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Pacquiao dominates Algieri to retain world title
Manny Pacquiao connects with the right against Chris Algieri during their World Boxing Organization (WBO) 12-round welterweight title fight at the Venetian Macau Reuters
Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao fashioned out a masterful unanimous decision, knocking down Chris Algieri six times on Sunday to retain the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title in Macau.
"Tonight, I did my best," Pacquiao said after the fight. "I'm satisfied with my performance tonight."
The win improved Pacquiao's record to 57 wins against five losses and two draws. Algieri suffered his first defeat in 20 fights.
Pacquiao dealt the American fighter the first defeat of his career, and the eight-division champion did it in style, snuffing out Algieri's hopes right from the start.
Talking about his improved power, Pacquiao said it was a priority during training camp with trainer Freddie Roach.
"We improved our strenghth, we did more heavy bag training," said Pacquiao, who admitted he was looking to stop Algieri.
"I'm looking for a knockout, but he's fast, he's moving."
Despite giving up four inches in height, Pacquiao stalked Algieri early on, putting the American on the backpedal.
The first knockdown, in the second round, was a combination of a Pacquiao punch and Algieri slipping on the canvas but in the sixth round Algieri tumbled head over heels after a Pacquiao barrage and went down again in the same round from a right hook.
A fierce left cross in the ninth sent Algieri to his back. He beat the count, but dropped to his knees from a follow-up flurry and seemed on the verge of being stopped as Pacquiao unleashed a fusillade of punches against the ropes.
Somehow the American survived that round and despite being knocked down by another left hand in the tenth, made it to the final bell.
After the fight, Pacquiao dedicated the win to his countrymen, especially those who filled the Cotai Arena with cheers.
"Lots of Filipinos came here tonight to watch the fight," said Pacquiao. "Thank you so much for the support of all the fans around."
Overmatched Algieri
Algieri had earned the shot against Pacquiao by overcoming a swollen right eye and two knockdowns against Russia's Ruslan Provodnikov in his previous outing but he was never remotely in this contest.
Although he circled constantly to his left and attempted to keep Pacquiao at a distance with his superior reach, he rarely landed any consequential punches.
Algieri holds a master's degree and an ambition to become a doctor once his boxing days are over. All week in the build-up, his trainer Tim Lane had been declaring that he would destroy Pacquiao by "master boxing".
They proved hollow words and Pacquiao's Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach mocked them afterwards.
"The master boxer was given a master class by Professor Pacquiao," said Roach.
Filipino pride
Pacquiao's victory will inevitably heighten calls for him to face the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather in what could be the first billion-dollar fight in history
"I really want the fight. The fans deserve it," said Pacquiao afterwards, throwing down a challenge by imitating a new TV commercial in which he mocks Mayweather.
It brought huge cheers from the sellout 13,202 crowd at the Venetian Macau venue, where the vast majority appeared to be Filipinos.
Many hundreds more of Pacquiao's compatriots were waiting patiently outside for just a glimpse of their national hero, having arrived at the venue in the early hours of Sunday to find all the tickets gone.
Back in the Philippines, the nation stopped to watch en masse.
"The Filipinos were united in celebrating the victory of our national fist, Congressman Manny Pacquiao in his fight against Chris Algieri in Macau," said President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Herminio Coloma in Manila.
