World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao says contrary to the belief by many that his career is finished, he is rather enjoying a career turnaround.
Pacquiao was dominant in his performance against Adrien Broner to earn a unanimous decision, but this was after uninspiring efforts which left many believing his career was nearing an end.
“I don’t believe my career is over,” Pacquiao said. “I proved it in my last fight against (Lucas Matthysse) and now proved it again. The Manny Pacquiao journey still continues.”
He showed flashes of his past brilliance and he was quicker and more accurate as he controlled each round and cruised to the triumph to take his career record to 61-7-2.
American Broner, 29, fought gamely and stayed upright in spite of being hit with several heavy combinations but was ultimately outclassed.
Retired great Floyd Mayweather attended the fight, fuelling speculation of a rematch against Pacquiao, who the undefeated American beat in 2015.
His last outing was a farce of an exhibition bout against a Japanese kickboxer.
He refused a ringside TV reporter’s entreaties to indicate whether he would be willing to fight Pacquiao again.
But the Filipino was less reticent.
“Tell him to come back to the ring and then we will fight,” Pacquiao said.
“I’m willing to fight if he’s willing to come back in boxing.”
Meanwhile, two judges scored Saturday’s bout 116-112 in favour of Pacquiao, while the third had the Filipino Senator a 117-111 winner.
“I’m so happy,” said Pacquiao, a 40-year-old multiple world champion. “God gave me this blessing (of good health). At the age of 40 I can still give my best.”
About the only person in attendance who disagreed with the outcome was Broner (33-4-1), who protested the result emphatically in his post fight interview.
“I beat him. Everyone out there knows I beat him,” Broner said. “I controlled the fight, he was missing and I hit him clean more times.”
It was difficult to take Broner’s claims seriously on a night when he was relegated to the role of defensive fighter.
Pacquiao appeared the younger and more spry of the two as he attacked his opponent’s mid-section and ultimately landed 47 body shots to Broner’s three.
In the seventh round, Pacquiao pushed Broner back to the ropes and delivered an onslaught of punches that left Broner holding on for survival.
Pacquiao nearly knocked his opponent down again in the ninth when he delivered a clean left hook to Broner’s chin that knocked him back.
“I wanted to push more but my trainer said `do not be careless, wait for him and you counter’,” Pacquiao said.
The final few rounds were anti-climactic as Broner played it safe and Pacquiao stayed in control.
At the final bell, Pacquiao dropped to his knees in his corner for a moment of contemplation.(Reuters/NAN)