By: William Holmes
Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2) and Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (31-1-1) were both looking to bounce back from tough losses and show the world that they were still a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division.
Former American Idol contestant Jessica Sanchez sung both the American National Anthem and the Filipino National Anthem.
Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank
It was a sellout crowd in Macau and the crowd was strongly behind the Asian icon Manny Pacquiao and could be heard cheering every time his face was shown on the big screen.
Brandon Rios was the first man to come out to the ring with his trainer Robert Garcia. Manny Pacquiao came out second to a gigantic pop from the crowd in Macau as he came out to Katy Perry’s “Roar”.
Round 1:
The crowd in Macau was electric. Pacquiao and Rios come out to the center of the ring and Pacuqiao bounces an
early jab off the gloves of Rios. Pacquiao lands an early left cross to the body of Rios. Pacquiao is more aggressive early on and Rios appears to be trying to set up a counter shot. Pacquiao lands a very crisp left cross. Pacquiao misses with a combination and blocks a right punch from Rios. Pacquiao goes to the body of Rios again. Rios lands a jab to the face of Pacquiao. Pacquiao comes forward and lands another left cross again. Pacquiao lands a short left hand and Rios goes down but the referee calls it out a slip. Rios lands two short right hands and a right uppercut. Pacquiao throws two left hands down the pipes and Rios is able to block most of it. Pacquiao lands a very hard left hand upstairs near the end of the first round. 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 2:
Pacquiao throws an early jab and Rios responds with the same. Pacquiao lands another good straight left hand and moves Rios backwards. Pacquiao sneaks a left hand around the guard of Rios. Pacquiao throws two straight left hands. Rios attacks the body of Pacquiao. Pacquiao sneaks two left hands around the guard of Rios and then attacks the body. Pacquiao throws a right hook left uppercut combination. Pacquiao throws a short uppercut on Rios. Pacquiao lands a nice right hook to body right uppercut combination. Pacquiao is throwing lightning quick combinations. Rios comes forward and lnads a good right uppercut and two right hooks. Pacquiao lands a very nice left cross and follows it up with a combination at the end of the round. 10-9 Pacquiao.
Round 3:
Pacquiao was told by his corner to focus on boxing and avoid a brawl. Rios comes forward and lands some good shots to the body of Pacquiao. Pacquiao lands two quick straight left hands. Pacquiao bangs two more left hands at the guard of Rios. Pacquiao’s straight left hand connects again and Pacquiao is showing some good head movement. Rios lands a short right hand. Rios lands a good jab and a left hook on Pacquiao. Pacquiao seems afraid of the big punch. Pacquiao is relying heavily on his left hand. Rios lands a good uppercut and a short hook. Pacquiao responds with a looping left hook. There is some good exchanges this round. Better round for Rios than the prior two, but still 10-9 Pacquiao.
Round 4:
Rios comes forward and lands a good straight right hand and then bangs two hooks to the body. Pacquiao answers with a two punch combination. Pacquiao lands a good right hook double left hook combination. Pacquiao easily evades a Rios hook. Rios is beating Pacquiao up on the inside. Rios lands another good short right hook. Pacquiao lands a looping right hook. Pacquiao connects with a right hook and Rios responds with another short right hook. The referee warns Rios for hitting behind the head. Pacquiao lands another left cross on Rios. Pacquiao lands another good left cross and then a jab and moves out of the way. Pacquiao is showing good movement this round. Pacquiao ends the round with a hard left cross, but Rios is taking Pacquiao’s punches well. 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 5:
Pacquiao is using a lot of energy so far. Rios is coming forward at the early parts of the fifth round. They clinch and Rios lands a few short shots. Pacquiao lands a vicious straight left hand and Rios sticks his tongue out after getting hit. Pacquiao lands another good left hand. Pacquiao lands another good combination and moves out of the way of Rios’ attack. Rios lands a good jab on Pacquiao. Pacquiao connects with a short right hook. Rios does well when he gets in tight. Pacquiao’s combinations are on point and he lands several hard punches again. Pacquiao lands two more punches to the body and unleashes a ridiculous combination. 10-9 Pacquiao.
Round 6:
Pacquiao lands another hard straight left hand. Rios charges forward and lands some short hooks to the body. Pacquiao throws out two more jabs but Rios lands a right hook upstairs. Pacquiao connects with a left cross right jab combination. Rios chases Pacquiao around the ring but is unable to trap him again. Rios lands a good hook to the body on Pacquiao. Pacquiao lands a hard left hook to the body of Rios. Pacquiao lands another accurate left cross on Rios. Rios lands a good lunging left hook and Pacquiao answers with a quick combination upstairs. Pacquiao lands another hard left hook and Rios has blood outside his left eye. Rios lands a good lead left hook upstairs. 10-9 Pacquiao.
Round 7:
Rios lands the first two hooks of round seven at the center of the ring. Rios lands a good jab on Pacquiao. Pacquiao connects with a looping right hook on Rios. Pacquiao lands another hard two punch combination on Rios. Pacquiao throws two straight left hooks past Rios’ high guard. Pacquiao is mixing up his cominbations to the body and head well. Pacquiao rocks Rios’ head with a four punch combination. Pacquiao lands another short left cross. Pacquiao is doing a very good job at sticking and moving. Rios lands a right hook upstairs. Rios backs Pacquiao up to the ropes but Pacquiao moves away. Pacquiao is pounding on Rios and landing nearly every punch he wants to land. 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 8:
Again, Pacquiao is using an incredible amount of energy. Pacquiao lands a short right hook on Rios. Rios is trying to stalk and trap Pacquiao. Pacquiao bangs two short left hooks to the body of Rios. Rios lands several short hooks to the body and head of Pacquiao while they are tied up. The fighters separate and Pacquiao bangs a three punch combation off the body and head of Rios. Rios lands a very good jab and a short right hook. Pacquiao with a left cross right jab combination. Rios is still coming forward but his face is showing the effects of the beating from Pacquiao. Pacquiao closes the round out strong again. 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 9:
Pacquiao is comfortably ahead and he seems to know it. Pacquiao rips a straight left hand through the middle of Rios’ defense. Rios lunges forward but is unable to land. Pacquiao unleashes another ridiculous combination at Rios in the center of the ring. Pacquiao lands a short left right jab combination on Rios. Rios lands a good jab on Pacquiao. Rios lands two short right hands on Pacquiao that may have landed behind the head. Rios lands a good right hook on Pacquiao and Pacquiao responds with a two punch combination. The crowd is cheering Manny on. Pacquiao lands a two punch combination and Rios responds with a right hook. Pacquiao lands a hard left uppercut on Rios and a right hook. Rios tries to shake it off but he’s getting beat up inside the ring. 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 10:
Rios’ face is swelling pretty badly. Pacquiao lands another hard straight left hand. Pacquiao lands a right hook left uppercut combination. Pacquiao is doing a good job at dictating the pace of the fight. The referee warns Rios again for punching behind the head. Pacquiao lands another hard three punch combination. Pacquiao is sticking and moving and not missing. Pacquiao lands three more hard left hooks on Rios. Pacquiao lands a hard right hook as Rios comes forward. Rios lands a good two punch combination on Pacquiao by the ropes. 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 11:
Pacquiao doesn’t throw any punches in the first thirty seconds of this round. Pacquiao lands a good jab double left cross combination. Pacquiao lands a good straight left hand. Pacquiao with a right hook to the body and head combination. Pacquiao with another four to five punch combination. Rios lands two good left hooks on Pacquiao. Rios lands a good left hand on Pacquiao that affected Pacquiao. That was Rios’ best punch of the night. Pacquiao with a crisp straight left handon Rios. 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 12:
Rios clearly needs the knockout to win, but he did land two good left hook on Pacquiao in the last round. Pacquiao lands a right hook left cross combination and follows it up with another hard straight left hand. Pacquiao lands a hard right hook on Rios. Pacquiao connects with another combination on Rios. Pacquiao doesn’t seem to be too scared of Rios’ punches. Pacquiao lands another hard combination on Rios. Pacquiao lands a lead right hook on Rios. The crowd is cheering loudly as the fight comes to a close in the last round. 10-9 Pacquiao.
The final scores are 120-108, 119-109, and 118-110 for Manny Pacquiao.
Boxing Insider had scored the fight 120-108 for Manny Pacuqiao. Pacquiao was on point tonight and has not looked this good in a very long time. Who’s next? Marquez? Bradley? Mayweather?
Who knows, but Pacquiao showed today he is still a top pound for pound fighter and one of the sports’ most exciting draws.
