13 years ago

Date: 13th November 2010

Title: vacant WBC World Super-welterweight Title

Promoter: Top Rank

Tv: HBO Pay-per-view

Manny Pacquiao
( 51 - 3 - 2 )
Weight: 144½ lbs

Antonio Margarito
( 38 - 6 - 0 )
Weight: 150 lbs

On November 13, 2010, the world watched as Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito squared off in a highly anticipated fight for the vacant WBC World Super-welterweight Title at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The fight was promoted by Top Rank and aired on HBO Pay-Per-View, attracting a large audience of boxing fans worldwide.

At the time of the fight, Manny Pacquiao was a seven-division world champion and one of the most successful boxers in history, with an impressive record of 51 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws. Antonio Margarito, on the other hand, was a former WBO Welterweight champion, with a record of 38 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw.

Despite the height and reach advantage of Margarito, Pacquiao dominated the fight from the beginning, landing a barrage of punches and showing his trademark speed and footwork. Although Margarito was able to absorb many of Pacquiao's punches, his face was badly swollen and his right eye was almost completely closed by the end of the fight.

In the end, Pacquiao won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 120-108 in his favor. This victory gave Pacquiao his eighth world title in as many weight classes, cementing his place as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

The fight generated at least 1.15 million buys and $64 million in domestic pay-per-view revenue, making it one of the most successful fights in boxing history. The high demand for the fight can be attributed to the popularity of both boxers and the hype surrounding the vacant title.

Interestingly, HBO's same-night weigh-in showed that Pacquiao entered the fight at 147 pounds, while Margarito entered at a whopping 165 pounds, well above the agreed weight limit of 154 pounds. This caused controversy and raised concerns about Margarito's weight-cutting methods and the potential for unfair advantage.

Despite the controversy surrounding Margarito's weight, Pacquiao's victory was well-deserved and showcased his skill and dominance in the ring. Pacquiao received a purse of $15 million, plus a share of the pay-per-view sales, while Margarito received a purse of $3 million.