Mayweather vs Pacquiao 1: What Actually Happened (Tactical Recap)

Before the rematch on September 19, 2026 (Sphere, Las Vegas, Netflix), here’s what actually happened in the first fight — by the numbers, by the rounds, and by the scoring criteria judges use. Whether you watched it live or are catching up, this is the tactical baseline: why Floyd won, what Manny did in the rounds he won, and what the rematch has to change.

The Result and the Scorecards

May 2, 2015, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Unanimous decision: 118-110, 116-112, 116-112 for Mayweather (ESPN). After six rounds, all three judges had it 4–2 Floyd. So the fight was competitive early; Floyd pulled away down the stretch. Common media scores on rewatch: 117-111 Mayweather (e.g. BoxingScene, Boxing News 24), with Pacquiao usually given rounds 4 and 6, and sometimes 7, 8, 9, 10, or 12 depending on how you weight aggression vs clean punching. Boxing News 24’s Paddy Dwyer scored 117-111, giving Pacquiao the fourth, sixth, and twelfth; he argued there was little on display to give more than four rounds to the Filipino. The 118-110 card was widely criticized as too wide; the 116-112 cards were generally seen as fair. Even giving Manny 4, 6, 9, and 10 you still get 116-112 Floyd.

Referee: Kenny Bayless. Nevada State Athletic Commission approved him 5-0; both camps were happy. Arum called him “the best referee in the world”; Mayweather Promotions said he would “do a masterful job.” Bayless had refereed seven of Pacquiao’s bouts and five of Mayweather’s, including Floyd’s pro debut and the Maidana fights.

Punch Stats (CompuBox)

Fighter	Landed	Thrown	Connect %	Jabs	Power
Mayweather	148	435	34%	67 of 267 (~25%)	81 of 168 (48%)
Pacquiao	81	429	19%	18 in 12 rounds	—

Mayweather used the jab to keep Pacquiao at bay; his 48% power was the first time in five fights under 50% (BoxingScene). Pacquiao averaged ~6 punches landed per round (BBC). His punch volume was well below his recent fights (e.g. he’d averaged around 674 punches per 36 minutes in other bouts).

Floyd threw more total punches than Manny — a shock to many who expected Manny to be the volume guy. Manny’s 19% connect rate matched what Floyd’s previous 13 opponents had landed on him. Floyd’s efficiency was the story. You can’t argue Manny outlanded Floyd; the numbers are clear.

Round-by-Round (Film Study)

Condensed from Reuters, NJ.com, and BoxingScene’s 2025 rewatch (Kieran Mulvaney):

• R1: Mayweather establishes range with the jab, looks to counter; counter right lands flush. Pacquiao looked for early body shots; Mayweather slipped away. Mayweather solid counter right to body in final minute. Controls distance and timing.
• R2: Pacquiao backs Floyd to the corner; straight counter rights keep him at bay. Pacquiao had Mayweather on the ropes but Money slipped away repeatedly or wrapped up. Pacquiao mauls into the corner, flurry but nothing clean. Pacquiao landed late left.
• R3: Every time Pacquiao takes that final half-step to unload, Mayweather anticipates, moves, twists him. Mayweather borderline low blow; Pacquiao reacted angrily. Pacquiao’s feet too static. Flurry at the bell rallies the crowd.
• R4: Pacquiao’s first effective spell — gets Mayweather in the corner then reset. Counter left lands with authority, backs Floyd to the ropes. Pacquiao opened up; Mayweather high guard, blocks most. Combination ends with a hook that lands. Mayweather backed to ropes in defensive posture, survived with a smirk. Pacquiao’s round.
• R5: After four rounds of luring Pacquiao in, Mayweather walks toward him as the round opens, steps into punches, backs him up with jabs and straight rights. Crowd still buzzing from fourth; Mayweather veteran calm. Pattern reverts; Mayweather luring onto counters. Whether stepping forward or retreating, Floyd controls the real estate.
• R6: Pacquiao lands a four-punch sequence on Mayweather’s arms; can’t break the high guard. Pacquiao looked furious, chased Mayweather to the ropes with energy and aggression; Mayweather stared back, mouthed “Nope, nope.” Rest of round: Pacquiao trying and failing to crack the defense; Mayweather jabs and counter rights. Crowd and aggression give Manny the round on many cards.
• R7: Mayweather stiff counter jab knocks Pacquiao backward. Mayweather became the pursuer, stalked Pacquiao to the ropes. Deft footwork to evade rushes. Straight right/left from Pacquiao knocks Mayweather back; Pacquiao lands a hook as Floyd slides left along the ropes — debatable round.
• R8: Pacquiao catches Mayweather transitioning between defensive stances with a straight left. Mayweather’s hard right stuns Pacquiao, then a left hook — one of the clearest power moments of the fight. Mayweather in economy mode: slipping, moving, countering effectively. They traded glares at the bell.
• R9–R10: Intense spells; Pacquiao looks to land, Mayweather sharp counter right hands. Pacquiao’s assault slowing as Floyd slips and counters. In R10 Mayweather potshots from the corner as Pacquiao looks for a way in, then slides out of range. Stalking by Pacquiao, superb defense by Mayweather; just enough jabs and counters to frustrate.
• R11: Mayweather more aggressive to start; lands solid uppercut enticing Pacquiao forward. Lays on the ropes, all but encourages Manny to throw and leave himself open — then counters. Mayweather landed clean left on chin; clapped gloves at the bell.
• R12: Neither shows urgency to finish with a bang; Pacquiao needed to. He has no more idea how to find a home for his punches in round 12 than in round 1. Mayweather dictates pace and distance; Pacquiao follows, trying and failing to land. Both raised gloves at the bell; Mayweather jumped on the ropes.

Rewatch verdict (BoxingScene): Kieran Mulvaney scored 117-111 Mayweather both ringside and on rewatch. Not a great fight, but an impressive masterclass of defensive acumen, ring generalship, timing, and counterpunching. Much-hyped clash turned out to be a one-sided romp — credit to the American’s physical ability and skills. What Floyd was doing worked; the onus was on Pacquiao to change it. Not every superfight can be Hagler-Hearns; some are like Mayweather-Pacquiao: tremendous event, virtuoso performance, but not one to get pulses racing.

Why Floyd Won: The Four Scoring Criteria

Judges score on four criteria; no one factor outweighs another (Boxing News 24):

Criterion	What it meant in 2015
Effective aggression	Only in rounds 4 and 6 did Pacquiao's aggression unsettle Mayweather; most of the fight his bursts landed on arms or were blocked.
Clear punching	"Clean" = lands flush on scoring zone. Many of Pacquiao's shots hit arms; Floyd's counters were clearer.
Defence	Mayweather a defensive genius. Pacquiao evaded 66% of Floyd's shots but no round where his defence was better than Floyd's.
Ring generalship	Mayweather in control except rounds 4 and 6; he set pace, tempo, and dictated the fight.

• Effective aggression: The key word is effective. Only in rounds 4 and 6 did Pacquiao’s aggression unsettle Mayweather. For most of the fight his bursts landed on arms or were partially blocked.
• Clear punching: “Clean” = lands flush on scoring zone without being blocked. Many of Pacquiao’s shots hit arms; Floyd’s counters were clearer.
• Defence: Mayweather a defensive genius. Pacquiao actually evaded 66% of Floyd’s shots (vs 58% for most Floyd opponents) — but no round where his defence was better than Floyd’s.
• Ring generalship: Mayweather in control except rounds 4 and 6. He set pace, tempo, and dictated the fight. Even in rounds some gave to Pacquiao (e.g. 12), the pace was set by Mayweather.

Teddy Atlas called it “12 rounds of sparring”; Freddie Roach said “I thought he ran very well.” Post-fight, Pacquiao told fans: “It’s a good fight, I thought I won. He didn’t do nothing, just moved outside. I got him many times.” Mayweather in the ring: “I kept him on the outside, I was a smart fighter I out-boxed him.” The tactical picture: distance and ring control, cleaner punching, and pace. Add Manny’s injured right shoulder (denied Toradol pre-fight; BBC); Dr. ElAttrache said Pacquiao “modulated his approach” and his punch count was “less than it has been.” The rematch asks whether a healthier Manny and better adjustments can change the result.

For a full breakdown of Floyd's style — Philly Shell, shoulder roll, pull counter — see How to Box Like Floyd Mayweather: The 50-0 Blueprint.