LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - Manny 'Pac-Man' Pacquiao, made a victorious return to boxing arena Saturday, easily outmatching newbie WBO Welterweight Champion Jessie Vargas in a 12-round title bout at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.
The Legend Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) won by scores of 114-113 and 118-109 twice, reclaiming a belt he used to own.
Shockingly, Floyd Mayweather arrived and sat at ringside just before Pacquiao vs Vargas fight starts. A Legend in pro-boxing Pacquiao crowd of 16,132 at The Thomas and Mack Center chanted "Man-ny, Man-ny" almost every round.
The former champ 27-year old Vargas (27-2, 10 KOs), a tenner younger than his Pacquiao, won the vacant WBO title last April when he knocked-out Sadam Ali in Washington D.C.
Here are how the rounds outstretched:
FIRST ROUND
Boxers are in the intense center of the ring. Crowd chanting first for Manny's name. Few faking punches thrown. Vargas jabbing with cautious, somehow keeping his pace. Both tried swinging punches and misses by both fighters. Right on Vargas then more jabbing. Manny tethers Vargas. There was more movement in the last 10 seconds than most of the rest of the round. Vargas more active showing his eagerness to defend his first title.
SECOND ROUND
Manny started showing his great footwork, but Vargas forces the action. Both fighters cautious. Manny misses with a left swing. Vargas misses with a right, and Manny counters with a left. lightning quick straight left punch by Pacquiao drops Vargas. A 10-8 round for Pacquiao.
THIRD ROUND
Vargas keeping his pace but Manny returns in a hurry. The action is enduring in the center of the ring for the most of the time. Manny attacks again, and he feels has the ring under control. Crowd starts chanting Man-ny! Man-ny! They tie each other up as the bell ring. Another round for Manny. Manny up 2-1.
FOURTH ROUND
Vargas scrambling to touch Pacquiao too soon, whose haste seems to be off, if it ever left. Left by Manny quickly connects, and Vargas misses with his right, then holds Pacman's neck. Vargas hit Manny on the chin with a firm jab. Manny's left replies a right by Vargas. Short left by Manny followed up with a right by Vargas as the bell ends round 4.
FIFTH ROUND
This round, several swings and misses. Hard left hook by Pac reached Vargas' midriff. Vargas' troubled with his right eye. Vargas goes back and trying to do more jab. Vargas enters the center with a right hand then they clasp in the corner. Vargas misses again with a right, and Manny counters a left and it connects. Good Pacquiao round. 3-2 Pacquiao with a 10-8 round.
SIXTH ROUND
Vigilant indeed as they start the round, as Vargas uses more often the jabs to keep Pac away. Left by Pac misses again and Vargas ties him up. Hard right given by Vargas. And there was vicious exchange of punches on stage as the bell rings.
SEVENTH ROUND
Pacquiao using the right hand early keeping close distance in the seventh, which might have won him the round. Vargas felt unable to counter. Vargas comes forward and throws a hard right that avert rhythm. Pac still jabbing to keep Vargas away. Wild Vargas connecting his right goes over Pac's head.
EIGHTH ROUND
Manny throws some 2-3 combinations that all connect as Vargas eye starts to bleed, and Manny smells the blood. Vargas bleeding dully over his right eye. Pac dominates the round by his last straight right that connects and snaps Vargas' head back
NINTH ROUND
Pac pitching hard lefts early as Vargas looks exhausted. Pac is inexorable, comes in with a straight left, followed by another left combination. Vargas right hand misses as Pac quickly duck his head. Pac blocks Vargas right-hand shot. Pac's superior quick footwork paying off, as Vargas hits a lot of air with his last two rights.
TENTH ROUND
Hard lefts by Pac connect as Vargas has no counter. The 8th time champ looks in great shape. Left and right, then another left by Manny has Vargas panting for air. Vargas finally hits with a right hand but too little, too late, Pac stems Vargas against the ropes, and looks strong confident with two rounds to go.
ELEVENTH ROUND
Pac charges confidently and throws two hard lefts. Vargas fires back and connects with a right to the forehead of Pacquiao. Vargas pendent tough, but he still needs a knockout to win this. Pacquiao making it look easy with his technique. Hard right by Vargas glances off Pacquiao, then Pacquiao retaliate with a right that Vargas glove touches the canvas, but referee Kenny Bayless. rules it a slip.
TWELFTH ROUND
Manny tacks Vargas with a left espouse the chin; Vargas is game, however on the brink of lose his belt. Combination by Vargas lands, however Manny being cautious. doesn't need to induce hit with an enormous punch. Vargas is attempting tho'. Swings and misses by Vargas, and Manny counters with a left. Vargas touches the canvas and Bayless rules it an error once more. It's over. ought to be a straightforward Pacquiao success. He inferior Vargas all night.
