FLOYD Mayweather Jr cemented his place as one of the boxing greats by taking his tally to 48-0 after a unanimous points decision over Manny Pacquiao yesterday, in a fight that lived up to the immense hype and its hefty price tag.
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 will have been worth the wait,” Mayweather said in the ring after a four-belt unification bout that was more than five years in the making.
Though Pacquiao repeatedly forced Mayweather to back pedal, 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. They were true to their word in delivering an entertaining contest that had the capacity crowd on their feet, roaring from the opening bell to the end of the 12-round showcase.
“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.
“We knew what we had to do. He’s a tough competitor – a very awkward fighter. I had to take my time and watch him closely.”
The fight between the two greatest boxers of their generation was one that pundits feared may never happen, as Pacquiao resisted Mayweather’s demands for blood-testing for five years.
When the two camps finally hammered out a deal, it was the richest in boxing history, setting new records for pay-per-view buys and gate receipts.
The fighters were also paid royally for their night’s work, with Mayweather guaranteed US$120 million (almost R1,5bn) and Pacquiao $80m (more than R965m), although both men could pocket much more depending on the number of pay-per-view purchases.
For Mayweather, the fight was one that will shape his legacy.
Even if he were to have retired unbeaten, there would forever have been a question mark hanging over his career without at least one meeting with his Filipino rival.
Mayweather said in the ring that he would fight again but that his next bout would be his last.
“My last fight is in September and then it is time for me to hang it up,” Mayweather said. “I am almost 40 years old now. I have been in the sport for 19 years, I have been world champion for 18 years.
“I am truly thankful and blessed.”
Dubbed the “Fight of the Century”, the MGM Grand Garden Arena crackled with energy as the rich and famous settled into their ringside seats before the event.
Actors Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington rubbed shoulders with sports celebrities such as Michael Jordan, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and billionaire Donald Trump.
There were no smiles from the stone-faced American boxer as he entered the ring wearing black, white and gold trunks and sporting a $23 000 (almost R278 000) mouth guard infused with flecks of gold and pieces of a $100 bill.
Pacquiao, who dropped to 57-6-2 said: “It was a good fight. I thought I won the fight. He didn’t do anything. He always moved outside.”
“I did my best but my best wasn’t good enough.” – ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY REUTERS
