LAS VEGAS (AP) – Floyd Mayweather Jr. won one of boxing’s richest fights ever Saturday night by using his superb defensive skills and superior speed to take a 12-round split decision and win the WBC 154-pound title in his first fight at that weight.

The fight ended with the sellout crowd on its feet roaring and two fighters trading punches wildly at the final bell. They then stopped and embraced. Mayweather was favored on one scorecard 116-112 and 115-113 on a second. De La Hoya was ahead 115-113 on the third scorecard. The AP had Mayweather, 116-112.

In the end, Mayweather was simply faster and more slippery in a bout where neither fighter managed to hurt the other and neither went down.

AP-ES-05-06-07 0032EDT