LAS VEGAS ? Before the decision was read in the latest Fight of the Century, Floyd Mayweather stood atop a rope in the corner and screamed, ?I know I won!?
The crowd of mostly Manny Pacquiao fans wasn?t convinced, hoping that somehow the three judges at ringside had given the Filipino hero their vote. But when announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. read the scorecards, Mayweather had remained unbeaten capturing a unanimous decision.
Dave Moretti saw it 118-110, while Bert Clements and Glenn Feldman both scored it 116-112. The Post had it 116-112 for Mayweather.
In claiming the WBO welterweight title to add to his WBC and WBA crowns, Mayweather improved to 48-0, compiling enough points with his jab and counter punches to earn the victory. Pacquiao (57-6-2) was never down or hurt and applied constant pressure. But he had trouble landing anything significant as Mayweather was elusive when he needed to be.
It was a compelling but not overly thrilling fight. It was more of a chess match than the brawl Pacquiao would have preferred.
It took five years after they first started talking about fighting each other before Mayweather would agree to the fight. The clear ?A-side? of the event as he calls himself, Mayweather dictated the terms: a 60-40 split in revenue that could reach $400 million; the right for Mayweather Promotions to promote the event; and the MGM Grand Garden arena as the venue instead of a place that could have accommodated the crowd interest like AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
