LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao earned an unanimous decision over Sugar Shane Mosley on Saturday night, retaining his WBO welterweight title with his 14th consecutive victory.
Pacquiao (54-3-2) didn’t get the knockout he sought, but the Filipino Congressman kept his spot as boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter, methodically beating Mosley (46-7-1) at the MGM Grand Garden.
The eight-division champion knocked down Mosley with a right-left combination midway through the third round, just the third knockdown of Mosley’s decorated 18-year career.
The 39-year-old Mosley was credited with a knockdown in the 10th round when he appeared to push Pacquiao while the champion threw a wild punch.
Pacquiao finished with ferocity despite scattered boos, keeping Mosley winless in three meetings.
In the undercard, Mexico’s veteran Jorge Arce won a thrilling 12th-round technical knockout over Miami’s Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. to take away Vazquez’s World Boxing Organization super-bantamweight title.
Arce (57-6-2, 44 KOs) unleashed a barrage of blows with Vazquez (20-1-1) backed to the ropes in the 12th. With the previously unbeaten fighter showing little response, his corner waved furiously to referee Joe Cortez to stop the fight.
Former world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik returned to the ring for the first time in 13 months after undergoing a stint for alcoholism at the Betty Ford Center and recorded a majority decision over Alfonso Lopez.
Pavlik (37-2) started slow but hurt Lopez (21-1) with his signature big right in the sixth round, jarring the Texan to the ropes.
