Manny Pacquiao defeated Brandon Rios by unanimous decision this moring in a victory the Philippine lawmaker dedicated to the victims and survivors of Typhoon Haiyan.
Back in the ring for the first time in almost a year, Pacquiao wore Rios down with his trademark combinations and won the welterweight fight 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 on the scorecards at The Venetian casino in Macau.
It was an emotional victory for Pacquiao as his country struggles to recover from the devastating typhoon that killed thousands.
Manny Pacquiao said his win was "a symbol of my people's comeback from a natural disaster and a natural tragedy."
"This is not about my comeback," Pacquiao said in the ring. "My victory is a symbol of my people's comeback from a natural disaster and a natural tragedy."
"Recovering from the knockout and giving a good show was what I wanted to prove to myself and everyone," Pacquiao said.
Rios had prepared for the bout with the quickest sparring partners his camp could find, but even that could not prepare him for the fusillade of Pacquiao punches from all angles.
"What got me was just the speed and his awkwardness," Rios said.
"He never hurt me at all, and I never got stunned at all, but the quickness just caught me off guard."
Pacquiao's failure to knock out Rios meant he still has not stopped an opponent since his 2009 fight against Miguel Cotto, and while trainer Freddie Roach was frustrated by that, he was encouraged by his fighter's performance.
"Manny looked great tonight," Roach said. "There was no signs of him slowing down whatsoever.
"Manny let him off the hook, I wanted the knockout and it was there, but I was very happy with the way he performed."
Manny Pacquiao said his win was "a symbol of my people's comeback from a natural disaster and a natural tragedy."
"This is not about my comeback," Pacquiao said in the ring. "My victory is a symbol of my people's comeback from a natural disaster and a natural tragedy."
"Recovering from the knockout and giving a good show was what I wanted to prove to myself and everyone," Pacquiao said.
Rios had prepared for the bout with the quickest sparring partners his camp could find, but even that could not prepare him for the fusillade of Pacquiao punches from all angles.
"What got me was just the speed and his awkwardness," Rios said.
"He never hurt me at all, and I never got stunned at all, but the quickness just caught me off guard."
Pacquiao's failure to knock out Rios meant he still has not stopped an opponent since his 2009 fight against Miguel Cotto, and while trainer Freddie Roach was frustrated by that, he was encouraged by his fighter's performance.
"Manny looked great tonight," Roach said. "There was no signs of him slowing down whatsoever.
"Manny let him off the hook, I wanted the knockout and it was there, but I was very happy with the way he performed."
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