Pacman notches eighth world title
MANILA, Philippines– Underscoring his tag
as the world’s best pound for pound fighter, Filipino ring hero Manny Pacquiao
bucked a size disadvantage to outclass Antonio Margarito of Mexico and claim
the WBC super welterweight crown, his eighth weight crown, at Cowboys Stadium
in Texas Saturday night (Sunday here).
round I recovered right away I really trained hard for this fight. I sacrificed
a lot for this fight,” said Pacquiao after the fight.
There was no
knockdown but Pacquiao, despite giving up close to 20 pounds in weight, proved
dominant throughout the bout set at a catch weight of 150 lbs.
Unlike Joshua Clottey
who refused to engage Pacquiao, Margarito gamely fought his heart out against
the Filipino champion. In the end, however, his face was reduced into a bloody
mess.
The judges scored it, 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110, all for the Filipino champion, who constantly tagged Margarito with his trademark combinations.
The Inquirer scored it 119-109, giving the eighth round to Margarito.
Pacquiao cut Margarito as early as the fourth round, but couldn’t finish off the Mexican, who bravely absorbed all the punishment from the Filipino champion. Pacquiao went through the motions in thefinal round, with the outcome all but wrapped up in the first 11 rounds.
Margarito took heavy shots but stayed on his feet. Pacquiao completes his
classy performance with a late combination that lands flush on Margarito’s face.
“I was hurt once in round when I stayed in the ropes. But I recovered right away,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao improved to 52-3-2 (38 KOs), while Margarito, a three-time world champion, fell to 38-7-0. Photo by Associated Press
