SUNDAY SPORTS

USAToday.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr. was money once again in the richest fight ever.

Mayweather used his reach and his jab Saturday night to frustrate Manny Pacquiao, piling up enough points to win a unanimous decision in their welterweight title bout in Las Vegas. Mayweather remained unbeaten in 48 fights with a win that cemented his legacy as the best of his generation.

Pacquiao did what he wanted to do, chasing Mayweather around the ring most of the fight. But he was never able to land a sustained volume of punches, often looking frustrated as Mayweather worked his defensive wizardry once again.

Two ringside judges scored the fight 116-112, while the third had it 118-110. The Associated Press had Mayweather ahead 115-113.

“I take my hat off to Manny Pacquiao. I see now why he is at the pinnacle of boxing,” Mayweather said. “I knew he was going to push me, win some rounds. I wasn’t being hit with a lot of shots until I sit in a pocket and he landed a lot of shots.”

The richest fight in boxing history – a bout that made Mayweather at least $180 million – wasn’t the best. Far from it, with long periods where both fighters fought cautiously, looking for an edge.

There were no knockdowns, and neither fighter seemed terribly hurt at any time. Pacquiao landed probably the biggest punch in the fight in the fourth round – a left hand that sent Mayweather into the ropes – but he wasn’t able to consistently land against the elusive champion.

The fight was a chess match, with Mayweather using his jab to keep Pacquiao away most of the fight. Pacquiao tried to force the action, but Mayweather was often out of his reach by the time he found his way inside.

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The New York Rangers took Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal against the Washington Capitals 3-2 to even the series at a game apiece. Derick Brassard’s goal at 6:07 of the third period stood as the winner. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 30 shots for New York.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to go up 2-0 in games on the Montreal Canadiens tonight at Bell Centre in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup. Nikita Kucherov scored in double OT for Tampa to take Game 1 on Friday (4:00 pm).

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The Chicago Blackhawks look to continue their roll in the playoffs as they host the Minnesota Wild with a 1-0 series lead.  (6:30 pm).

The Calgary Flames will try to hand the Anaheim Ducks their first loss of the NHL playoffs tonight in Game 2 of their Western Conference matchup. Anaheim has won five straight post-season games, including a 6-1 decision over Calgary in Game 1 of its semifinal series (8:00 pm). Karri Ramo is expected to get the start for the Flames over Jonas Hiller.

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Jose Bautista drove in four runs and the Toronto Blue Jays kept reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber winless on the season with an 11-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Bautista’s two-run single in the fifth broke a 2-2 tie and Russell Martin homered in the fourth. Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez allowed two runs in 5-and-two-thirds innings despite walking six.

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American Pharoah won the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby in front of a record crowd of 170,513 at Churchill Downs. The 5-to-2 favourite was third as he approached the back stretch before passing Firing Line and Dortmund. Jockey Victor Espinoza won his second consecutive Derby, a year after being aboard California Chrome.

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Chris Paul banked in a shot over Tim Duncan with a second left to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 111-109 victory over the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in Game 7. After Duncan made two free throws to tie it with 8-point-8 seconds left, Paul drove the right side and put up a one-handed shot over the 39-year Spurs star to end the first-round series.