Pacquiao may not need Mayweather

Associated Press

arlington, texas

Manny Pacquiao is more concerned with the set list for his upcoming concert than he is with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The fight every boxing fan wants to see may never happen, but Pacquiao has a firm date to sing at Lake Tahoe before heading home and more formal duties as a congressman in the Philippines.

All was well early Sunday after Pacquiao cemented his claim as boxing’s best by giving Antonio Margarito such a brutal beating that he went to the hospital.

About the only problem was that Pacquiao couldn’t sign autographs for his adoring fans because he found it hard to hold a pen.

Margarito remained in the hospital on Sunday and promoter Bob Arum said the boxer has a broken right eye socket and will have surgery Tuesday in Texas.

Small wonder, considering Pacquiao spent 12 rounds bouncing those hands off of Margarito’s head.

He hit Margarito from almost every angle and with stunning accuracy, closing both his eyes and bloodying his face while dominating every round of their 150-pound showdown.

The beating was so thorough that Pacquiao turned to referee Laurence Cole several times in the 11th round, imploring him to stop the fight.

It went on, though, even though Margarito had no chance to win.

“I can’t believe that I beat someone this big and this strong,” Pacquiao said. “It’s hard. I really do my best to win the fight.”

Pacquiao won every round on one scorecard, 120-108, and was ahead 119-109 and 118-110 on the other two. The AP had it 120-108.