Manny Pacquiao threw down a challenge to Floyd Mayweather after demolishing Chris Algieri on Sunday.
"I really want the fight [against Mayweather]. The fans deserve it," said Pacquiao after beating Algieri on points in Macau, and then imitating a new TV commercial in which he mocks Mayweather.
It brought huge cheers from the sell-out crowd of 13 021 at the Venetian Macau venue, where the vast majority appeared to be Filipinos.
Many hundreds more of Pacquiao's compatriots were waiting patiently outside for a glimpse of their national hero, having arrived at the venue in the early hours of Sunday to find all the tickets sold.
Back in the Philippines, the nation stopped to watch en masse."The Filipinos were united in celebrating the victory of our national fist, congressman Manny Pacquiao,” said president Benigno Aquino's spokesman, Herminio Coloma, in Manila.
"His strength, speed and skill were on display on the canvas. Every punch that scored caused the millions of Filipinos to cheer together in every corner of the world."
Pacquiao's victory will inevitably heighten calls for him to face the unbeaten Mayweather in what could be the first billion-dollar fight in history.
Pacquiao comprehensively dismantled Algieri to retain his WBO welterweight title. He knock the American challenger down six times and won 119-103 on two cards and 120-102 on the third.
Algieri, the unbeaten WBO light-welterweight champion, was outclassed from the start. The former eight-division champion landed punches at will as the quick Algieri tried to run, slip and hide from the onslaught.
But the congressman from Sarangani province in the Philippines really turned it when he smashed Algieri to the canvas with a devastating straight left in the sixth. The American only just beat the count and dropped to one knee moments later as blows rained in from all angles.
"I'm satisfied with the result," said Pacquiao. "I did my best. I was trying for a knockout but he was fast and keeps moving."
"He's perfected his style," said Algieri. "He's perfected the art of fighting like Manny Pacquiao. He hurt me once when he buzzed me with a left hook. But that was the only time."
In the build-up to the fight, his trainer, Tim Lane, had predicted that Algieri would destroy Pacquiao by "master boxing".
They proved hollow words and Pacquiao's Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach mocked them afterwards. "The master boxer was given a master class by Professor Pacquiao," said Roach. - supersport.com
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