right and swarms...

• Big overhand right from Manny Pacquiao just missed

• Manny complains of a low blow by Mayweather in third round. Near belt, though

• Place erupts whenever Pacquiao does, or tries to do anything. But Mayweather hasn't taken many shots. He edged another round. 20-18

• Body shot landed by Manny. Place goes crazy

• As expected, Manny has been the aggressor earlier. He's throwing more punches, trying to excited crowd.

• One round in the books. Rather uneventful. Mayweather 10-9. Evaded Pacquiao, and landed a couple decent right hands.

• Floyd has landed two nice shots, Manny one.

• Fighters are feeling each other out. A few jabs, nothing significant has landed about halfway through the first round.

• Fight begins.

• Mayweather enters the ring with the Burger King mascot. Seriously.

• Mayweather and Pacquiao are in the ring together for official introductions.

•••

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao

Who wins the fight?
Manny Pacquiao — 65.7%
Floyd Mayweather — 34.3%

This poll is closed, see Full Results »

Note: This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

Pre-fight

The wait that held boxing hostage for more than five years is down to approximately three hours.

A bout between this generation’s two best boxers, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, is expected to commence around 8 p.m. tonight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The pay-per-view broadcast, which costs $100 for high-definition, begins at 6 p.m. with two undercard bouts.

But all the focus will surround Mayweather and Pacquiao, just as it has since they both defeated Oscar De La Hoya years ago to establish themselves as the pre-eminent forces of an era.

Mayweather’s split-decision victory over De La Hoya on this same weekend eight years ago set a record with 2.4 million pay-per-view buys. Conservative estimates have tonight’s fight obliterating that mark by a million.

The live gate will exceed $70 million, which is $50 million more than the current record held by Mayweather for his 2013 win over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

That much money will also exchange hands in local sports books, where the underdog Pacquiao has been the popular pick since the fight was officially announced three months ago. The current MGM Grand betting line has Mayweather a minus-210 (risking $2.10 to win $1) favorite over Pacquiao, who comes back at plus-180 (risking $1 to win $1.80).

Those odds imply a 66 percent chance that Mayweather scoops the three welterweight championship belts at risk. It makes sense considering the word “unbeatable” has been uttered regarding the local champion, who’s a perfect 47-0 as a professional.

Pacquiao comes in at 57-5-2 but suffered two straight losses in 2012. A three-fight winning streak was the only thing that salvaged the bout with Mayweather, which will go down as the richest in boxing history by any measure.

The delay lingered for a painfully long time in the boxing world, but now it’s time to figure out whether it was worth it and crown the best fighter in the world.

Stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for ringside coverage of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, including round-by-round updates and scores.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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