NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Sunday, May 3, 2015, 12:51 AM
Updated: Sunday, May 3, 2015, 4:06 AM
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AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGESFloyd Mayweather Jr. throws a left at Manny Pacquiao.
LAS VEGAS — The so-called Fight of the Century may not have lived up to the crazy hype that preceded it. But it was still historic to see both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao in the ring together.
And the delirious, tense reaction of the fans after every move Mayweather and Pacquiao made proved they thought the wait to get both superstars in the ring after years of delays and combative discussions was worth it.
But while the richest fight in history — Mayweather was expected to make $180 million, Pacquiao will likely make more than $100 million, and organizers expect the fight to generate $400 million — was competitive, there were zero knockdowns. It was a Mayweather type of fight, in which he dictated the pace with his superior ring acumen and boxing IQ.
Despite what you might think of Mayweather outside of the ring, for his history of domestic violence against women, you have to give the man his due. When the lights are on, he’s a ring savant.
Despite being pushed, Mayweather captured a relatively easy unanimous decision Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a welterweight unification bout to lay claim to pound-for-pound supremacy and to cement his legacy as an all-time great in a bout that promised to be the most lucrative of all time. Mayweather coasted to victory by scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112 to remain perfect at 48-0 while Pacquiao was dealt a blow to his legacy by dropping his record to 57-6-2. “He’s a hell of a fighter,” Mayweather said afterward. “I kept on the outside and I out-boxed him. I did what I had to do tonight.”
For his part, Pacquiao said he thought he won the fight afterward, a questionable statement. Before the decision was announced, Mayweather stood on the ropes and pounded his chest. “I know I won,” he screamed as the crowd booed.
JOHN LOCHER/APFloyd Mayweather Jr., celebrates his victory over Manny Pacquiao with the champion's belt.
Mayweather suggested he might follow through on his earlier remarks to retire after his final fight of his Showtime contract in September. “I’m getting old, I’m almost 40,” the 38-year-old said. “It may be time to hang them up after September.”
The main event was delayed by 30 minutes as cable and satellite providers were overwhelmed by the amount of orders on Pay-Per-View and needed time to process them, according to HBO spokesman Ray Stallone.
But after five years of waiting for this fight, what was an extra few minutes?
Pacquiao entered the ring to his own song blasting on the speakers as fans cheered wildly, just as they did on Friday at the weigh-in. He was trailed by Jimmy Kimmel into the ring.
Meanwhile, Mayweather was lustily booed as he made his ring walk, wearing a nattily designed glossy black and gold outfit. Mayweather started fast, landing a pair of hard straight right hands in the opening round. Mayweather appeared to briefly stun Pacquiao with a straight right midway through the second.
HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGESReferee Kenny Bayless stands in between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather hit Pacquiao low to start the third and he seemed upset by the move.
Pacquiao was more active thereafter, digging to Mayweather’s body, and Floyd was content to hold.
Pacquiao hurt Mayweather with a straight left in the fourth, causing Mayweather to bounce back and cover up against the ropes as Pacquiao threw a volley of punches that made the crowd go wild.
ISAAC BREKKEN/APManny Pacquiao (l.) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. embrace in the ring.
Mayweather taunted Pacquiao in the sixth, shaking his head and muttering something to him after Pacquiao tried to swarm him with punches. None of them appeared to land.
Pacquiao had more success in the seventh, landing his jab and appearing to draw blood from Mayweather’s mouth on several punches he landed.
But Mayweather continued to dictate the pace and land the right hand, frustrating Pacquiao in the ninth.
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Manny Pacquiao throws a right at Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather went after Pacquiao in the 11th, landing a hard right uppercut and punishing Pacquiao with rights and lefts. As the bell sounded to end the round, Mayweather looked at Pacquiao and smashed his gloves together.
Mayweather kept up his attack in the 12th and final round, pot-shotting Pacquiao and making him follow him around the ring while he uncorked his right hand over and over and he skirted out of danger. As the final seconds ticked away, Mayweather held his hand aloft in victory.
