A vintage performance by Manny Pacquiao over Brandon Rios by unanimous points decision has seen him secure the WBO international welterweight title, return to winning ways after successive defeats and set up the prospect of a superfight in Las Vegas against Floyd Mayweather Jnr in 2014.
Following defeats to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao was back to his best, displaying movement, panache and timing to outclass Rios with his trademark combination punching and earn scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 on the cards at The Venetian casino in Macau.
The victory was replete with emotion for Pacquiao after the devastating typhoon which had killed thousands of his compatriots, and leaving tens of thousands homeless.
“This is not about my comeback,” Pacquiao said in the ring. “My victory is a symbol of my people’s comeback from a natural disaster and a natural tragedy.”
“He is tough and took his beating like a man,” said Freddie Roach, the long-time coach of the Filipino Congressman.
Pacquiao got the better of the opening two rounds, sending Rios to the canvas in the opening frame, although the referee contentiously ruled it as a slip rather than a knockdown.
The American asserted himself in the third, landing some telling shots which momentarily raised hopes of a genuine contest before Pacquiao – spurred on by a capacity crowd at the 13,000-seat Cotai Arena, including many Filipino fans – dominated the remainder of the contest.
Rios was game, continually walking forward to challenge Pacquiao, but was unable to find a way of trapping the tireless Filipino fighter.
After seven rounds, Rios was getting attention to cuts under both eyebrows, and with the scores going against him, needed something special.
Cautioned by the memory of his previous fight when he walked into a devastating Marquez punch that knocked him out, Pacquiao was on guard throughout the closing rounds but a tiring Rios offered little threat over the final four rounds.
“Recovering from the knockout and giving a good show was what I wanted to prove to myself and everyone,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao could face Floyd Mayweather Jnr next year if the promoters – and television companies HBO and Showtime – can settle their differences in what could be a $200 million grossing superfight.
