• Boxing

Pacquiao frustrated in victory against Mosley

Manny Pacquiao beat Shane Mosley - but the American seemed happy simply to survive all 12 rounds © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Marquez commits to third Pacquiao fight
  
• News: Mayweather hits out at lack of American support
  
• News: Pacquiao camp gives Marquez Monday deadline
  
• Features: Pacquiao showing signs of decline
  
• News: Mosley must retire - Roach
  
• Profile: Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao cruised to a unanimous points victory in a one-sided WBO welterweight title defence against Shane Mosley, despite being frustrated by his opponent's refusal to really engage in the contest.

Mosley, at 39 years of age widely considered to have no chance of victory, appeared to take that pre-fight consensus to heart as he made sure to avoid getting drawn into a slugfest with his illustrious opponent.

Nevertheless, the Filipino proved far too strong over the course of the contest, eventually taking the judges' scorecards 119-108, 120-108 and 120-107 while landing over twice as many punches as the American.

"My opponent had a lot of respect for me," Pacquiao said afterwards. "I was surprised he ran and ran."

But perhaps it shouldn't have been such a surprise. Pacquiao came roaring out of the gates, clearly outmatching his opponent with his speed and power. And it only took until the third round for Mosley to be knocked down - for only the third time in his entire career - after a rocketing right caught him square on the jaw.

From that point onwards Mosley, who saw his eyes swell up to such an extent he attended the post-fight press conference wearing sunglasses to hide the damage, was even more careful to avoid getting trapped - perhaps mindful of preserving his record of having never been stopped in his professional career.

That tactic frustrated the crowd, many of whom were pro-Pacquiao and wanted to see their hero show off his hand speed rather than footwork as he chased Mosley around the canvas. And it seemed to frustrate the 32-year-old too, who could not break Mosley's defence despite finding ever more varied angles from which to attack.

The fight looked to be heading for a points verdict in Pacquiao's favour long before the final bell, although there was a brief flash of controversy in the tenth round after Pacquiao was adjudged by the referee to have been knocked down by Mosley - despite replays suggesting he was pushed as the pair went in to clinch.

Pacquiao was clearly amazed and angered by the call, but he used it as a source of motivation as he upped his flurry of attacks over the final two rounds.

Pacquiao was a comprehensive victor, but the fight may well have done little to persuade Floyd Mayweather Jnr into the ring © Getty Images

Enlarge

Nevertheless, Mosley kept his guard up and avoided getting hurt - surviving the bout with the aid of numerous clinches and backwards steps to the disappointment of the Las Vegas crowd.

Mosley, however, made no such announcement - preferring instead to credit his opponent on another comfortable triumph.

"I just fought the best fighter in the world," Mosley - who revealed a blood blister on his foot hampered his gameplan, said. "He has power, exceptional power, that I've never been hit with before."

It had been hoped that an emphatic display from Pacquiao would encourage Floyd Mayweather Jnr - who beat Mosley in similarly comprehensive circumstances last year - to commit to a blockbuster bout that the whole boxing world wants to see.

Rumours of a third meeting between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez intensified after the fight, but the man himself - who wore yellow gloves on Saturday as a symbol of his support for the fight against poverty - was giving little away about his plans for the near future.

"I don't care," Pacquiao said. "I'm satisfied with what I've done in boxing. I want to fight Mayweather because the people want it."

The question that remains unanswered, of course, is whether or not the American does.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.