Over 1 million pilgrims benefit from golf cart service at Grand Mosque during Ramadan    Visitors welcomed with Eid initiative at Thee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Messi's bodyguard banned from touchline at Inter Miami games    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Le Pen vows to appeal political ban, calls verdict a 'denial of democracy'    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 2,719 as rescue efforts continue    Russia, Ukraine trade blame over new energy strikes    Putin orders Russia's largest military call-up in over a decade    Albania hosts MWL chief for Eid sermon at largest mosque in the Balkans    Haramain High-Speed Railway transports over 1.2 million passengers during Ramadan    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Pacquiao wins by decision
Mark Lamport-Stokes
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 15 - 11 - 2010

ARLINGTON, Texas: Manny Pacquiao cemented his place in the pantheon of boxing greats by recording an unanimous points victory over Antonio Margarito Saturday to claim the vacant WBC super welterweight title.
Pacquiao, fighting for the first time since winning a seat in his country's national congress earlier this year, gained one-sided verdicts from all three judges –120-109, 118-110 and 119-109.
The 31-year-old southpaw dominated all 12 rounds against his bigger Mexican opponent at Cowboys Stadium to land an eighth world title in an unprecedented eighth weight class.
Having already established himself as one of the best offensive fighters of all time, Pacquiao outclassed Margarito with his lightning hand speed and precise power punching to improve his career record to 52-3-2 with 38 knockouts.
“It was a really hard fight, the hardest fight in my boxing career,” Pacquiao told reporters after winning his 13th consecutive bout since losing to Erik Morales in Las Vegas in March 2005.
“He's strong. I never expected him to be as strong as he was. He's a very tough fighter. I can't believe he took all those punches.”
The Filipino, a heavily odds-on favorite going into the fight, pummelled the Mexican's head virtually at will for much of the bout, leaving his opponent with a puffed left eye and a cut under a badly swollen right eye. Despite being outweighed by 17 pounds, Pacquiao blended raw power with speed in front of a crowd of 41,734 to deliver a spectacular performance against an opponent who was also four-and-a-half inches taller.
The pride of the Philippines, who had never previously fought above welterweight, dominated the official ringside statistics, landing 474 power punches compared to Margarito's 229.
At one point during the 11th round, Pacquiao looked across at referee Laurence Cole and asked him to stop the fight. “I feel for my opponent, his eyes and his bloody face,” said the Filipino, who was hurt by Margarito's body shots during the middle rounds when pinned against the ropes. “I wanted the ref to look at that.”
“In the 12th round I wasn't looking for a knockout. I take it easy because my trainer told me to take it easy and just be careful.”
“We didn't lose a round,” said Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach. “Manny fought a great fight tonight and Margarito showed a lot of heart. He is very resilient. I thought for sure he would quit.”
Pacquiao's initial concern after the fight was the health of his mother, who according to promoter Bob Arum had “suffered an anxiety attack” while watching her son from ringside.
“She's okay now, she's okay,” Pacquiao told reporters before holding his post-fight news conference.
Three-time world champion Margarito, back in the ring for the first time in the United States since he lost to American Shane Mosley in a WBC welterweight title bout in January 2009, slipped to 38-7 with 27 knockouts.
Asked whether he had considered retiring before the end of the 12th round, Margarito replied: “No, no way. I'm a Mexican and we fight until the end. This time I failed Mexico but we will fight to the end.”
Haye retains title
David Haye easily retained his WBA heavyweight title Saturday with a third round technical knockout against fellow Briton Audley Harrison, who threw just one punch in a pitiful display in Manchester.
After a cautious first round, where fans at Manchester's MEN Arena booed both boxers for their defensive approach, the fight sprang to life in the third when Haye landed with a barrage of right hooks and uppercuts which sent Harrison to the canvas.Harrison managed to beat the count but the bout was stopped shortly after with the challenger offering no offense as Haye continued to land heavy blows.
The win extended Haye's record to 25 victories (23 knockouts) and one defeat and immediately posed the question of when he would take on one or both of the Klitschko brothers, who hold the four other heavyweight titles.
“It has to happen in 2011, I retire in 2011,” he said of a fight with the Ukrainians.


Clic here to read the story from its source.