Exclusive - Senator Manny Pacquiao defeats Vargas and is the new WBO Welterweight Champion

Manny Pacquiao came out of retirement and emerged as the champion yet again, as he turned back the clock and gave the young Jessie Vargas a master class inside the ring. 

The senator took the World Boxing Organization welterweight title on Saturday night at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Coming in to the fight, Pacquiao’s record prior to his retirement was 59 wins, 6 losses, and 2 ties. In the other corner, Vargas was 27 and 2. Bridget Gonzales sang the Mexican and US anthems, while the Word Choir sang the Philippine national anthem, before the fight. 

After a slow first round from both fighters, Pacquiao was able to take control with a speedy knockdown of Vargas in the second round and was extremely active in the third round as well, hunting for a finish. Vargas settled in and controlled the action in the middle of the fight, but after the sixth round, it was apparent that Pacquiao's speed and movement were going to be too much for him.

Pacquiao’s speed enabled him to land punches that were too quick to register for Vargas. After landing a few short right hands, the senator settled into a rhythm and started throwing combinations from both sides to dominate the second half of the fight. 

In the end, Pacquiao cruised to a victory on two of the judge’s cards, namely Glenn Feldman and Glenn Trowbridge, with 118-109 each, and Dave Moretti giving him a narrow edge with a score of 114-113, making Pacman the new WBO Welterweight Champion via unanimous decision. 

Pacman has become the first lawmaker to ever step into a world championship boxing match and win a world title. It is no doubt that Pacquiao still has the speed and skillset that he has used to carve his name into the history books.

Source: TNP , ABS-CBN