ABU DHABI // Boxing fans erupted into wild cheers on Sunday morning as Manny Pacquiao claimed the World Boxing Organisation welterweight title for a third time, with a unanimous points victory over former champion Jessie Vargas.
Saturday night’s main fight was telecast from the Thomas and Mack Centre in Las Vegas, and began at 8.20am UAE time on Sunday.
All three judges scored the bout for Pacquiao, who turns 38 next month two of them by 118-109, and the third by 114-113.
At the Resto Pinoy, in Khalidiya, about 50 fans gathered to watch the fight.
The first arrived at 5.30am to watch three undercard fights before the main event, which started at 9.20am.
Their moods were initially dampened when Jessie Magdaleno, a southpaw from Las Vegas, won a 12-round unanimous decision over Nonito Donaire, the Filipino Flash, to claim the WBO super bantamweight championship.
During the welterweight slug-out, the crowd oohed and ahhed, shouted and clapped with each blow Pacquiao rained down on 27-year-old Vargas.
“He’s (Pacquiao) not as powerful as he once was, but Vargas is nothing compared to Pacquiao, who is a legendary fighter,” said Ronillo Magbitang, 53, a welder in Abu Dhabi.
Pacquiao, he said, proved that the much talked-about age, height, weight and reach advantage of Vargas was just that – talk.
“It’s a historic fight,” Mr Magbitang said. “Pacquiao is now the first senator to win a world championship and we’re all so proud of him.”
Alberto Perez, 30, an Etihad cabin crew member from Mexico who picked Pacquiao over Vargas, agreed.
“Pacquiao still is a fast and powerful fighter,” he said. “Vargas may be a much bigger opponent. He tried to put up a good fight but it wasn’t enough.”
Although Pacquiao failed to get his first knock-out victory for seven years, he is a fighter who is revered by everyone back home, said Jay Tayao, 31, a sales executive in Abu Dhabi who has not missed a Pacquiao fight.
“He was able to beat much taller and bigger fighters in the past: Margarito, Algieri and Oscar dela Hoya,” he said.
“He’s not only a legendary fighter, he’s our hero.”
Nelson Baguindoc, 27, a petrol sales attendant in Abu Dhabi, said Vargas was no match for Pacquiao’s explosive punching power.
“At this point of his career, Pacquiao’s place in boxing history as a legend is already secure,” he said.
“He even came out of retirement to continue his legendary career. Today, he managed the fight and took advantage of his vast experience to make history once again.”
After reclaiming the welterweight title, Pacquiao should now hang up his boxing gloves and focus on his career, said Arturo Ibuan, 54, a seafarer who had taken the day off to watch the fight.
“He used his experience and power against Vargas,” he said. “His passion is still there, but I think the next best thing to do is to retire from boxing.”
Pacquiao defeated Timothy Bradley on April 9 and announced his retirement to focus on his political career.
He was elected to the Philippines senate in May.
However, Senator Pacquiao, an eight division world champion, took a brief break from his political duties to face off against Vargas.
With the win, he now has a career record of 59 wins, six losses, two draws and 38 knockouts.
rruiz@thenational.ae
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Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
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2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Wednesday's results
Finland 3-0 Armenia
Faroes Islands 1-0 Malta
Sweden 1-1 Spain
Gibraltar 2-3 Georgia
Romania 1-1 Norway
Greece 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Liechtenstein 0-5 Italy
Switzerland 2-0 Rep of Ireland
Israel 3-1 Latvia
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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On sale: December
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The specs
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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2nd row
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Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
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Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
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Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
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Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
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Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
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Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
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Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
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Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
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Sector: Entertainment
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
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10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East