Top Rank Results Nov 5 – Pacquiao Decisions Vargas

Top Rank Results Nov 5 – Top Rank was at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas this past Saturday night where venerable promoter Bob Arum rolled out the “big show” for an international card that was headlined by the Manny Pacquiao vs Jessie Vargas WBO world welterweight title fight.

The two men engaged in a feeling out process in round one and Vargas looked tense early. Pacquiao came out in round two and showed his high pace and work rate, and he floored Vargas with a short punch late in the round. Vargas was more embarrassed than hurt and the fight settled into a rhythm for the next few rounds that saw Pacquaio dictate the pace. Vargas was starting to answer by round five, and he claimed to his trainer Dewey Cooper that he was feeling stronger. Round eight saw the best exchanges of the fight to that point, as Vargas landed a big punch and a clash of heads caused blood to flow from Vargas. Vargas never backed down and he had some good moments in rounds 9 and 10, but Pacquiao was able to take his best shots and just kept on coming. In the end, the judges had a unanimous decision win for Manny Pacquiao, the new WBO World welterweight champion.

Pac-man works.

The main event was preceded by Oscar Valdez’ WBO World featherweight title defense against Japan’s Hiroshige Osawa. Osawa was lean and lanky and he showed a jab and a lot of movement while Valdez settled in to throw every punch with bad intentions. Valdez closed round two strong, with Osawa weathering a storm against the ropes. Valdez put Osawa down in round four, but the Japanese fighter got up and continued to fight. The Mexico vs Japan rivalry has been one of the hottest in boxing for years and this fight was a good example of a fighter leaving it all in the ring. Valdez became more methodical in the middle rounds even playing around in a southpaw stance in round six. Osawa was taking a lot of shots and by the second half of round seven Valdez blasted Osawa and though Osawa did not go down, the referee stepped in as Valdez flurried.

Oscar Valdez on the assault.

The second fight of the show saw WBO World super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire defending his title against undefeated Jessie Magdaleno. Magdaleno came out from the start with a strong game plan, but Donaire was able to stop Magdaleno’s forward progress in round three and four. An accidental clash of heads caused a cut over Magdaleno’s eye and the pair settled into a back and forth battle. Magdaleno was the busier fighter and in round 9 he trapped Donaire against the ropes and hit the gas trying to finish. Donaire survived, however, and he answered with a big punch at the start of the tenth. For Donaire, it was too little, too late and even with Donaire going for the KO in the final round the judges had the fight for Magdaleno 116-112 116-112 118-110. Jesse Magdaleno moves to 24-0 and is the new WBO super bantamweight world champion.

Donaire and Magdaleno mid-duel.

The opening fight of the broadcast saw China’s Zou Shiming fulfill his country’s expectations when he outclassed Thailand’s Prasitsak Phaprom to win the WBO World flyweight title. Shiming used his superior technique and athleticism to write a repeat of his first meeting with the rugged Phaprom. Phaprom took a lot of shots throughout the fight but he never stopped advancing and trying to land his big punch. Shiming did showboat a little bit once he was comfortably ahead, but overall he was by far the more advanced technical fighter. Phaprom gets credit for toughness, but he took a lot  of punishment and consistently came up short with his punches. Shiming likely will return to China for his first title defense.

Zou Shiming in action.

Top Rank Results Nov 5

The evening’s fights got started at 3:30 sharp local time, and China’s Que Xu (9-1-1) faced off against veteran Fernando Fuentes (9-7) in a six rounder that saw Fuentes hunting down Xu from the start. Fuentes absorbed a lot of shots but Xu appeared to lose the starch on his punches about halfway through the fight.

Top Rank’s international card was topped by Olympians from a myriad of countries, and the next fight saw Honduran Olympian Teofimo Lopez making a successful debut with a second round stoppage over Ishwar Siqueros. Brazil’s 2016 gold medalist Robson Conceicao also made a successful professional debut, winning a unanimous decision over Clay Burns.

Russian amateur standout Alexander Besputin moved his record to 5-0 when with a six round stoppage of Azael Cosio.

November 5th, 2016  – Thomas and Mack Center – complete results

WBO World Title Fights:

147 LBS 12 RDS: Manny Pacquiao def Jessie Vargas by UD (114-113, 118-109,118-109)
122 LBS 12 RDS: Oscar Valdez def Hiroshige Osawa by TKO in RD 7 @1:57
126 LBS 12 RDS: Jesse Magdaleno def Nonito Donaire by UD (116-112,116-112,118-110)
112 LBS 12 RDS: Xou Shiming def Prasitsak Phaprom by UD (120-107, 120-107, 119-108)

Undercard:

130 LBS 6 RDS: Robson Conceicao def Clay Burns by UD.
154 LBS 8 RDS: Alexander Besputin def Azael Cosio by TKO in RD 6.
135 LB 4 RDS: Teofimo Lopez def Ishwar Siquieros by KO in RD 2.
126 LBS 6 RDS: Fernando Fuentes def Que Xu by UD.

Top Rank Results Nov 5 / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science.

‘”Money” Mayweather was at the fights.