Pacquiao Vs. Margarito Results: What’s Next For Manny, The Filipino Phenom?

Antonio Margarito took a pounding at the hands of Manny Pacquiao, but survived all 12 rounds to send the fight to the judges. Pacquiao opened a nasty cut under the right eye of Margarito that continued to deterioriate throughout the fight, eventually swelling shut as the fight wore on. The win propelled Pacquiao to his eighth title in as many weight classes, clearly establishing Manny as the finest pound-for-pound boxer in the sport right now.

From beginning to end, Pacquiao used his impressive speed and a flurry of punches from all angles to completely neutralize the sizeable weight advantage Margarito held. Margarito finally did some damage to Pacquiao at one point, landing a flurry of punches in the sixth round with Manny up against the ropes. Pacquaio said he was surprised by the power of Margarito’s punches and his vicious uppercut after the fight, noting that the sixth round left him stunned.

In the 11th round, Pacquiao began looking to the referee as if to ask “will you end this already?” By the 12th round, Pacquiao let off the gas, showing some compassion for a clearly battered opponent. With the fight well in hand, Pacquiao was content to walk out with a judges’ decision.

The fight was scored 120-108, 118-110 and 119-109, all for Pacquiao. It was Pacquiao’s 52nd career win and 16th straight victory. Margarito put up one heck of a fight, but Pacquiao continues to be in a class all of his own in the sport.

With Margarito disposed of, the focus turns to the next opponent for Pacquiao. Will we finally get the mega-fight everyone has been waiting for? The next logical step is for Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.‘s camp to hammer out details of a fight the public so desperately wants. As we saw in the last round of negotiations, that’s easier said than done. Pacquiao said he’s still focused, ready to fight and will take on anyone that’s put in front of him in an interview after the fight, though he was non-commital about who that opponent would be.