Pacquiao Retains Crown

Manny Pacquiao put in a classy performance in his first fight since turning 40 to beat Adrien Broner by unanimous decision

Manny Pacquiao has successfully defended his WBA welterwight title, beating Adrien Broner by unanimous decision in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, 40, sealed the 61st victory of a remarkable career with a dominant display, showing flashes of his old speed as he out-boxed an opponent who spent the majority of the fight on the back foot and was restricted to counter-punches.

Two judges favoured Pacquiao by a 116-112 score, while the third had it 117-111.

There were no knockdowns, but Pacquiao landed the heavier punches — and lots of them – landing 77 body blows to Broner’s three across the 12 rounds. He caught Broner in the seventh and ninth rounds with big left hands that sent him backward, while the American spent most of the fight looking for one big counter that never came.

With Floyd Mayweather watching from ringside, Pacquiao did little to suggest there would be a different outcome if the two decided to meet in the ring once more.

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