Floyd Mayweather remains the undefeated in 48 fights after beating his Filipino challenger in their welterweight unification bout.
Mayweather won by a unanimous decision after the judges scored the bout 118-110, 116 – 112, 116 – 112.
Here’s how it all happened:
The night many boxing fans have been waiting for is finally here.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are sharing the same ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Here are the stats ahead of the big fight! Retweet for Pacquiao | Favourite for Mayweather. #MayweatherPacquiao pic.twitter.com/jtqtjiZPW7
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) May 3, 2015
Pre-fight prayer for @MannyPacquiao. Guess what? That’s his mum. #MayPac pic.twitter.com/eLl7VaKUgA
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) May 3, 2015
. @Mayweather with @justinbieber #MayPac pic.twitter.com/RmHS24DjBy
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) May 3, 2015
Jamie Foxx will sing the anthems and both Jimmy Lennon Jnr (Mayweather) and Michael Buffer (Pacquiao) will call the fighters to the ring.
The two fighters arrive in the ring
ROUND 1
We’re off! Finally! Manny coming forward. Floyd looking to counter, to stick. Floyd looks sharp. Floyd lands his first straight right, bit of snap in that. Floyd is finding his range really well here. Two minutes minute in, Floyd looking the more assured. Another straight right from Floyd.
BROUND 2
Manny lunges and Floyd tags him. Slight slip from Floyd, but that was just a footing thing. Manny bringing great energy, but swinging wildly. Manny grabs Floyd. He’s managed to back him into the corner but it’s more by wrestling than fighting. Pac like a little bull, head down charging. Mayweather defence looking impeccable. Crowd are roaring Manny forward but it’s like trying to thump a shadow at the moment.
ROUND 3
Off and running again. Manny has barely landed one. Fight settling into a pattern. Pac charges… but Floyd is not there. There’s a shot from Manny though, lunging right that glances. Floyd throws a couple towards the end of the round. Mayweather stuck Manny with a low blow in that round, it glanced off Manny’s glove.
ROUND 4
More promising start to this round. Manny is throwing at an incredible rate and he has landed a couple at the start of round four. And now here’s a flurry of blows from Manny! pings him with a left, he’s into this now and he has hurt Floyd, who is covering up on the ropes. And now he’s caught him with a right in the cenre of the ring, this is Manny’s best few monents yet. This is more like it for Manny, he’s whaling punches on him but Mayweather’s defence is very, very good. A huge number of blows but how many of them actually hurt is harder to say. He was working the body good and hard.
ROUND 5
Floyd needs, and gets, a quieter round. He’s inviting Pac onto him. Manny cannot let the blood get up too much, get knocked out as he charges forward. Manny looking to “box” more in this round rather than the fourth round when he just went at him hard and whaling. Floyd’s supporters will have enjoyed that round much more. At the end of the round, the ref tells Mayweather to keep his punches up.
ROUND 6
Manny ups the tempo again, as he must. And he manages to trap Floyd in the corner and unloads a flurry. Now he’s got him on the ropes, pounding away at the body. Floyd shake his head! Saying, nah mate, not bothered. Floyd gets back out in the centre of the ring and has sort of taken control again, but until he can actually hurt Pacquaio, he is not going to shut him down.
ROUND 7
Floyd electric defence again, darting away from Manny. He’s keeping Manny at distance in this round. Tags him with three jabs. That’s money. A slower round.
ROUND 8
Manny taking some more risks now. Lands a left, swings wildly and misses now. Jim Watt says: “you have to take risks against FM. You cannot beat him at his own game.” Couple of flurries. Pac chasing it in this round but he’s not really finding Floyd. Floyd dropping the hands now, starting to large it up a bit, Manny looking the more tired of the two I would say. It’s been engaging and Mayeather’s defence has been super, but there have only been sporadic squalls of real excitement. Floyd back in calm control in this round.
ROUND 9
Nice lunging left from Manny gets through. But apart from that hard-charging spell in round four, Manny’s been one shot at a time. not able to put enoguh combos together. Think we could get a fishy decision here though, maybe. Floyd not exactly looking to knock his man out.
ROUND 10
Pacquiao has Mayweather backed up on the ropes a couple of times in this round but his problem is managing to take advantage of the situation. Mayweather doesn’t hand around and once back in the centre of the ring, slips a jab and answers with a right.
ROUND 11
Pacquiao has struggled to unlock the puzzle that is Floyd Mayweather tonight. Another round passes him by as he threw single shots which had little impact and allowed Mayweather to counter effectively. Not one for the ages but lots to like about Mayweather’s performance.
ROUND 12
They touch gloves at the start of the final round and in many ways it has been a predictable fight. There is no late flurry from Pacquiao who is surely heading for defeat. Mayweather bounces on his feet with plenty of energy left. Pacquiao lands with seconds remaining but the impact is not lasting. There goes the bell.
