LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. won a unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night, using his usual skill to remain unbeaten in the most anticipated fight in recent years.

Mayweather (48-0) won comfortably on all three judges’ scorecards in his long-awaited showdown with Pacquiao (57-6-2). Despite boos from a pro-Pacquiao crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Mayweather counterpunched and jabbed his way to another win.

Two judges favored Mayweather 116-112, while a third had it 118-110. The Associated Press scored it 115-113 for Mayweather.

Mayweather danced, ducked and peppered Pacquiao with enough punches to take the decision, while Pacquiao rushed forward and attempted to land combinations and big shots. Mayweather’s jab and straight right hand mostly kept Pacquiao at bay, except in a few sensational exchanges along the ropes.

The crowd booed the final decision and booed Mayweather, who said he will fight in September and then retire.

“I’m a calculated fighter, he is a tough competitor,” Mayweather said. “My dad wanted me to do more, but Pacquiao is an awkward fighter.”

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The richest fight in boxing history — a bout that made Mayweather at least $180 million — wasn’t the best. Far from it, with long periods where both fighters fought cautiously, looking for an edge.

There were no knockdowns, and neither fighter seemed terribly hurt at any time. Pacquiao landed probably the biggest punch in the fight in the fourth round — a left hand that sent Mayweather into the ropes — but he wasn’t able to consistently land against the elusive champion.

The fight was a chess match, with Mayweather using his jab to keep Pacquiao away most of the fight. Pacquiao tried to force the action, but Mayweather was often out of his reach by the time he found his way inside.

“I thought I won the fight, he didn’t do anything,” Pacquiao said. “I got him many times with a lot of punches.”

A sellout crowd at the MGM Grand arena roared every time Pacquaio threw a punch, but a good percentage of what he threw never landed. Mayweather often came back with straight right hands, then moved away before Pacquiao could respond.

Ringside punch stats showed Mayweather landing 148 punches of 435, whilc Pacquiao landed 81 of 429. The volume of punches for Pacquiao was a lot lower than the 600-700 he usually throws in a fight as he tried to measure his aggression against an opponent who was hard to trap.


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