When Manny Pacquiao comprehensively outboxed Timothy Bradley to regain the WBO welterweight title in 2014, it felt for many that justice had been served.
At the same MGM Grand venue in 2012, Pacquiao had lost his belt to Bradley after finding himself on the receiving end of one of the most controversial judging verdicts in top-level boxing history.
A remarkable seven-year unbeaten run had been brought to a shuddering halt. Along the way, he had sealed world titles at an unheard of eight different weight divisions, elevating him to boxing's superstar status.
American Bradley was undefeated from 28 fights and had vowed to pull off a shock but at the end of 12 rounds in Las Vegas, most observers were giving Pacquiao a comfortable victory.
The Associated Press had Pacquiao 117-111 in front, while ringside stats showed him landing 253 punches to Bradley's 159.
But the judges had clearly seen something different, handing the California fighter a shock split-decision verdict – two going 115-113 in his favour with the other to Pacquiao by the same margin.
A disbelieving crowd made their feelings clear as boos cascaded down from ringside.
"Can you believe that? Unbelievable," promoter Bob Arum said. "I went over to Bradley before the decision and he said, 'I tried hard but I couldn't beat the guy.'"
British fighter Amir Khan, who was commentating at the fight, said: "Manny won the fight clearly … I only gave Bradley a couple of rounds and they were very close. I had Manny winning at least 8-4.”
A stunned Pacquiao said: "I did my best [but] I guess my best wasn't good enough.”
Bradley, who said he received death threats as a result of the verdict, insisted the victory was deserved. "I didn't think he was as good as everyone says he was. I didn't feel his power."
So in 2014, it was back to Nevada for a rematch with 35-year-old Pacquiao focused on revenge in a fight billed as “Vindication”.
And, in front of a 15,000 raucous, mostly pro-Pacquiao crowd, the Filipino produced a masterful display of speed, power and footwork to seal a unanimous points victory.
“He threw a lot of punches and I didn't want to be careless," said the Pac Man. "In the second half of the fight, I listened to my corner and they told me to work on the timing of my punches. Bradley was wild on the outside so I took it to the inside".
Bradley, who saw his unbeaten 35-fight record brought to an end, said he pulled a calf muscle in the first round but refused to use that as a reason for defeat.
"I have no excuses," said the 30-year-old, who limped into the post-fight press conference. "Pacquiao was the better man. The reason I love [him] is that he doesn't duck anyone.
"I tried, I really tried. I wanted that knockout. Manny is a great fighter, one of the best in the world. I lost to one of the greatest fighters in boxing.
“I kept trying to throw something over the top. That's what we worked on in camp. That was the plan, but Pacquiao has great footwork.
"[He] fought his heart out and the better man won tonight. I got beaten here but the war is not over."
Pacquaio, who needed 32 stitches in a wound about his left eye after an accidental clash of heads in the 11th round, had now won 56 of his 63 fights. "I think I can go another two years," he said. "There's no problem for me. My job is to fight in the ring – any opponent."
The pair would fight for a third time in 2016, a year after Pacquaio's disappointing defeat to Floyd Mayweather in their much anticipated bout at the same venue in Vegas.
Pacquaio would knock down Bradley in the seventh and ninth rounds on his way to a unanimous points victory. "I've made a commitment to my family that I'm going to retire after this," he said afterwards.
But his family would have to wait as Pacquaio decided against throwing in the towel. In his last fight, in July 2019, the 40-year-old beat American fighter Keith Thurman, aged 30 and previously undefeated, in a split decision and take his record to 62-7-2 with 39 knockouts.
