Pacquiao dominates Algieri

MACAU — Filipino ring star Manny Pacquiao pulled off what is by far the most lopsided decision win of his career in a complete 12-round demolition of American Chris Algieri to retain his WBO welterweight title in the main event of the ‘Clash in Cotai 2: Hungry for Glory”  before a sellout crowd yesterday at the 15,00-seater Cotai Arena of The Venetian here.

Though he did not fulfill his promise of snapping a five-year knockout drought, Pacquiao was far more impressive as he flattened Algieri six times on the canvas to ease his way through a lopsided triumph. The official scores were 120-102 and 119-103 twice.

“I did my best. I am satisfied with my performance. I think that was enough,” said Pacquiao to the delight of the pro-Filipino crowd who came in droves to root for him. “Of course, I was looking for a knockout but he’s fast. He moves a lot.”

From the beginning, it was very clear that Algieri does not want to engage Pacquiao in a close-quarter battle as he moved a lot, constantly running around to evade the Pinoy’s relentless attack.

 Algieri went down the canvas for the first time after losing his balance while back-tracking from Pacquiao’s offensive late in the second round.

Algieri’s run-and-run tactic, however, did not last long as Pacquiao eventually caught him up with vicious  combinations that floored him again midway in round six.

Algieri quickly got up, only to be at the receiving end of another barrage of power punches from Pacquiao, forcing referee Genaro Rodriguez to enforce a mandatory standing eight-count, to which the hapless American challenger survived.

Though ahead by a mile in the scorecards, Pacquiao did not slow down, even carrying on his sizzling assault until he sent Algieri tumbling on the mat for the fourth time with a powerful left straight in round nine. Moments later, he again downed Algieri to draw another deafening roar from the gallery.

Pacquiao floored Algieri for the last time with a left upperhand-right hook combo in round 10, but the American showed big-fighting heart and great recuperative powers in weathering Pacquiao’s onslaught.

Egged on by the loud cheers and chants of his flag-waving fans, Pacquiao tried to go for the kill in the last round, but Algieri, despite being beaten black and blue, managed to remain standing until the final bell rang.

“I’m very happy. God has given me this victory. He’s my source of strength. My provider,” added the fighting congressman from Sarangani province.

When pressed if he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather next, Pacquiao gamely replied ‘yes, yes, yes!’, as if reciting his chants in his latest commercial endorsing Foot Locker, a popular sports apparel.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum firmly believes the most sought-after superbout by fans all over the world will definitely happen. “The question should not be when the fight is going to happen. Let’s do it within six months, that’s our proposition [to Mayweather’s camp],” Arum said. (FREEMAN)