Pacquiao Fights in Macao to Avoid High US Taxes, Beats Rios in Unanimous Decision

(AP) Pacquiao beats Rios in unanimous decision
By CHRIS LINES
AP Sports Writer
MACAU
Manny Pacquiao defeated Brandon Rios by unanimous decision on Sunday to take the WBO international welterweight title and return to his winning ways after consecutive losses.

Returning to the ring after almost a year’s absence, Pacquiao wore Rios down with his trademark combination punching and won 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 on the scorecards at The Venetian casino in Macau.

It was an emotional victory for Pacquiao after the devastating typhoon in his home nation of the Philippines.

As Breitbart News reported, Pacquiao fought in Macao to avoid the high tax rate in the United States:

The former pound-for-pound champ who, along with Floyd Mayweather, is one of the sport’s biggest draws, will try to make a comeback after being knocked out of his last bout against Juan Manuel Marquez last December. But he will do so in Macao so he does not have pay 39.6% on what will be millions of dollars of earnings for the fight had he fought in the United States. 

[…]

Months after Pacquiao’s last fight in December of 2012, President Barack Obama and Congress, to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, let the Bush tax cuts expire and raised the top income tax rate to 39.6% for individuals and families making $400,000 and $450,000, respectively. 

As Breitbart Sports reported, Pacquiao indicated shortly after the top tax rate was raised that he would prefer to fight in Macao, which does not have an income tax. The top tax rate in the Philippines, his home country, is also lower than America’s.

Breitbart Sports contributed to this article. 

photo: Top Rank