Agence France-Presse
Las Vegas, April 10: Manny Pacquiao crowned his 21-year professional career with an emphatic victory over Tim Bradley here, delivering a vintage performance before saying farewell to boxing.
Pacquiao – fighting for the first time since his defeat to Floyd Mayweather last May in the ‘Fight of the Century’ – knocked down Bradley twice on his way to a unanimous decision. All three judges at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here ruled 116-110 in favour of the Filipino.
Pacquiao had insisted Saturday’s bout – the 66th of his career – will be his final fight before he focuses on his political career in the Philippines, where he is seeking election to the Senate next month.
Asked afterwards if he planned to stay retired, Pacquiao replied: “I think so. I’ve made a commitment to my family that I’m going to retire after this (fight). Maybe I enjoy being a retired man, serving the people, helping the people.”
Pacquiao had promised an explosive performance and was as good as his word for long periods, uncorking some trademark left-right combinations to overwhelm Bradley.
Bradley meanwhile paid tribute to his opponent. “I fought really good tonight (Saturday) but I don’t know what was going on,” Bradley said. “He always seemed to be in the right spot. He was a step ahead of me.”
The two boxers embraced after the fight and promised to meet up for breakfast Sunday morning with Pacquiao insisting that he would pay. “The winner has the right to pay,” he said in jest.
A cagey opening round had the feel of a tactical battle, with Bradley carefully keeping his distance as he circled the marginally more aggressive Pacquiao, who threw 33 punches to Bradley’s 19.
The next three rounds followed a similar pattern, with Pacquiao looking the more menacing fighter, relentlessly stalking Bradley around the canvas, cutting off angles, and connecting with more meaningful blows.
Pacquiao also took the fifth and sixth rounds with some serious punching leaving Bradley hopelessly shaking his head. In the seventh, Pacquiao stretched his lead further, scoring a knockdown with a right hook to the chin that sent Bradley falling to the canvas.
Bradley responded bravely to take the eighth round, but in the next Pacquiao floored him again with a left hook.
Bradley attempted to pressure Pacquiao in the next three rounds but the Filipino finished the stronger to coast home.
