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Frustrated Pacquiao retains WBO title against Mosley

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Fans boo as “Pacman” dominates “Sugar” Shane

A less-than vintage performance by Manny Pacquaio saw him retain his world welterweight title in front of a capacity crowd of 16,000 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The 32 year-old eight-time world champion was largely kept from his usual sparkling style by the wiley veteran Shane Mosley.

Mosley, 39, seemed to just be content on surviving the twelve rounds against the dangerous Filipino and apart from a couple of nice right hands, never really got close enough to the “Pacman” to give him any real trouble. The Californian was put down by a shuddering punch by Pacquaio in the fourth round and took around a minute to recover from it.

Round after round though followed the same pattern of Pacquaio dominance without real drama as some fans booed the two fighters in the middle sessions until an awful refereeing decision by Kenny Bayless saw him score a blatant push by Mosley as a genuine knockdown in the tenth round. I refrained from scoring it a 10-8 round as Pacquiao had once again showed his superiority throughout the three minutes.

The decision seemed to anger Pacqauio, who fired some of his best shots at Mosley as he tried to become the first man to stop him in in 54 contests. The fight went to the scorecards and there was never any doubt as the judges gave Pacquiao the decision 120-107, 120-108 and 119-108. I gave it by 119 points to 110 in favour of the champion.

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