Manny Pacquiao also a senator in the Philippines made history at the GMG GRAND ARENA exactly the place he made his debut eighteen (18) years ago after his last fight in 2016 with a vintage performance over Adrien Broner.
Pacquiao 40, (61-7-2, 39KO) showed his exciting flurry of punches, sharp moving hands and exhibition of great boxing skills as and usual gave a sterling performance in front of 13,025 attendance at the GMG GRAND ARENA. Pacquiao delivered the goods and cruise to a unanimous decision victory over Broner 29, (33-4-1).
Earnestly the fight began with big cheers from the crowd, Manny! Manny! Manny!. The bell went out and Pacquiao took control of the fight with a lot of aggression and flurry of punches. Broner could only backtrack and tie Pacquiao with a clinch. The referee quickly separated the two and warned Broner in the second round for using elbow. Immediately Pacquiao connected a straight left which forced Broner to the ropes.
Broner had a big round four (4) with good counter right punch and followed with combination of punches. Pacquiao continued with his aggression and landed a straight left in the body which appeared to have hurt him. The crowd, pro Pacquiao responded with a resounding cheers.
Another big round seven (7) performance followed for Pacquiao, he dominated the fight with a lot of punches with Broner’s defence and game plan to catch Pacquiao on the counter. At this point Broner’s game plan relying on the counter was non existent giving space for Pacquiao to overload Broner with his ever-going flurry of punches and the left jabs.
Again in the ninth (9) round Broner was caught with the quick left jab in the face followed with a right punch forcing him to the ropes as the crowd stood in ecstasy and cheers.
In The last two rounds, Broner only looked to the bell to save him than to win the fight after he had had a good round ten (10). He quickly climbed the ropes as the final bell goes out in round twelve (12).
“I beat him,” Broner said with a straight face. “Everybody out there knows I beat him. I controlled the fight. He was missing. I hit him clean more times. I beat him.”
“Let me let all you know, I want to thank the whole ‘hood who came out here. You know I beat that boy,” Broner said. “They are trying to get that money with Pacquiao and Floyd. I beat him. Smart boxing.”
When the world’s most decorated and the world’s only eight (8) divisional world champion was interviewed he quickly respond:
“I feel so happy because I did my best in the fight and in training. Thank God for this victory,” Pacquiao said. “I’m so happy because God gave me this good health. At the age of 40, I can still give my best. Although I wanted to be aggressive more, my camp told me don’t be careless and to counter him and wait for opportunities.”
Tell him to come back to the ring, and we will fight,” Pacquiao said. “I’m willing to fight Floyd Mayweather again if he’s willing to come back to boxing.
In the end it was a unanimous decision in favour of Pacquiao as the judges score cards read 117-111, 116-112, 116-112.
Over all, Pacquiao landed 568 of 112 punches (20%) and Broner a paltry 50 of 295 (17%). Courtesy CompuBox statistics.