Pacquiao’s historic feat may set him up for Mayweather rematch in 2017

 Manny Pacquiao proved Saturday night (Sunday afternoon in Manila) that age is indeed just a number as he was crowned as the new World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion – the first senator of any nation ever to do so – after carving out a 12-round unanimous decision over Jessie Vargas at the Thomas and Mack Center, here.

Older by ten years and running on high-gear all the time, Pacquiao beat Vargas before 16,132 roaring fans.

Boxing judges Glenn Trowbridge and Glenn Feldman had identical scoresheets that tallied 118-109, while Dave Moretti had it 114-113.

Pacquiao, who turns 38 on December 17, scored a knockdown in the second round, thanks to a left straight to the kisser that sent Vargas, 27, on the seat of his pants.

When Referee Kenny Bayless administered the count, Vargas was already up on his feet, raring to do battle again with the fighter once regarded as the pound-for-pound king.

The crowd thought that was beginning of the end for Vargas but he still had some magical moments when he stung Pacquiao with his favorite right hand in the fourth and sixth stanzas, sending shivers down the spine of the Pacquiao supporters.

There were no more knockdowns scored after that second round trip by Vargas to the floor but Pacquiao said he tried his best to add another and hopefully compel the referee to intervene.

“I tried every round to knock him down but I don’t want to be careless,” said Pacquiao, who ate some Vargas rights when he attempted to close the gap and connect his killer blows.

“I was very careful in going inside because I know he will counter me,” he said after boosting his record to 59-6-2 with 38 KOs.

The decision win was the 11th straight for Pacquiao as his knockout drought stretches back to November 2009.

Still, Vargas felt that he stood his ground and it prompted Pacquiao to mellow down in his attacks, thinking that he might be hit by a counter right hand.

“I am not going to argue with the scorecards,” said Vargas, a heavy 7-1 underdog.

“I got a little confident and he caught me with a good sharp left hand. After that it was a chess match. I wanted to catch him with the nice right.”

The adjustment that he made after the knockdown even messed up Pacquiao’s gameplan as Vargas fought better with well-timed counters.

“He was more cautious than usual. He wasn’t coming in comfortably. I made it interesting and intriguing.”

Pacquiao was expected to attend the traditional post-fight press conference but Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum revealed that the fighting lawmaker won’t be able to appear as he was advised by the commission to have his cut treated.

Apparently, a cut was opened in the last round and it needed 16 stitches to close, leaving the 84-year-old Arum with no choice but to scrap the post-fight after the Vargas’ Q&A.

Arum says a fight in April, 2017 could be next for Pacquiao with Terence Crawford, Vasyl Lomachenko, Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman as possibilities.

REMATCH IN THE OFFING?

Floyd Mayweather showed up at ringside for the fight, fueling speculations that a rematch is being cooked up for 2017.

Mayweather arrived with his daughter during the tail-end of a world title fight that preceded the main event and was immediately accorded VIP treatment.

The unbeaten American, who has a 49-0 record, had beaten Pacquiao on points last year in the richest fight in history.

Delighted Floyd Mayweather, the undefeated nemesis of Pacquiao who was at ringside at the Thomas & Mack Center. (AFP | Manila Bulletin)

Delighted Floyd Mayweather, the undefeated nemesis of Pacquiao who was at ringside at the Thomas & Mack Center. (AFP | Manila Bulletin)

But his win was shrouded in doubt as Pacquiao would later claim that he entered the ring not in 100 percent shape owing to a right shoulder injury that was operated on immediately after the match that generated $600 million in revenue.

Ringside reporters tried to ask him why he turned up but he smiled at them as he sat beside his daughter in the entirety of the fight that Pacquiao handily won.

Shortly after the decision was announced, Mayweather left the venue with burly bodyguards escorting him.

Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank later told the media that Mayweather, who used to be his fighter, called up his stepson Todd Duboef to ask to be given seats.

“He called and was very nice and he wanted to come to the fight. We got him a credential and a great seat. He just didn’t show and barged in he called and asked if he could come.”

But Arum refuses to entertain questions about the issue surrounding Mayweather’s decision to watch Pacquiao fight, stressing that “he’s retired.”

“Floyd is retired. Period. He is jerking somebody’s chain,” added Arum.

Pacquiao said it was Mayweather, who turns 40 in February next year, who called him and asked for seats at the Thomas and Mack Center.

Just before Mayweather left, Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser Mike Koncz, who was on top of the ring, made hand signals with Mayweather.

But what was more intriguing was Pacquiao’s gesture when he went to a neutral corner to celebrate facing Mayweather.

Pacquiao motioned with his hand to acknowledge Mayweather and gave a thumbs-up sign as if to say, their rematch is on.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Nick Giongco

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