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Floyd Mayweather Jnr

LAS VEGAS. – Floyd Mayweather Jnr cemented his place among the pantheon of boxing greats by improving to 48-0 with a unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao yesterday in a welterweifght fight that lived up to its immense hype and price tag. Mayweather Jnr also cemented his legacy as one of boxing’s best as he cruised to a wide points victory over Pacquiao.

Mayweather weathered an early assault from the Filipino southpaw before winning the later rounds using his reach and jab to finish ahead on all three scorecards in a welterweight showdown set to be the top grossing prize fight of all time.

“When the history books are written, it was worth the wait,” Mayweather said in the ring after a four-belt unification bout that was more than five years in the making.

The American boxed clever under the Las Vegas lights yet again to claim a unanimous decision and finally end the debate of who is the best from this era’s greatest.

Mayweather (38) had to survive a fourth-round scare in the £350 million super-fight when Pacquiao shook him with a left.

But for the majority of the 36 minutes he controlled the contest much to the anger and disappointment of the pro-Pacquiao crowd inside the 16 800-capicity MGM Grand Arena.

The three American judges’ scorecards were clear at 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 as Mayweather added the WBO welterweight title to his WBC and WBA crowns and stretched his record to 48-0, one short of Rocky Maciano’s 49-0.

“Manny Pacquiao is a hell of fighter, I see now why he is at the pinnacle of boxing,” the 38-year-old Mayweather said after an emotional embrace with Pacquiao. “I’m a smart fighter, I outboxed him. He never figured out my jab and my right hand. We knew what we had to do. He’s a tough competitor . . . a very awkward fighter and I had to take my time and watch him closely.”

Dave Moretti’s 118-110 was certainly too wide, but the undefeated “Money” never allowed this to turn into a war and was booed at the end despite the dominating win. Though Pacquiao repeatedly forced Mayweather to backpedal, the wily American blunted his opponent’s best efforts by using his renowned defensive skills while getting in several telling jabs and punches of his own. Mayweather and Pacquiao had promised to deliver on years of hype and give fans their money’s worth and were true to their word in delivering an entertaining contest that had the capacity crowd on its feet roaring from the opening bell to the end of the 12-round showcase. The early rounds led us to believe this could have gone either way, but by the second half of the fight Mayweather was coasting and Pacquaio’s smile was gone.

Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach were so relaxed they shared a selfie on the ring walk as the Filipino’s own song was boomed around the packed MGM Grand Arena. – AFP.