Dinomina ni WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao ang challenger na si Chris Algieri sa anim na beses na pagpapabagsak niya rito para manatiling kampeong pandaigdig sa Cotai Arena, Macau, China kahapon.
Si Algieri ang ikalawang undefeated boxer na magkasunod na tinalo ni Pacquiao matapos palasapin ng pagkatalo si ex-WBO welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley at kaagad niyang hinamon sa unification bout ang wala ring talong si WBC at WBA welterweight ruler Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“Is he going to fight me? Yes! I’m ready to fight Mayweather next year,” sabi ni Pacquiao matapos pormal na ihayag ni ring announcer Michael Buffer ang kanyang pagwawagi.
“Manny Pacquiao came very close to ending his drought of knockout wins, after dropping previously undefeated Chris Algieri six times for a twelve round unanimous decision win to retain the WBO welterweight title,” ayon sa ulat ng BoxingScene.com. “The match took place at a catch-weight of 144-pounds. The scores were 119-103, 119-103 and 120-102.”
Unang bumagsak si Algieri sa 2nd round kung saan nagreklamo ang Amerikano na nadulas lamang siya dahil basa ang canvas.
“In the sixth, Pacquiao caught Algieri with a good counter and then put him down with a follow up of shots. Algieri went down once again when Pacquiao swarmed on him, and complained once again about the water in the corner,” ayon pa sa ulat. “During the ninth, Pacquiao landed a massive left to send Algieri down hard on his back for a fourth knockdown.
Algieri was badly hurt this time and went down again to a knee a moment later for the fifth knockdown. Pacquiao nearly finished him off before the bell sounded.”
Naging agresibo pa rin si Pacquiao at muling napabagsak si Algieri sa 10th round.
“In the tenth, Pacquiao dominated the action and scored a sixth knockdown,” dagdag sa ulat. “Pacquiao tried to go for the knockout in the final two rounds, but Algieri held him off and survived until the final bell.”
Gumanda ang rekord ni Pacquiao sa 57-5-2 win-loss-draw na may 38 panalo mula sa knockouts samantalang bumagsak si Algieri sa 20-1-0 win-loss-draw na may 8 panalo mula sa knockouts.