Forty years old, seventy fights down, but Manny Pacquiao brushed off the cobwebs with ease to defeat Adrien Broner by unanimous decision and retain his WBA welterweight world title in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning.

With Floyd Mayweather watching on from ringside, Pacquiao dominated his old foe’s former protégé, landing almost twice as many punches on his way to a 117-111, 116-112, 116-112 win on the scorecards which, if anything, deserved to be wider.

“The Manny Pacquiao journey will still continue,” Pacquiao said.

“At the age of 40 I can still give my best,” Pacquiao said. “Although I wanted to be aggressive more, my camp told me don’t be careless and to counter him and wait for opportunities. ‘

Thrilled at making his return to the US after 18 months, the eight-weight world champion did start slightly rushed in the opening rounds, falling over his front foot as he attempted to blitz Broner in an early onslaught.

Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Show all 25 1 /25 Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao celebrates after defeating Adrien Broner by unanimous decision during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Adrien Broner hits Manny Pacquiao during the WBA welterweight title boxing bout Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Jan 19, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Manny Pacquiao and Adrien Broner box during a WBA welterweight world title boxing match at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Joe Camporeale USA TODAY Sports Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Jan 19, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Manny Pacquiao (black trunks) and Adrien Broner (purple/silver trunks) box during a WBA welterweight world title boxing match at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Joe Camporeale USA TODAY Sports Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao, right, throws a right to Adrien Broner in the WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao, right, tries to avoid a left form Adrien Broner during the WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao, right, blocks a punch from Adrien Broner during WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao, right, hits Adrien Broner during their WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao, right, fights Adrien Broner in the WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Adrien Broner, left, hits Manny Pacquiao during the WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Jan 19, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Manny Pacquiao (black trunks) and Adrien Broner (purple/gold trunks) box during a WBA welterweight world title boxing match at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Pacquiao won via unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Joe Camporeale USA TODAY Sports Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao (R) throws a right on Adrien Broner during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao (L) throws a left on Adrien Broner during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Jan 19, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Manny Pacquiao (black trunks) and Adrien Broner (purple/gold trunks) box during a WBA welterweight world title boxing match at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Pacquiao won via unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Joe Camporeale USA TODAY Sports Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Jan 19, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Manny Pacquiao (black trunks) and Adrien Broner (purple/gold trunks) box during a WBA welterweight world title boxing match at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Pacquiao won via unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Joe Camporeale USA TODAY Sports Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao (R) throws a right on Adrien Broner during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Jan 19, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Manny Pacquiao (black trunks) and Adrien Broner (purple/gold trunks) box during a WBA welterweight world title boxing match at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Pacquiao won via unanimous decision. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Joe Camporeale USA TODAY Sports Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Adrien Broner (L) squares up with Manny Pacquiao during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao (R) throws a right on Adrien Broner during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao (R) throws a right on Adrien Broner during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao (R) squares up with Adrien Broner during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao, right, hits Adrien Broner during a WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao celebrates after defeating Adrien Broner by unanimous decision during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 19: Manny Pacquiao celebrates after defeating Adrien Broner by unanimous decision during the WBA welterweight championship at MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Christian Petersen Getty Images Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner Adrien Broner reacts to his loss to Manny Pacquiao in the WBA welterweight title boxing match Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) John Locher AP

But, after steady jabs had chipped away at the American’s midriff, Pacquiao showed glimpses of his heyday as he found his range on a lethargic target.

Straight left-hands in the seventh and ninth rounds rocked Broner badly, and with his man aisling Pacquiao unleashed furious combinations on the ropes, cruelly deprived of a 40th career knockout by the bell.

In the final rounds, as he drifted into survival mode, ‘The Problem’ seemed content to suffer a points defeat but then bizarrely celebrated at the final bell and protested the judges’ decision.

“I beat him, everybody out there knows I beat him,” Broner said. “I clearly won the last seven rounds.”