Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao captured the vacant WBC super welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Antonio Margarito at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Pacquiao won on all three judges’ scorecards to extend his winning streak to 13.
The southpaw used his hand speed and ring savvy to prevail in front of a crowd of over 50,000, despite giving up a 17-pound (7.71 kg) weight advantage. Advertisement: Story continues below
Pacquiao has shown little sign of losing speed and power as he moves up in weight to fight bigger and stronger opponents, but he failed to score the knockout on Saturday.
Even so, the bout didn’t turn into the same kind of dull affair as Pacquiao’s fight against Joshua Clottey at the same venue in March.
Unlike Clottey, Margarito came to fight. He paid the price as he suffered a nasty gash under the right eye and had a huge welt that almost closed his left eye as well.
Pacquiao dominated Margarito from the outset to capture his eighth title in as many weight classes. He is also the first Asian to hold four or more major world titles.
The Mexican had his moments Saturday and hurt Pacquiao in the eighth round when he landed a left uppercut on the button that snapped Pacquiao’s head back.
Margarito was most effective when he had Pacquiao on the ropes but he failed to capitalise on his big height and weight advantage.
At five-foot-11, Margarito had a 16.5cm reach advantage and was 10 cm taller than the Filipino.
Pacquiao earned close to $A15 million while Margarito collected about $A6 million.
It was Margarito’s first fight in the United States since serving a one-year suspension after he got caught with plaster-filled hand wraps in his gloves prior to a fight against Shane Mosley.
? 2010 AFP
