10.06 AM Tuesday, 19 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 05:07 06:20 12:29 15:54 18:33 19:47
19 March 2024

Manny Pacquiao vows to continue fighting after outclassing Rios

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrates his victory against Brandon Rios of the US after their welterweight boxing bout in Macau. (AFP)

Published
By Correspondent with Agencies

Manny Pacquiao registered a decisive, unanimous decision win against American Brandon Rios to clinch the vacant WBO International welterweight title in Macau on Sunday.

The Filipino great was dominant throughout, showing vastly greater hand speed than his opponent and landing blistering combinations that left Rios' right eye swollen and his left eye bleeding.

Pacquiao's most recent contests were a controversial points loss to Timothy Bradley in June 2012, and a sixth-round knockout at the hands of Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in December.

Click here to see pictures... Manny Pacquiao wins

There were no knockdowns in the fight.

The Filipino great, who had lost his last two fights, took the 12-round contest to Rios from the first bell, connecting with lightning combinations to the body and head.

Rios was on the canvas following a body shot in the first round, but the referee ruled no knockdown because the former lightweight world champion had slipped.

Rios proved durable, but Pacquiao gave him an all-over workout and a boxing lesson in the American's debut at welterweight.

Pacquiao, a congressman in the Philippines, which was recently ravaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan, was understandably emotional afterwards.

"This is not about my comeback," he said in the ring immediately after the verdict.

"This is about my people's comeback from a natural disaster and a natural tragedy."

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach had said he would tell his charge to retire should he lose to Rios.

Now Pacquiao will look for a potential rematch with Mexican arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez, who knocked Pac-Man' out in their fourth meeting last December.

"I'm so happy," added Pacquiao. "Because my time is not over."

It's official with all three judges scoring in favour of the Filipino superstar 120-108 119-109 118-110.

Eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao has outclassed American challenger Brandon Rios in the 12-round.

Round 12

Rios can win only by a knockout. But it is Manny who continues to call the shots against the friendly fire of Rios. Manny pummels him with a powerful combination on the ropes. Rios is leading with a feeble jab. He seems to have surrendered bleeing from his left eye from a cut he got in the sixth round. Manny is finishing strongly with a flurry of blows. The boxers hug each other in the centre of ring to bring an end to the one-sided bout.

Round 11

Manny staggers Rios with a couple of powerful left jabs after dancing around in the opening minute. Rios is hanging on bravely as Manny punches him at will. Rios lands a straight right. Rios carries Manny briefly as they get entangled.

Round 10

Both boxers are fighting in the centre now. Rios is still not forcing the pace. Rios is frustrated as the referee cautions him again. Light tapping by Manny before unleasing a couple of uppercuts. It is almost as if Manny is sparring with Rios. Manny lands a powerful left. Rios lands some left jabs as the boxers go into a clinch.

Round 9

Manny is landing the heavier blows and outscoring Rios by 3 to 1. Rios is yet to come out of his shell. Manny lands another barrage of punches to the body and face. Rios has no answer as Manny spins around. Rios is cautioned again for hitting behind the head. Rios catches Manny with a right cross. Manny replies with a short right uppercut. Manny lands two powerful lefts on the chin of Rios.

Round 8

Rios has yet to land a decent punch and can only win by a knockout now because he is behind on points. Rios is leading off now with a couple of jabs. Manny is countering with combinations. Manny is holding but the referee cannot see. Manny is teasing the American with jabs. Rios manages to land a left jab to the face. Manny is dancing around Rios and lands a punch on the stroke of the bell.

Round 7

Rios lands a left jab. Manny is backing off and countering with double blows. Rios seems to be stunned by hand speed of Manny. Rios has now answer as Manny staggers him with powerful combinations. Rios connects with a right. Manny shrugs it off and comes back with speedy combinations.

Round 6

Manny begings with straight left. Rios is still waiting to land the big one but he has yet to win a round. Rios tries to pin him on the ropes but Manny slips away. Manny sneaks in an uppercut and right jab before landing a heavy left. Manny seems to be just toying with Rios. Manny connects with a right hook and Rios is bleeding in his left eye.

A loud cheers goes up not for Manny but for former England footballer David Beckham.

Round 5

So far it's been Manny and there have been no knockdown. Manny staggers Rios with a straight left. Rios keeps smiling. Manny is landing punches at will. Rios takes some body blows answering with a feeble jab. Manny lands a couple of left upppercuts. Manny lands about 10 blows before Rios wakes up to reply.

Round 4

Rios lands a good right as he gets the measure of Manny counter attacks with speed combinations. Manny is circling easily around the lumbering Rios who is cautioned for hitting behind the head. Manny lands a sharp left hook. Manny is just spinning around Rios after landing combinations.
 
Round 3

Rios is trying to cut the distance with the elusive Manny. Manny lands two powerful left jabs. Manny is dictating the pace of the bout. Rios is content to play waiting game and manages to sneak in a combination pinning him on the ropes. Rios lands uuppercuts but Manny counters with his left.

Round 2

Rios appears to be defending peek-a-boo style ala Floyd Patterson. Manny is in total control punching and slipping out easily. Rios works on the body. Rios is showing some aggression now. Manny finishes strongly with a flurry of jabs even after the bell.

Round 1

Manny lands the first blow and is leading the fight catching Rios with a couple of lefts. Rios is backing off keeping Manny at bay with his left jabs. Rios goes down after slipping. Manny  is landing the power blows trying to open up Rios. Finishing strongly with right to the face.

The fighters have touched gloves.

The officials are ready and the fighters are ready to rumble.

Await 12 rounds of action of the WBO welterweight title.

Pacquia is coming out now and has entered the ring for his first fight since being knocked out by Marquez.

American Rios is walking out to the ring but the predominantly Filipino is chanting 'Manny, Manny'.

The countdown has begun for the much-awaited comeback fight of Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao who will be fighting for his country and his career on Sunday morning when he takes on American Brandon Rios in the first major international fight card to be held in the capital of Macau.

The bout is taking place in the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, which smashed into Pacquiao's native Philippines on November 8, killing more than 4,000 people and leaving another 4 million homeless.

Eight weight world champion Pacquiao, who is also a congressman from Sarangani Province, said that the tragedy is inspiring him to succeed.

"I am more motivated for this fight, to win this fight because what happened in the Philippines," he told Reuters this week. "My countrymen, I want to make them happy. To bring honour to my country."

For Pacquiao, victory is also essential to maintain an exceptional career that has stuttered of late, following a controversial points defeat to American Timothy Bradley in June 2012 and a shocking sixth-round knockout loss to old foe Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in December.

The Marquez defeat was his last ring outing, and the Filipino icon, 54-5-2 (38 KOs), said that the extra time between bouts has left him feeling refreshed and ready for action.

"It's good for me to have a rest like this," he said. "I feel like I'm hungry to fight again in the ring. I feel like when I was starting boxing."

Former lightweight champion Rios, 31-1-1 (23 KOs), is, like Pacquiao, coming off a loss - via decision to Mike Alvarado in March. But he believed he was facing a legendary opponent at just the right time.

"Pacquiao, in his last fight, wasn't as fast as he was in previous fights," he said.

"I think he has slowed down a lot. You could see that his legs were cramping up as well. I don't know what's going on. Maybe it's his age. It's amazing: when the body says it's time to go, it's time to go."