PACQUIAO RECLAIMS WBO WELTER TITLE IN ANOTHER VIRTUOSO PERFORMANCE (PHOTOS)
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Nov 2016
LAS VEGAS, NV ? The Philippines' pride Manny Pacquiao did it again. And with aplomb.
Mustering the skills his opponent thought he could not even remember, the soon to be 38-year-old eight division champion made the dethroned World Boxing Organization champion Jessie Vargas and his detractors ate their words.
The Filipino southpaw, also known as Pambansang Kamao, dropped Vargas to the seat of his pants with a left counter in the second round and went on to reclaim the 147-pound belt he wore twice before.
From there, Pacquiao knew he had Vargas's number, beating him to the punch in all of the succeeding rounds except in four of the 12-round collision, hitting him harder more often.
Photos by Wendell Alinea / OSMP.
It could have been an overwhelming triumph except for Judge David Moretti who submitted a horrendous score that had Pacquiao led by a mere point, 114-113, meaning had if it not for that second round knockdown, Pacquiao could have not brought home the diadem via unanimous decision.
He lost to Timothy Bradley in a controversial split decision but regained it last April 9.
Judges Glenn Trobridge and Glenn Feldman submitted more believable identical 118-109 decisions.
Feldman saw Pacquiao winner of rounds 1-2-3-5-e6-7-8-9-10-11 and 12 while Trobridge gave the new champ 1-2-3-9-10-11 and 12.
The only man in boxing history to win four lineal titles, emerging victorious in a man vs. man showdown actually taught Vargas neat lessons in ring craftsmanship, like strength alone does not rule the sport of sweet science.
That taller and heftier men do not necessarily beat the smaller and speedier men.
The moral of the story: Never underestimate a smaller, aging man on a mission, who atop the squared jungle carries the 100 million country men on his shoulder.
Pacquiao remained the aggressor from the opening bell, chasing Vargas in all corners and connecting double jabs--even triple jabs--as well as left and right combinations from down under and up.
True to the chief trainer Freddie Roach and his assistants' words, once Pacquiao connected with a strong punch, Vargas became tentative to avoid getting into trouble that happened after the knockdown.
Pacquiao did not attend the traditional post-fight press conference due to 16 stitches he underwent on a cut he suffered in a collision of heads in the final round.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 02 Feb 2026