Pacquiao keeps WBO welterweight crown
STILL CHAMP. Manny Pacquiao celebrates after defeating Shane Mosley by unanimous decision during their WBO welterweight title bout, Saturday, May 7, 2011, in Las Vegas. AP
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) Manny Pacquiao hammered out a lopsided unanimous decision victory over American Shane Mosley, using his speed and power to the hilt to retain his WBO welterweight crown Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Two judges gave all the rounds to the Filipino pound-for-pound icon while one handed Mosley a round. The scores came out 119-108, 120-108 and 120-107.
Pacquiao knocked Shane Mosley down in the third round with a one-two capped with a left straight that floored the challenger at the 1:17 mark. Mosley spent the rest of the bout in circles, staying away from the crisp combinations the Filipino kept uncorking.
Mosley floored Pacquiao in the 10th with a push, but referee Kenny Bayless inexplicably ruled it a knockdown. None of the judges seemed to have bought it judging from the scores.
Pacquiao didn’t get the knockout he wanted, but the Filipino congressman kept his spot as boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter.
Up next for Pacquiao is a third match with Juan Manuel Marquez in November.
Pacquiao was defending the title he won from Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in 2009, where he stopped his rival in the 12th to become the first fighter to win titles in seven different weight classes. A victory over Antonio Margarito gave Pacquiao an unprecedented eight division crown.
HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU KID. Manny Pacquiao, right, looks down at Shane Mosley who slipped during the fourth round as referee Kenny Bayless looks on during their WBO welterweight title bout, Saturday, May 7, 2011, in Las Vegas. AP
Pacquiao extended his win streak to 14 bouts and improved his career record to 53-3 with two drawn.
With reports from Agence France-Presse, AP
