Floyd Mayweather Jr. wins decision over Manny Pacquiao

LAS VEGAS - It was a night when the science part of the sweet science prevailed.

Quickness and smarts. Movement and accuracy.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. employed all of his trademark boxing skills to outfox a determined but ultimately frustrated Manny Pacquiao, winning the so-called “Fight of the Century” at the MGM Grand on Saturday.

The welterweight championship went a full 12 rounds, with the judges agreeing on a unanimous decision.

“I knew he was going to push me,” Mayweather said. “I was a smart fighter. I out-boxed him.”

The victory earned Mayweather three championships belts, unifying the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization welterweight titles. His record goes to 48-0 and Pacquiao is 57-6-2.

If there was any doubt about the significance of the evening, referee Kenny Bayless told the boxers beforehand: “This is a fight that the world has been waiting for.”

It took years of on-again, off-again negotiations to bring together two men recognized as the greatest fighters of their generation.

Mayweather knew what to expect from this fight, saying that previous opponents had tried “to come forward and throw a lot of punches.”

“If that’s the game plan,” he said of Pacquiao, “we’ll have to see how it breaks down.”

Many of Pacquiao’s combinations missed the mark throughout the early rounds as Mayweather stayed on the move, keeping out of range or clinching when his opponent drew too close.

A solid left counter-punch brought Pacquiao to life midway through the fourth round. Mayweather backed to the ropes and covered up. It was hard to tell whether he was hurt, but the exchange certainly gave Pacquiao confidence.

But the fifth round brought a return to form as Mayweather moved, ducked, threw select punches and stayed away from any serious threat.

“He’s moving around,” Pacquiao said. “It’s not easy to throw a lot of punches.”

As a boxer who goes by the nickname “Money,” Mayweather came into this fight looking past his legacy, focusing instead on the tens of millions of dollars he would earn for himself and his family, saying his daughter can’t “eat no record.”

By contrast, Pacquiao had stayed true to his reputation as a good guy, smiling his way through much of the last week, thinking about the people in the arena and a global pay-per-view audience.

“This is a great responsibility for me,” he told a sold-out crowd at the weigh-in. “Whether you’re a fan of Mayweather or a fan of Manny Pacquiao, you deserve to have a good fight.”

The action settled into a familiar pattern by the middle rounds. While Mayweather succeeded with a defensive brand of boxing, Pacquiao found success in short bursts, driving his rival back with strong left hands, rousing the crowd to cheers.

“I got him many times,” he said. “I thought I won the fight.”

But whenever Pacquiao seemed to be gaining an edge, Mayweather would spin away, delivering a quick, scoring blow on his way out.

The sheer volume of punches that Pacquiao needed to win? It never materialized.

As the seconds ticked down, Mayweather danced in circles, waving his fist in the air.

“When the history books are written,” he said, “it was worth the wait.”