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MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/03 May) – Filipino boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao thought he won the much hyped and much awaited fight against undefeated American welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I thought I won the fight. He didn’t do anything,” Pacquiao said to the cheers of the sellout crowd.
But the judges thought otherwise. After 12 rounds that saw neither boxer fall to the canvas, they gave the fight to Mayweather via unanimous decision that stunned the visibly pro-Pacquiao audience at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and the millions of Filipino fans.
The judges scored it 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112.
The win enabled Mayweather to retain an unblemished record of 48 wins.
Nonetheless, the American champion did not hide his admiration for the Filipino ring icon.
“He’s one hell of a fighter,” Mayweather said of Pacquiao.
The match unified the WBO, WBA and WBC welterweight titles.
Interviewed right after the decision was announced, Pacquiao refused to say what his next move would be as a boxer. He just said he would spend time with his family.
Mayweather on the other hand said he has another fight coming in September. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno)