ABU DHABI // Boxing fans erupted into wild cheers on Sunday morning as Manny Pacquiao claimed the World Boxing Organisation welterweight title for a third time, with a unanimous points victory over former champion Jessie Vargas.
Saturday night’s main fight was telecast from the Thomas and Mack Centre in Las Vegas, and began at 8.20am UAE time on Sunday.
All three judges scored the bout for Pacquiao, who turns 38 next month two of them by 118-109, and the third by 114-113.
At the Resto Pinoy, in Khalidiya, about 50 fans gathered to watch the fight.
The first arrived at 5.30am to watch three undercard fights before the main event, which started at 9.20am.
Their moods were initially dampened when Jessie Magdaleno, a southpaw from Las Vegas, won a 12-round unanimous decision over Nonito Donaire, the Filipino Flash, to claim the WBO super bantamweight championship.
During the welterweight slug-out, the crowd oohed and ahhed, shouted and clapped with each blow Pacquiao rained down on 27-year-old Vargas.
“He’s (Pacquiao) not as powerful as he once was, but Vargas is nothing compared to Pacquiao, who is a legendary fighter,” said Ronillo Magbitang, 53, a welder in Abu Dhabi.
Pacquiao, he said, proved that the much talked-about age, height, weight and reach advantage of Vargas was just that – talk.
“It’s a historic fight,” Mr Magbitang said. “Pacquiao is now the first senator to win a world championship and we’re all so proud of him.”
Alberto Perez, 30, an Etihad cabin crew member from Mexico who picked Pacquiao over Vargas, agreed.
“Pacquiao still is a fast and powerful fighter,” he said. “Vargas may be a much bigger opponent. He tried to put up a good fight but it wasn’t enough.”
Although Pacquiao failed to get his first knock-out victory for seven years, he is a fighter who is revered by everyone back home, said Jay Tayao, 31, a sales executive in Abu Dhabi who has not missed a Pacquiao fight.
“He was able to beat much taller and bigger fighters in the past: Margarito, Algieri and Oscar dela Hoya,” he said.
“He’s not only a legendary fighter, he’s our hero.”
Nelson Baguindoc, 27, a petrol sales attendant in Abu Dhabi, said Vargas was no match for Pacquiao’s explosive punching power.
“At this point of his career, Pacquiao’s place in boxing history as a legend is already secure,” he said.
“He even came out of retirement to continue his legendary career. Today, he managed the fight and took advantage of his vast experience to make history once again.”
After reclaiming the welterweight title, Pacquiao should now hang up his boxing gloves and focus on his career, said Arturo Ibuan, 54, a seafarer who had taken the day off to watch the fight.
“He used his experience and power against Vargas,” he said. “His passion is still there, but I think the next best thing to do is to retire from boxing.”
Pacquiao defeated Timothy Bradley on April 9 and announced his retirement to focus on his political career.
He was elected to the Philippines senate in May.
However, Senator Pacquiao, an eight division world champion, took a brief break from his political duties to face off against Vargas.
With the win, he now has a career record of 59 wins, six losses, two draws and 38 knockouts.
rruiz@thenational.ae