For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Furiously bouncing back from a wrongly ruled knockdown in the 10th round, Manny Pacquiao dominated American Shane Mosley, who showed his age against a boxer who further cemented his reputation as the world's best pound-for-pound boxer. Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion, succeeded in defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title against Mosely on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The southpaw Pacquiao, who wore yellow gloves as a symbol of his fight against poverty, again showcased his trademark power-punching and hand speed in scoring a unanimous decision win over his American challenger. A solid left by Pacquiao dropped Mosley in the third as the Filipino champion pressed his attack. Mosley, a future Hall of Famer in the twilight of his career at age 39, disappointed many of his fans by seeming to fight only to survive. He failed to do much damage against the Filipino boxing superstar, except in the 10th round when he scored a 'knockdown'. However, replays showed Mosley stepped on Pacquiao's foot and pushed him down. Mosley's main achievement was not getting knocked out, maintaining an unblemished record in that category and staying in the ring long enough for a decision. Until the final round, Pacquiao was really looking to knockout Mosley. He poured it all in the 12th, landing some crisp jabs and solid lefts to the face inside the final minute but his American opponent held on. When the final bell sounded, Pacquiao shook his head, still clearly frustrated about the controversial knock down – where replays showed he was pushed by Mosley – called on him by referee Kenny Bayless in the 10th. That wrong knock down, where the Filipino champion was given a mandatory eight-count by Bayless, triggered an onslaught by Pacquiao as he punished Mosley with several combinations with blinding hand speed. Mosley appeared exhausted and repeatedly held on to Pacquiao, trying to avoid an abrupt end. When Mosley became defensive-minded, Pacquiao tried to speed up the tempo and was relentless in targeting the American’s face where the Filipino champ landed several 1-2 combinations. Roach even instructed Pacquiao, in the early rounds, to work on the middle where his ward tried to penetrate Mosley’s defense. In the other corner, Naazim Richardson, Mosley’s trainer, encouraged his fighter to attack and not allow Pacquiao to dominate the match. Mosley had good combinations of his own but that hardly put a dent on the Pacquiao juggernaut. All three judges scored the fight for Pacquiao: 119-108, 120-108, 120-107. Currently at his peak at age 32 and winner of titles in eight weight divisions, Pacquiao awaits perhaps the only real challenge left in an illustrious career, a fight against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., his only rival as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and maybe in the history of the sport. Manny Pacquiao was involved in a minor vehicle accident on Saturday but his management team said he was not injured and is all set for his WBO welterweight title defense against Shane Mosley later in the day. "Manny is ready to go," the Filipino southpaw's trainer Freddie Roach told reporters at the MGM Grand where the scheduled 12-round bout will be held on Saturday evening. According to Pacquiao's publicist, Fred Sternburg, the boxer was returning from mass when the sport utility vehicle he was in was hit from behind at low speed by one of his security vehicles. Sternburg said the 10-times world champion was "a little shaken up" but not injured in the accident which took place on the hotel property. No police report was filed. The 32-year-old Pacquiao, already acknowledged as one of the best offensive fighters of all time, is an 8-1 favourite to beat Mosley at the MGM Garden Arena. Although Mosley is a former three-division world champion and holds a height and weight advantage over the Filipino, at the age of 39 the American is in the twilight of his impressive career. Mosley, 46-6-1 (39 knockouts), has not competed in the ring since his draw with Sergio Mora in September. Pacquiao, 52-3-2 (38 KOs), is fighting for the first time since he recorded a ruthless points victory over Mexican Antonio Margarito in November for his eighth world title in an unprecedented eight weight class. In the end, one indication of the boxing world's disappointment in Mosley was his girlfriend's name Bella Gonzales was trending on Twitter while Mosley's was not. Both Pacquiao and wife Jinkee were also trending.
–With reports from Rey Joble and Carlo Paminturan/HS, GMA News 
GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
