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Manny Pacquiao raises his arms in triumph after easily defeating Chris Algieri at Cotai Arena. Photos: Unus Alladin

Manny Pacquiao teaches Chris Algieri a lesson

Philippines icon gives a masterclass of boxing as he easily beats American by unanimous decision

 

Manny Pacquiao outboxed, outsmarted and outpunched American Chris Algieri to easily retain his WBO world welterweight title at the Cotai Arena on Sunday.

Pacquao was never troubled by the New Yorker as he won round after round and floored his opponent six times but the 30-year-old stood up and still fought like a lion although he was never in the fight and only landed a handful of small punches.

Judges had it 119-103, 119-103 and 120-10 in a unanimous decision. It was an extremely one sided bout and Pacman was satisfied with his performance: "I did my best. We worked on the heavy bag a bit more. That's where I got my power from.

Algieri kept coming back up ... he has a big heart just like he showed against Ruslan Provodnikov
Manny Pacquiao

"Algieri kept coming back up ... he has a big heart just like he showed against Ruslan Provodnikov," said Pacquiao.

Regarding his possible matchup with the one bout the world is waiting for - Floyd Mayweather, the 35-year-old said: "I really want this fight. Fans really deserve this fight."

Algieri was confident of scoring a momentous victory against the eight-time world division champion, but could never land any big punches and apart from his strong jab, he could never get into the bout and was left surviving in each round.

"Manny Pacquiao is the best fighter in the world," said Algieri to cheering crowds. I hit him with a few good shots. It was really his left hook that got me in trouble and I fell flat on my back. I knew he would come at me with a serious onslaught," said the New Yorker, who dropped to 20-1-0. Pacquiao is now 57-5-2 with 38 KOs.

Chris Algieri (US) v Manny Pacquiao (Philippines) for the WBO world welterweight title - 12 rounds

It's time.The respective national anthems have been sung. Former Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton has sung the US national anthem, while a choir of Christian pastors have sung the Philippines national anthem. Pacquiao decided not to give the honour to ex-American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez.

Chris Algieri has entered the ring. Here comes Pacquiao - to the AC/DC rock anthem "Thunderstruck" and Queen's "We Will Rock You".

The Philippines national flag is being flown in the ring. The crowd is going wild as Pacquiao enters the ring. The Philippine icon goes to a corner, kneels and prays.

Ring announcer Michael Buffer is introducing the fighters. LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE! Spectators are booing Algieri! Fans go wild as Pacquiao is introduced. Deafening noise at a capacity Cotai Arena. Fans are already chanting "Manny, Manny, Manny!"

Round one: The fight gets off to a cautious and slow start. Algieri's movement is good. There are light punches by both fighters but no damage. Nobody has been able to land a successful punch. Manny is trying to find an opening, but Algieri is moving well. 

Round two: Manny is more aggressive and lands several blows. Algieri crashes down in the corner and the referee issues a standing eight-second count. But there is confusion as to whether he slipped or whether he was punched. But Manny is showing the upperhand. But there are still many rounds to go in this scheduled 12-round title fight.

Round three: Manny scores several stinging punches but Algieri blows them off. It's an even round as Algieri ducks and weaves and showing good form. He's moving a lot more than Brandon Rios last year. Rios stood toe-to-toe but Algieri is the moving target everybody said he would be.

Round four: The pace picks up somewhat. Crowd laughs when Algieri closes his guard before Manny throws a punch. There's a bit of a low blow by Manny on Algieri but he's alright and they touch gloves. Pacquiao trying to get on the inside. He knew he would have to negate Algieri's strong left jab. So far, it is working. 

Round five: Pacquiao looking the stronger now. He is scoring the better punches. He's trying to get on the inside, but Algieri has so far survived. Manny definitely throwing the better punches.

Round six: We have had another standing eight count as Algieri crashes to the ground following a quick left-right combination by Pacman. Algieri is down on one knee after a blistering left hook. Algieri rests his arms on the ropes in a neutral corner. Pacman looks like he has figured out his opponent and is landing by far the better blows. Could this fight be over quickly?

Algieri gets a standing eight count by the referee.

 

Rounds seven, eight, nine: Pacquiao is definitely getting the upperhand. It's the ninth round and Pacman sends Algieri to the canvas one more time. This is a superb left hook. The referee steps in and counts but Algieri beats the count at eight and tries to survive. That's all he is doing now ... surviving. It's going to be over very quickly. Pacman is definitely going for the kill.

Round ten: This is beginning to become a bit of a farce. Pacquiao is so far ahead of his opponent, skillwise, and et al, as he sends his opponent to the canvas one more time. A left-right puts him down ... but Algieri, just like against Ruslan Provodnikov in winning the WBO world light welterweight title in June, is getting up and continuing to fight. It's a brave Algieri but a futile attempt at the inevitable.

Round 11 and 12: Algieri seemed to have recovered from his earlier setbacks. He's not groggy and is still fighting like a lion. Manny is the aggressor and seemed to have negated Algieri's jab. There can only be one outcome. Pacquiao all the way. But Algieri is the surprise ... he didn't go down permanently. FIGHT IS OVER. Waiting for the official announcement, but I expect a unanimous decision. Pacquiao has retained his WBO world welterweight title. Here comes the official result.

ITS OFFICIAL: Judges had it 119-103, 119-103 and 120-102. Extremely one sided in the scoring cards. Ring announcer Michael Buffer: "Manny Pacquiao is still champion."

Welcome to Clash in Cotai II, featuring in the main event, Philippine icon Manny Pacquiao v unbeaten American Chris Algieri. It’s the first time Pacquiao has returned to Macau since his unanimous victory over Mexican-American Brandon Rios last November and he’s hungrier than ever.

Pacquiao is in great shape as he puts his WBO world welterweight title on the line against the 30-year-old New Yorker, who was until June of this year, an uknown. Algieri is fighting outside of New York City for the first time as he attempts to do the impossible – beat a determined and more aggressive Pacquiao. It’s a tall order for the Huntington native, who had a minor hiccup in Saturday’s weigh-in, needing three attempts on the scales before he was given the green light.

Manny Pacquiao is flanked by Stallone and Schwarzenegger before the fight.

He had been 0.2 pounds overweight. Pacquiao weighed in at 143.8 Pacquiao has been training like a man possessed and his coach, Freddie Roach, predicted a knockout victory. Victory for the 35-year-old world champion in eight weight divisions will open the door to a possible mega-bout with Floyd Mayweather Jnr – although the fight hasn’t happened after 3 ½ years of trying.

There are eight bouts, including two other world title fights. The first title fight will be for the WBO world featherweight title between Ukraine’s Vasyl Lomachenko and Thailand challenger Chonlatarn Piyiyapinyo. The other title fight will see American Jessie Vargas up against Mexico’s Antonio DeMarco for the WBA world super lightweight title.

There are five other fights on the undercard beginning with this Sunday morning:

 

Fadhili Majiha (Tanzania) v Jerwin Ancajas (Philippine) eight rounds bantamweight

Ancajas from Cavite City in the Philippines improves his record to 22-1-1, 14 KOs after scoring a third-round knockout against an outmatched Majiha. Ancajas nailed the Tanzanian with a straight left right on the button. Majiha hits the canvas and couldn't beat the count. Majiha dropped to 15-5-5, 7 KOs.

Espinos Sabu (Indonesia) v Rex Tso Sing-yu (Hong Kong) super flyweight - eight rounds

The "Wonder Kid" continued his quest towards a world title bout after winning his latest fight. He defeated Sabu by uanimous decision although the fight was closer than it seemed. Sabu, who has dropped to 8-3-1 with three KOs, had no answer to the fresher and more determined Tso, who has improved his record to an impressive 15-0-0, with nine KOs.

Rex Tso is asked by Top Rank photographer Chris Farina to pose before the judges decision. He won by uanimous decision.

Tso had been frustrated by the third change of opponents in six months. He had originally been set to fight a southpaw from Japan, but had to switch bach to an orthodox opponent after his original opponent had to withdraw from the bout because of a hand injury. But Tso, who will probably now fight in a world title eliminator bout in February, answered everything Sabu threw at him and fought a smart fight.

Rex Tso is happy and fresh after the fight as he proudly display his belts.

Sabu and Tso embrace at the end of the fight with Sabu lifting Tso off the canvas in celebration. Tso is congratulated by his camp. It's been a great lead-up for Rex, who easily made weight after hiring a professional nutritionist. 

Rex Tso at the weigh-in. The Wonder Kid weighed 114.8 pounds.

 

Stephen Attard (Australia) v Ng Kuok Kun (Macau) super welterweight - six rounds

Ng survived an early onslaught, a cut left eye ... but stil won his latest fight to improve his record to 6-0, 2 KOs. Judges had "K.K" winning by uanimous decision even though he staggered at times by Attard's straight left and rights. Ng was cut in his left eye and had to be attended by the ring doctor, but he bravely continued the fight and had a good last round. Both fighters embrace and Ng celebrated with the Macau flag after being declared the winner. Attard, from Preston, Australia, dropped to 4-1-2 with one KO, but showed a lot of heart and scored good hits against the "Macau Kid".

Antonio DeMarco (Mexico) v Jessie Vargas (United States) for the WBA world super lightweight title - 12 rounds

Vargas is defending his WBA title against DeMarco, who has special motivation to win with his younger sister suffering from cancer. DeMarco is trained by Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, while Vargas is coached by former boxing great, Roy Jones Junior. Vargas is coming into the fight extremely confident and is looking for nothing less than a knockout victory.

Jessie Vargas with his belt and Antonio DeMarco at the weigh-in.

 

It's a close and even fight so far. Vargas was hurt in the second round and had his left eye cut by deMarco, but Vargas is getting his second wind and has been nailing many good shots. He looks in control here in the sixth round. He scored a big right hand in the fifth round that rocked deMarco, who is now suffering from a cut right hand. This is a good fight so far. Vargas nailed another great right hand and nods his head at the end of the round as if to say: "C'mon, bring it on"..... meanwhile, the crowd is stirred by the appearance of Manny Pacquiao on the big screen. The Terminator, Arnold Schwartzenegger is also in attendance at ring side and enjoying the fights. 

Jessie Vargas is backed against a corner by Antonio DeMarco.

It's the ninth round now. DeMarco had a very good seventh round, and knows it, but he is swinging wildly and missing a lot of his shots. Meanwhile, Vargas throws a devastasting left-right comination, and is looking very strong. De Marco backs Vargas in the corner and throws a huge right hand that throws Vargas off-balance and crashes into the TV camera, but he is unhurt. DeMarco is showing some tremendous form now.

Antonio DeMarco at the end of the fight with his coach, Freddie Roach.

 

It's the end of the fight. Judges have scored it 116-112, 116-112, 116-112 in Vargas' favour. Vargas camp celebrates. DeMarco was continuously hit by Vargas' straight left and rights. Vargas kept winding his right fist, trying to land the big knockout punch in the latter rounds. There are no knockouts or knockdowns. Despite an uneventful last round, Vargas does enough to retain his WBA world super lightweight title by unanimous decision.

Chonlatarn Piyapinyo (Thailand) v Vasyl Lomachenko (Ukraine) for the WBO world featherweight title 12 rounds

One of the all-time great amateur boxers, Lomachenko takes on his unbeaten Thai challenger. Lomanchenko is a two-time Olympic gold medallist from Beijing and London and lost just one mateur fight out of 400 fights, He won the world title at only his third professional fight.

Vasyl Lomachenko with his belt and Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo at the weigh-in.

So far it has been a one-sided bout with Lomachenko clearly dominating the fight. The Ukrainian fighter, who is 2-1 with one KO, is taking on Piriyapinyo, who is far more experienced with a record of 52-1 with 33 knockouts. They both weighed-in at exactly 126 pounds on Saturday.

It's the seventh round and Lomachenko continues to throw accurate punches. His work-rate is amazing and his accuracy is magnifient. In the fourth round, he knocks down his Thai challenge with a flurry of punches, including a huge left hand that puts the Thai down on the canvas. He survives the round. The Thai is throwing wild punches, but they are not landing. 

Fight is over. Judges tabulate their scores and it's unanimous. Lomachenko has the judges scoring it 120-107 on all scorecards. The Ukrainian easily retains his title.

Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym (Thailand) v Zou Shiming (China) flyweight 12 rounds

Zou Shiming is up next and he's fighting his sixth professional bout since turning pro in January, 2013. He's up against a peculiar character. Onesongchaigym is the mini-Manny or mini-Pacquiao lookalike and he's been hounded by fans wanting to get a photo with him. Kwanpichit is undefeated in 27 fights and has scored 12 knockouts, while Zou, the two-time Olympic gold medallist from Guizhou is 5-0 with one knockout.

Zou Shiming and Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym at the weigh-in

 

It's the sixth round now and Zou has been dominating his opponent. Zou has scored two knockdowns. The Chinese hero knocks down the Thai with a flurry of punches in the second round and then lands a left-right combination that floors the Thai.

It's the first eight-second standing count, but "Mini-Manny" survives the round. Sixth round and Zou floors his oponent again, another combination sends the Thai into the ropes. But he still survives. Zou is fighting with a lot more confidence.

He's floating all over the ring and his movement has improved from last time. He's even doing the "Ali shuffle" and dropping his guard again. His Thai opponent has yet to land a serious blow but he's not beaten yet.

The accidental headbutt.

Zou continues to land a series of punches but the Thai is unfazed. Zou and Onesongchaigym come together in the eighth round and there's a clash of heads. Zou comes out the worse and the accidental headbutt leaves him with a gaping wound just above the left eye. He's bleeding, but unhurt.

Zou Shiming's cornermen work on their fighter after the headbutt.

 

The fight her ended, The Thai has been given his third standing eight-second count late in the 12th and final round. And then came another flurry of punches ... it's fierce but the Thai is saved by the bell. Zou's eye is swollen. Scorecards are in and it's a unanimous decision. Zou has stretched his unbeaten record as a pro. He's now 6-0, 1 KO and most certainly a world title bout is not far away.

 

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