Hot News: Manny Pacquiao wins WBO welterweight title with unanimous decision over Tim ...

Joe Camporeale/ USA Today Sports

Manny Pacquiao vowed to be more aggressive in his rematch with Tim Bradley. While he didn't score the knockout he wanted, Pacquiao did get the victory, winning a unanimous decision to wrest Bradley's WBO welterweight title from him at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a rematch of their 2012 bout, won by Bradley in a controversial split decision.

The judges scored it 116-112, 116-112 and 118-110 all for Pacquiao.

Bradley had been candid in the treatment he received after he won a split decision against Pacquiao the first time they met in June of 2012. Bradley said he received death threats from irate Pacquiao fans and admitted he lapsed into a depression. His own promoter, Bob Arum, called for the Nevada attorney general to investigate the scoring for possible misconduct (nothing was found) and the WBO, which sanctioned the bout, declared later through a panel it assigned that Pacquiao was the rightful winner.

Such was the dramatic backdrop when the rematch took place. And the fight lived up to the vast theater.

Pacquiao sustained a cut under his left eye midway through the 12th round, the result of a head butt from Bradley. And blood ran down his cheek as the fight came to an end and Pacquiao did the Ali shuffle in the middle of the ring.

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The fighters exchanged hard shots standing toe to toe in the tenth with neither giving ground with Pacquiao landing a hard left to start the round and Bradley coming back with a couple of rights of his own, though he appeared to lose a little steam as the round ended and looked winded.

Bradley nearly went down in the ninth from Pacquiao's assault and burst and Bradley could be seen careening into the ropes and hanging on to keep from going down. But Bradley didn't seem hurt and it wasn't clear if a punch had landed or he was just off balance.

Bradley seemed to hurt Pacquiao with a right to the body to start the seventh. But Pacquiao stormed back, landing a barrage of punches, punctuated by a straight left that had Bradley holding on. But Bradley wasn't hurt. Instead, he waved his hands, motioning Pacquiao in, encouraging him to keep it up.

Toward the end of the sixth round, Bradley lay in the ropes with his hands down while Pacquiao attempted to take advantage. Swinging wildly, Pacquiao didn't seem to land, and Bradley shook his head and waved to the cheering crowd who thought that Pacquiao might have done some damage.

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Bradley continued to find a home for his right hand, landing several hard shots in the fifth. A confident Bradley even dropped his hands to end the round, avoiding Pacquiao's shots by moving his head up and down with his hands dangerously down by his waist.

In the fourth round, Bradley caught Paquiao with a straight right hand that seemed to stun him. Pacquiao banged his gloves together in frustration but moments later Bradley landed another looping right hand that caught Pacquiao flush.

Pacquiao appeared to briefly hurt Bradley with a straight left midway through the third round, which was another high-octane round for both fighters. Pacquiao continued to push back Bradley with his punches and energy while Bradley held his ground and later in the round dished out some payback.

Pacquiao landed several straight lefts to Bradley's head in the second round that sent Bradley flailing backward and had him off balance. Bradley responded well, nailing Pacquiao, who could be seen swallowing gulps of air, with a looping overhand right to push back Pacquiao's assault.

Pacquiao reportedly pocketed at least $20 million for the bout while Bradley made at least $6 million.

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