Round by Round: Manny Pacquiao vs. Hector Velazquez

BySergio Martinez
Live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and televised on HBO, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao locked horns with tough Mexican veteran Hector Velazquez. Here is how it went down, punch for punch, in California.

Round 1: Manny Pacquiao, 130, comes out is his southpaw stance, while Hector Velazquez, also 130 pounds, is in his orthodox stance. Velazquez comes out kind of pushing off with his jab. Pacquaio counters with a hard left hand. Hector continues to circle his opponent and shoots a soft jab. He shoots a right hand to the body. Velazquez lands a sharp right. Manny lands a straight left hand. Hector lands a hard right to the head followed by two to Manny’s body. He catches “Pac-Man” coming in with another hard right. Manny lands a sharp left hand, but seems one-dimensional. Another big right hand lands for Hector. Pacquiao lands a hard right hand, but Hector takes it very well. The round ends.

10-9 Velazquez

Round 2: Hector lands a one-two as the rounds starts. Manny lands a hard left uppercut, but Velazquez answers with a one-two to the body. They both exchange leather on the ropes, with neither fighter having an advantage. Hector continues to come forward, using some head movement, and lands that vaulted right hand. “Pac-Man” lands another hard left hand. They exchange hard hooks, with Manny’s being harder. Velazquez shows some true grit as, after being tagged by two left hands, he stood there and fired back two hard right hands. Velazquez pins Manny against the ropes, rakes him with hooks to the head and body. Manny lands some hard punches at the end of the round.

10-9 Pacquiao

Round 3: Hector comes out jabbing as Manny is circling away. Manny shoots two jabs and Velazquez misses wildly with a right hand. Straight left lands for Manny. Both fighters exchange body shots. Pacquiao lands three punches to the head and the difference in hand speed is starting to show. Hector continues to plod forward and swings away, missing most of his punches. Manny lands a hard left hand and Velazquez is stunned. Hector comes forward shooting that straight right. The round ends.

10-9 Pacquiao

Round 4: Both fighters exchange punches, with Manny’s getting there first. The speed is starting to take over for Pacquiao. Velazquez lands a hard overhand right, but Manny comes back with a two-fisted attack. “Pac-Man” jumps around from side to side and shoots quick combination. Velazquez continues to wade in and swing away, but isn’t having much success. Pacquiao is now popping Hector at will. Velazquez lands the occasional right hand, but isn’t having much success. The round comes to an end.

10-9 Pacquiao

Round 5: Hector shoots jabs to the body and roughhouses Manny. Both exchange punches, but Pacquiao’s are stronger. Velazquez continues to plot forward and is going to the body but isn’t having much success. Four punches land to the head for Manny and he shoots some hard shots to the body. Velázquez lands a hard right hand to the head, but is only doing it one punch at a time. He forces Pacquiao to the ropes but is unable to do anything. Hector continues to plot forward and is getting hit at will now. The speed is just too much. The round ends.

10-9 Pacquiao

Round 6: Both fighters come out in their natural stances. Manny starts to use his speed with a lot of success. He lands some hard body shots and right hands to the head. Velazquez continues to swing wildly, but does have some success. Pacquiao lands some hard body shots and a heavy right hand to the head. Manny’s accuracy and speed is really taking over. A hard right hook stuns Hector badly, and Manny comes in for the kill. Velázquez holds on for dear life and seems to gain some of his senses back. He goes down to one knee before the end of the round. The referee stops the fight awarding Manny Pacquiao a TKO victory.