Pacquiao beats Rios in unanimous decision

Manny Pacquiao defeated Brandon Rios by unanimous decision on Sunday to take the WBO international welterweight title in a victory the Philippine lawmaker dedicated to the victims and survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, that devastated his home country this month.
Returning to the ring after almost a year's absence, the man once regarded as the world's pound-for-pound champion wore Rios down with his trademark combination punching and won 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 on the scorecards at The Venetian casino in Macau. The Associated Press scored it 119-109.
It was an emotional victory for Pacquiao as the Philippines is still struggling to recover from the devastating typhoon that killed thousands of his countrymen.
"This is not about my comeback," Pacquiao said in the ring. "My victory is a symbol of my people's comeback from a natural disaster and a national tragedy."
Pacquiao got the better of the opening two rounds, sending Rios to the canvas in the opening frame, although the referee contentiously ruled it as a slip rather than a knockdown.
The American asserted himself in the third, landing some crisp blows that raised hopes of a genuine contest before Pacquiao — spurred on by a capacity crowd at the 13,000-seat Cotai Arena including many Filipino fans — dominated the remainder of the contest.
Rios was game, absorbing plenty of punches and continually walking forward to challenge Pacquiao but was unable to land any telling blows.
After seven rounds, Rios was getting attention to cuts under both eyebrows, and with the scores going against him, needed something special.
Cautioned by the memory of his previous fight when he walked into a savage Juan Manuel Marquez punch that knocked him out, Pacquiao was on guard throughout the closing rounds and a tiring Rios offered little threat.
"Recovering from the knockout and giving a good show was what I wanted to prove to myself and everyone," Pacquiao said. "I am so happy, my time is not over."
Rios had prepared for the bout with the quickest sparring partners his camp could find, but even that could not prepare him for the fusillade of Pacquiao punches from all angles.
"What got me was just the speed and his awkwardness," Rios said.
"He never hurt me at all, and I never got stunned at all, but the quickness just caught me off guard."
Pacquiao's failure to knock out Rios meant he still has not stopped an opponent since the 2009 fight against Miguel Cotto, and while trainer Freddie Roach was frustrated by that fact, he was enthusiastic about his fighter's performance.
"Manny looked great tonight," Roach said. "There was no signs of him slowing down whatsoever.
"Manny let him off the hook, I wanted the knockout and it was there but I was very happy with the way he performed."
Pacquiao will now eye a potential rematch against Marquez, if the much-desired fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. doesn't eventuate.
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, said the tentative date for Pacquiao's next is April 12, likely in the United States.
A rematch with Tim Bradley, who beat Pacquiao in a contentious points decision before the Filipino lost to Marquez, looms as a likely opponent due to Marquez's high price on a rematch, and Arum held out some hope that the Mayweather fight could yet happen.
"I know it's a fight that should happen and where there is a will there is a way," Arum said, expressing his frustration that the conflicting network affiliations of the two fighters was a continuing impediment. "If all sides cut out the crap, it can be done."
Rios, who has now lost his past two bouts after having previously being undefeated, had come up two weight classes in three fights but said he would now stay at welterweight and perhaps even move up to super welterweight.