Filipino featherweight Michael Farenas won by knockout but compatriot Diosdado Gabi failed in the preliminary fights before the battle between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas.

Gabi lost to North American Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Abner Mares, who sent the Cebuano (30-4-1, 22 KOs) down to the canvas twice in the second round to score his 16th straight win.

Referee Jay Nady stopped the fight 49 seconds into the second round as Gabi absorbed too much punishment from the young Mexican.

Farenas (20-2-2, 18 KOs) scored a third-round TKO over Baudel Cardenas (17-13-2, 6 KOs). The Filipino decked Cardenas twice in the second round, before connecting with a low blow.

Cardenas was given the full five minutes to recover, but couldn't continue, paving the way for Farenas to score the win.

In the main undercard, World Boxing Organization featherweight champion Steven Luevano kept his title with a unanimous decision win over Terdsak Jandaeng (29-2, 19 KOs) of Thailand.

The hard-punching Thai was no match to Luevano’s smart fighting style. Thai fighter knocked down Luevano in round four but his hit-and-run style eventually paid dividends as the judges scored it

118-109, 119-109, 119-109 for Luevano.

World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz primed himself up for a showdown with Pacquiao, winning over Ramon Montano via majority decision in their ten-round non-title bout.

And before the night was over, Filipinos were in jubilation as Pacquiao came away with a split decision victory to unseat Marquez and earn the WBC super featherweight crown. *CPT

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Farenas wins but Gabi falls