Filipino icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was back in the ring as he took on WBO welterweight world champion Jessie Vargas of Las Vegas Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas live on Pay Per View. Vargas sticked the jab and countered in the opening round as Pacquiao worked his way in. Pacquiao sat Vargas down in the closing seconds of round two with a counter left. Pacquiao came out fast in round three coming at Vargas from different angles. Vargas snapped Pacquiao's head back with a right in round four as Pacquiao kept a fast pace.
In round four Pacquiao came at Vargas as he countered. Vargas had a good round as he connected Pacquiao with a right in round six. The seventh saw flash from both fighters as Pacquiao and Vargas fought at a fast pace. Vargas landed a solid straight right in round eight that rocked Pacquiao as Vargas urged him to trade, Vargas then suffered a cut on his right eye from a punch.
Pacquiao continued to come at Vargas with combinations in round nine as Vargas shot the right hand. In the tenth round Pacquiao continued to attack Vargas who continued to look shoot the right hand. Continuing to work at a fast pace in the championship rounds Pacquiao overwhelmed Vargas as the champ look tired. The twelfth and final round Pacquiao closed by pressing as Vargas threw wildly sensing the urgency.
In the end the judges scored the bout 115-109, 118-109, and 118-109. Manny Pacquiao wins the WBO welterweight title and improves to 59-6-2, 38 KO's. Jessie Vargas goes to 27-2, 10 KO's.
WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez of Nogales, Sonora Mexico, took on number one contender and mandatory challenger Hiroshige Osawa of Osaka, Japan. Valdez was the bigger puncher from the start as he connected on Osawa. A left hook by Valdez in round two rocked Osawa as he was backed to the ropes Valdez followed up with a chopping right hand. The left hook found its mark again for Valdez in round four as he sent Osawa to the canvas. However the left hook did it again for Valdez in round seven as he hurt Osawa and followed up with a barrage referee Vic Drackulich stepped in to stop the fight at 1:50 of the seventh.
Oscar Valdez successfully defends his title for the first time and stays undefeated at 22-0, 19 KO's. Osawa goes to 30-4-4, 19 KO's.
WBO junior featherweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire of a General Santos City, Philippines and Las Vegas’s Jessie Magdaleno clashed. Off to a fast star Donaire and Magdaleno showed flash in the opening round. Magdaleno connected with a crisp right hook in round two as Donaire pressed landing the straight right. Donaire backed Magdaleno to the ropes in round three as they started the round with an exchange and continued. Magdaleno was cut on the left eye in the fourth round from as the cut appeared to have bothered him.
The pace began to pick up in round five as Magdaleno's cut was stabalized. In round six Magdaleno connected with right hooks on Donaire's head as the Filipino stalked. Donaire's left eye appeared to be swelling up in round seven as the southpaw Magdaleno boxed patiently. Magdaleno worked off the jab in round eight as he kept the aggressive Donaire away.
A one-two by Magdaleno landed flush on Donaire in round nine as the champ continued to press but Magdaleno rocked Donaire with a counter right as he was backed, backing Donaire to the ropes. The tenth round saw Magdaleno box effectively with Donaire continuing to press looking for the big punch. In the championship rounds Donaire landed a solid right hand as Magdaleno stood in and boxed. The final round saw Donaire pressing as there was look of concern, Magdaleno sticked and moved, Donaire landed solid right hands as Magdaleno held on.
In the end the judges scored the bout 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112 as Jessie Magdaleno wins the WBO title and stays undefeated improving to 24-0, 17 KO's. Nonito Donaire goes to 37-4, 24 KO's.
2 - time Chinese Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming and Prasitsak Phaprom of Thailand squared off in a rematch for the vacant WBO World flyweight title opening up the pay per view telecast. Shiming fired away combinations in the opening round as he teed off Phaprom. In round two Shiming landed a solid one-two rocking Phaprom's head back moments after a right hand dropped Phaprom. Continuing to show hand speed in round three, Shiming boxed as Phaprom pressed. Keeping his distance Shiming worked off the jab in round four as Phaprom attempted to work his way in.
Boxing patiently in round five Shiming looked poised as Phaprom could not get nothing going. Shiming slipt in round six as he connected solidly with the right hand the Thai fighter was wearing down. Staying elusive and circling the ring in the seventh Shiming was in control. Phaprom left it all in the ring as he pressed forward and took Shiming's windmill of punches in round eight.
Shiming showboated in round nine as he confidently boxed Phaprom continued to go forward as the round ended with the Thai fighter roughing up Shiming as he slipped. In round ten the two-time gold medalist was well on his way to victory as he continued to display ring generalship on a tough Phaprom. Heading into the championship rounds Shiming kept his distance as Phaprom continued to go forward looking for the knockout. Shiming closed strong as he backed Phaprom to the ropes. Judges scored the bout 120-107, 120-107, and 119-108.
Zou Shiming improves to 9-1, 2 KO's and wins the WBO title as Prasitsak Phaprom goes to 39-2-2, 24 KO's.
Russian welterweight prospect Alexander Besputin stopped Azael Cosio of Panaman in a scheduled eight round bout. Besputin boxed smooth as Cosio stalked. In round two Cosio landed a straight right that backed Besputin to the ropes. The Russian continued to be slick throughout the fight as he landed a body shot in round five that stopped Cocio's momentum. Besputin continued to control the action as Cosio did not come out for round seven.
Besputin improves to 5-0, 5 KO's. Cosio goes 20-5-2, 17 KO's.
Lightweight Teofimo Lopez made his pro debut with a second round knockout over Ishwar Siqueiros. Lopez scored a flash knockdown with left hook as he got up. A right hand by Lopez dropped Siquieros for a second time as he got up but Siquieros returned the favor scoring a flash knockdown at the bell to close round one. Lopez dropped Siquieros twice in round two as referee Jay Nady reached a ten count at 2:03
Teofimo Lopez goes to 1-0,1 KO in winning his pro debut.
Brazilian lightweight Robson Conceicao also made his pro debut with a unanimous decision over Clay Burns.
Robson Conceicao wins his pro debut as he goes to 1-0. Clay Burns goes to 4-3.
In the opening bout from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas feathwerweight prospect Que Xu of China and Fernando Fuentes went the distance in a scheduled six round bout. Xu attacked the body in the early rounds as Fuentes went forward. The Chinese fighter boxed throughout the fight as Fuentes continued to be the aggressor both fighters finished strong.
The judges scored it 59-55, 58-56, and 58-56, as all three favored Fuentes's aggressiveness. Fernando Fuentes improves to 10-7, 3 KO's as Que Xu goes to 9-2-1, 2 KO's.
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