Welcome to Fightful.com's live viewing party of Manny Pacquiao vs. Jessie Vargas. We'll be bringing you recaps and full, round-by-round coverage of the main event fights which will be broadcasted on pay-per-view and online at TopRank.tv.
You can also send in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
Here's the main fight card:
Manny Pacquiao defeated Jessie Vargas via unanimous decision (114-113, 118-109, 118-109) to become the new WBO Welterweight Champion
Oscar Valdez defeated Hiroshige Osawa via TKO, Round 7, 1:50, to retain his WBO Featherweight Championship
Jessie Magdaleno defeated Nonito Donaire via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 118-110) to become the new WBO Junior Featherweight Champion
Zou Shiming defeated Prasitsak Papoem via unanimous decision (120-107, 120-107, 119-108) to become the WBO Flyweight Champion
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MAIN CARD:
Zou Shiming vs. Prasitsak Papoem: Vacant WBO Flyweight Championship match
Round 1: Shiming dominates a very clean first round with a variety of 4, 5 punch combinations. Papoem didn't even throw a punch in the first half of the round. First round easily goes to Shiming.
Fightful scores Round 1 for Shiming 10-9
Round 2: Papoem now starts to only throw one punch at a time, but Shiming is still throwing flurries every time he goes on the offensive. Papoem starts to move around the middle more, forcing Shiming to move around the outside part of the ring. Shiming knocks down Papoem with a right hook right on the button as he was moving forward. Papoem started throwing more punches, but Shiming ended the round the aggressor.
Fightful scores Round 2 for Shiming 10-8
Round 3: The two men start to throw more haymakers in their exchanges as Papoem's left eye starts to swell a little bit. Papoem, at times, throws a straight punch, but Shiming does a good job at ducking and weaving Papoem's offense.
Fightful scores Round 3 for Shiming 10-9
Round 4: Papoem is starting to get into a rhythm, forcing Shiming into the ropes, not from Papoem moving, but from Papoem throwing better punches more often. Second half of the round, we see more smart boxing from Shiming, dodging Papoem's punches and tiring him out without trying to throw unnecessary punches.
Fightful scores Round 4 for Shiming 10-9
Round 5: Papoem starts to punch more towards Shiming's body. Shiming starts connecting on his hooks much better on this round. Round ends with two flurries from Shiming.
Fightful scores Round 5 for Shiming 10-9
Round 6: Shiming is now starting to move around even more and isn't throwing as many punches as he has earlier in the round. Shiming does manage to connect on a massive right hook and the two have a no-punch standoff for about 15 seconds. Shiming ends the round with four straight big punches.
Fightful scores Round 6 for Shiming 10-9
Round 7: Shiming keeps dodging while he throws quick 4-punch combinations every time he goes into a corner. Shiming right now is looking like he isn't even taking the fight seriously, staying very relaxed and composed. After the round, trainer Freddie Roach is worried about Shiming giving his opponent too much momentum and I agree with him.
Fightful scores Round 7 for Shiming 10-9
Round 8: Shiming starts to take the fight more seriously as he targets Papoem's left eye, which is now bleeding. Papoem's punches aren't doing much damage an Shiming keeps throwing hooks to Papoem's left eye, forcing him to the ropes. Papoem throws a big hook to Shiming, but Papoem slips and goes down but no knockdown. Complete domination by Shiming.
Fightful scores Round 8 for Shiming 10-9
Round 9: Papoem is starting to connect more on his head shots, but Shiming shakes them off easily and taunts Papoem by dancing very briefly. Shiming's hands are down throughout the round. About 30 seconds remaining, Shiming starts Ali shuffling and Papoem is starting to get frustrated and pushes Shiming down as the round ends.
Fightful scores Round 9 for Shiming 10-9
Round 10: Papoem is starting to throw more body shots and is desperate, leaning more and more closer to Shiming, but Shiming keeps strafing away from danger. Papoem is now exhausted and is trying to even throw any punch that will connect. Shiming starts to throw punches to end the round.
Fightful scores Round 10 for Shiming 10-9
Round 11: Shiming once again keeps staying on the defensive in the first two minutes of the round as Papoem keeps trying to find any opening. Shiming then unleashes several hard head shots in te final minute of the round.
Fightful scores Round 11 for Shiming 10-9
Round 12: Shiming starts to throw more punches towards Papoem's body and Papoem now resorts to go for a low blow. After the pause from the low blow, Shiming just starts unloading on massive hammer punches in frustration. Papoem asking to get hit more and the two now start trading punches. The fight ends with Shiming dancing around the ring and throwing a flurry of punches as a statement.
Fightful scores Round 12 for Shiming 10-9, making it 120-107 for Shiming
Official Result: Zou Shiming defeated Prasitsak Papoem (120-107, 120-107, 119-108) via unanimous decision to become the WBO Flyweight Champion
This fight was nothing more but complete annihilation by Shiming. Shiming's gameplan was solid. He dominated the early rounds, and then later on, box defensively until he throw a ton of flurries to end each round. Shiming's an entertaining fighter, but still needs to work on his power a bit more. His speed is incredible.
The pay-per-view is plagued with audio issues, cutting in and out at times. I'm watching the fight card on an iPad, so I'm not sure if it is an online streaming issue or an overall pay-per-view issue. The broadcasters (Brian Kenny, Timothy Bradley and Stephen A. Smith) are having a lot of fun calling the fight and aren't as rigid as HBO's broadcast team (though I do love them too).
Nonito Donaire (c) vs. Jessie Magdaleno: WBO Junior Featherweight Championship match
Round 1: Donaire is on the defensive to start this fight. Magdaleno starts lunging forward for a jab every so often. Donaire throws a 3-punch combo. The two men clinch at the ropes very briefly. This Las Vegas crowd is electric for Donaire. Round ends with the two men standing in the middle of the ring.
Fightful scores Round 1 for Magdaleno 10-9
Round 2: Magdaleno throws a big right hook and Donaire is still being cautious, not making a lot of offensive effort. He hints at doing something big, but only throws a couple of punches. The two men exchange more and more punches, with Magdaleno winning most exchanges.
Fightful scores Round 2 for Magdaleno 10-9
Round 3: Donaire starts to get more active, but Magdaleno responds with a hard body shot. Magdaleno spends time walking around the ring and Donaire stays in the middle, but Donaire isn't doing much to take advantage. Donaire then connects a hook to the body. Magdaleno starts throwing more, but he's missing on some of his punches.
Fightful scores Round 3 for Donaire 10-9
Round 4: Magdaleno starts with a good right hook and Donaire misses on a few body hooks. Magdaleno is now bleeding from beneath his left eye, possibly due to an accidental clash of heads. Magdaleno and Donaire are throwing a lot of punches in the air. Doniare shortly has his opponent in the corner, but Magdaleno boxes his way out very quickly.
Fightful scores Round 4 for Donaire 10-9
Round 5: Donaire is now going to the body more and Magdaleno steps in and is on the offensive, lunging forward. Donaire doubling up on the jab and Magdaleno hits the body. The two men stay idle in the middle of the ring for a while. Magdaleno is now missing more and more punches.
Fightful scores Round 5 for Donaire 10-9
Round 6: Magdaleno is starting to box his way back into the fight in the early going, throwing and connecting on a lot of hard hooks to Donaire. The two men clinch and Magdaleno connects on another body shot.
Fightful scores Round 6 for Magdaleno 10-9
Round 7: It's now a more even round than the sixth round. Magdaleno is using the jab effectively and hits a clean punch on Donaire's jaw. Doniare throws a haymaker, but misses easily. Donaire then hits a hard body shot to Magdaleno.
Fightful scores Round 7 for Magdaleno 10-9
Round 8: Donaire is now starting to get more active, jumping a bit before throwing a couple of punches. Magdaleno hits a left hook to Donaire's body. Donaire responds with a body shot to set up a few more punches. Magdaleno responds with several punches of his own and now he's in a good rhythm. Donaire's left eye is starting to swell up a little bit and Magdaleno smells blood in the water and unleashes a flurry of hard head shots to Donaire to end the round.
Fightful scores Round 8 for Magdaleno 10-9
Round 9: Magdaleno got put in the corner at the start of the round, but quickly gets out. Magdaleno lands a few jabs, followed by a few body shot combos. Donaire is now pressuring Magdaleno, but Magdaleno responds in a big way and hurts Donaire badly, throwing several unanswered hard punches and erupts in this round.
Fightful scores Round 9 for Magdaleno 10-9
Round 10: Magdaleno gets hit hard with a jab at the start of the round was a bit wobbly. Nonito chants fill the Thomas & Mack Center. Magdaleno is still throwing big right hands. Donaire is now trying to corner his opponent. Magdaleno slips but it's not considered a knockdown. Magdaleno responds with a jab. Round ends with both men exchanging hard punches.
Fightful scores Round 10 for Donaire 10-9
Round 11: Donaire gets a lot of momentum, finally landing on huge shots consistently as the crowd keeps chanting for the Phillipine star. Big right hand on Magdaleno who was trapped in the corner. Donaire gets hit with a jab in response. The offense dies down a little bit for a while until Donaire throws a jab and ends the round getting hit hard by Magdaleno.
Fightful scores Round 11 for Magdaleno 10-9
Round 12: Magdaleno and donaire now start trading punches left and right. Magdaleno is using the right hook to try and set up more punches, but Donaire is keeping his distance. Donaire hits a huge right hand, but is now starting to miss subsequent punches. Donaire then has Magdaleno on the ropes and is connecting more and Magdaleno is bleeding from both eyes. Round ends with both men's arms up in the air, each thinking they both won the fight.
Fightful scores Round 12 for Donaire 10-9, making it 115-113 for Magdaleno
Official Result: Jessie Magdaleno defeated Nonito Donaire via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 118-110) to become the new WBO Junior Featherweight Champion
This was one hell of a fight. Magdaleno was the far more consistent boxer throughout the fight. If Donaire had exploded earlier in the fight and not in the last few rounds, he might still have the belt.
Oscar Valdez (c) vs. Hiroshige Osawa: WBO Featherweight Championship match
Round 1: The fight begins with Osawa trying to establish his jab as the taller opponent. Valdez starting to throw body shots and establishes the left hook. Valdez, being the more aggressive fighter, is using the left hook and jab effortlessly.
Fightful scores Round 1 for Valdez 10-9
Round 2: Valdez continues the offense with hard body shots coming from both hands. Valdez is now working off the jab, dominating the round once more. Osawa occasionally dodges a few punches thrown at him, but eats a hard left hook and is sent to the ropes. Round ends with Valdez throwing hard overhead punches.
Fightful scores Round 2 for Valdez 10-9
Round 3: Valdez hits three straight jabs to open the round. Osawa is starting to get hurt from the constant punishment received, but is showing a great chin during the fight. Valdez is still throwing the hard overhead punches and does not look like he will let down.
Fightful scores Round 3 for Valdez 10-9
Round 4: Valdez gets back to work, but Osawa is throwing a bit more punches, but Valdez throws a big left hook and Osawa is down. Osawa is now bringing the fight to Valdez, but Valdez turns up the heat himself and had Osawa in trouble and on the ropes. Osawa is starting to get into a rhythm, being more comfortable throwing punches.
Fightful scores Round 4 for Valdez 10-8
Round 5: Valdez's jabs are still hitting, but they're not as strong as it was earlier in the fight. Osawa is starting to throw some punches of his own, but nothing spectacular.
Fightful scores Round 5 for Valdez 10-9
Round 6: The champion is moving around the ring more often, still being the aggressor while mobile. Valdez hits two straight hard hooks to Osawa, but Osawa still stands. Osawa is starting to use the jab more often, but his face is still eating Valdez's hooks. Round ends with Valdez switching to a southpaw stance.
Fightful scores Round 6 for Valdez 10-9
Round 7: Valdez is now starting to throw more punches, just like he did for the majority of the first half of the fight. Valdez throws a hard left hook to Osawa's face and is now trapped into the ropes. Valdez just unloads on like 20, 30 unanswered hard hits and the referee is forced to stop the fight and Valdez retains his belt.
Official Result: Oscar Valdez defeated Hiroshige Osawa via TKO, Round 7, 1:50, to retain his WBO Featherweight Championship
Valdez had the best performance of the night thus far. This was a mismatch as Valdez's power is simply too much. Big win for Valdez as he now has earned himself a lot of new fans with the win.
Jessie Vargas (c) vs. Manny Pacquiao: WBO Welterweight Championship match
Round 1: Neither man throws any hard punches in the opening 40 seconds of the fight. Vargas is utilizing the jab now to create some distance between him and Pacquiao. Vargas is lunging forward and Pacquiao hits a good left hook. The two men clinch and Pacquiao hurts Vargas very slightly at the very end of the round.
Fightful scores Round 1 for Vargas 10-9
Round 2: Vargas stays active in this fight, while Pacquiao remains on the defensive. Vargas keeps using the jab to try and set up more punches. Slow-paced fight so far. Pacquiao fires back with a hard overhead right and Vargas responds. Pacquiao knocks down Vargas with a straight left hand. Vargas gets back up, and hits Pacquaio hard to end the round.
Fightful scores Round 2 for Pacquiao 10-8
Round 3: Vargas is now more active in the second round, but Pacquiao stuns Vargas for a second and is now trying to secure the second knockdown. Pacquiao is now the aggressor, moving all around the ring and cornering the champion. Since the second round, Vargas has looked noticeably slower. Vargas throws an overhead left and Pacquiao easily steps back.
Fightful scores Round 3 for Pacquiao 10-9
Round 4: Both men start trading punches, but Vargas is missing his punches more. Vargas then hits a hard right hand to Pacquiao's chin. Pacquiao is now keeping his distance before he lunges forward to throw a quick right hand. Round ends with a spirited exchange between the two.
Fightful scores Round 4 for Vargas 10-9
Round 5: Good left hand by Pacquiao and the fight is a bit more even now. Vargas is now using the jab better and is gaining more momentum, but the two are trying to get close and the referee separates the two. Pacquiao is missing his punches, but still throwing more punches.
Fightful scores Round 5 for Vargas 10-9
Round 6: Vargas connects on a decent right hand and is keeping his distance from Pacquiao. Vargas keeps utilizing the right hand much better, but his right eye is now swelling. The two men now are upping the offense in the last minute of the round. Vargas ends the round with a good right jab.
Fightful scores Round 6 for Vargas 10-9
Round 7: Vargas hits a flurry of punches, but Pacquiao responds with a combination of his own. Pacquiao is now being more aggressive with his jabs and Vargas is taunting Pacquiao to hit him more square on the jaw. Pacquiao is not connecting on his jabs, but he is making Vargas move around the ring.
Fightful scores Round 7 for Pacquiao 10-9
Round 8: The high workrate continues from both men for the first half of the fight. Vargas connects on a jab which sets up several punches before Pacquiao responds. Pacquiao and Vargas clash heads accidentally and the crowd is electric right now. Pacquiao is using th jab to stop Vargas in his tracks.
Fightful scores Round 8 for Pacquiao 10-9
Round 9: Pacquiao landing a few good right hands before resorting to his powerful left hand. Pacquiao gets another strong left hook in. Vargas is now trying to throwing right hooks before clinching. Pacquiao is still the more composed fighter after 9 rounds.
Fightful scores Round 9 for Pacquiao 10-9
Round 10: Vargas starts the fight with a five-punch combo, putting Pacquiao into the corner. Pacquiao gets out quickly and is now on the offensive once more. Pacquiao is using the left hand to punish Vargas. Blood is still running from Vargas' face and Pacquiao throws couple of hard body shots to Vargas. Jessie Vargas hits a clean right hand to Pacquiao. Pacquiao hits a jab, but Vargas connects on a right jab to Pacquiao's jaw.
Fightful scores Round 10 for Pacquiao 10-9
Round 11: Pacquiao throws the jab hard to start the round. Pacquiao then throws a couple of hard left hooks and Vargas responds, almost knocking Pacquiao down with a hard jab. Both boxers clinch and Vargas threw a hard jab to Pacquiao as he was coming in closer. Pacquiao hits Vargas and he goes down, but it is ruled a slip and not a knockdown.
Fightful scores Round 11 for Pacquiao 10-9
Round 12: The crowd is chanting "Manny! Manny! Manny!" Pacquiao then hits a couple of jabs and Vargas starts throwing more haymakers, but is not connecting on most of them. Vargas is trying to pressure Pacquiao, but Pacquiao remains comfortable and is unaffected by whatever Vargas throws at him.
Fightful scores Round 12 for Pacquiao 10-9, making it 116-111 for Pacquiao
Official Result: Manny Pacquiao defeated Jessie Vargas via unanimous decision (114-113, 118-109, 118-109) to become the new WBO Welterweight Champion
This was the best fight of the night. Vargas showed a lot of heart and Pacquiao proved that he still has a lot left in the tank after that performance. Pacquiao actually got better as the fight went on and this was his best performance in probably almost three years.
The boxing in this card was very good and the four world title fights was a very good selling point as this might be the best pay-per-view card of 2016. The actual production, however, was below average. There were so many issues with the audio throughout the night, from the broadcasters being cut out, to having no video playing but its audio was being heard and even Manny Pacquiao's post-fight interview was barely heard as those watching only could hear him through the stadium speakers, not from the mic. If Bob Arum thinks about doing another pay-per-view on his own, he seriously needs to do a much better job at getting the right people at making the best presentation for a pay-per-view. I give the boxing an 8.5/10, but the audio issues gave the pay-per-view a final score of 6/10.
