Manny Pacquiao's stellar career continued Saturday night as he took the WBO welterweight title from Jessie Vargas via unanimous decision at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.  

After 12 rounds in which Pacquiao dominated, the judges scored the fight 114-113, 118-109 and 118-109, per BoxNation:

Pacquiao looked more aggressive to start, which seemed to unnerve Vargas in his attempt to stay patient. 

Per Rappler Sports, it look a lot for Vargas not to get drawn in by Pacquiao's aggression:

His patience wore off in the second round when Vargas attempted a big right hand, but Pacquiao averted it and clocked him with a straight left, sending Vargas to the canvas for a second before the former champion popped up. 

Vargas began to look disoriented, as he had difficulties keeping up with Pacquiao's speed, much to the surprise of Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden:

Goddamn Pacquiao is still fast. #PacVargas

— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) November 6, 2016

While Vargas landed a right to the top of Pacquiao's head in the third, the Filipino's speed ensured it was a rare connection. 

With the thought of a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was sitting ringside, looming, Pacquiao went headhunting in the fourth, which momentarily left him open for a Vargas right hook to the face late in the round. 

Ryan Songalia of Ring magazine explained why it didn't affect Pacquiao much:

But Pacquiao needed more than just speed and jabs on Vargas, according to Andreas Hale of Champions Fight:

The fifth round saw Vargas pick up the aggression, but his face also showed signs of swelling. However, his strategy of going right at Pacquiao slowed the Filipino. 

It allowed Vargas to connect on that right a few times, but Pacquiao remained tough, impressing Gautham Nagesh of Stiff Jab:

Most underrated aspect of Pacquiao's greatness: his chin. Vargas has landed some hard right hands, Pacman doesn't flinch. 57-56 Pacquiao.

— Gautham Nagesh (@gnagesh) November 6, 2016

Pacquiao started to come back in the seventh round, landing quick lefts while Vargas tried to come at him with the right. 

On one occasion in the eighth round, that right was straight and true, stinging Pacquiao. But the 37-year-old answered with a combination that cut Vargas over his right eye to salvage the round. 

As the fight progressed, the pressure built on Pacquiao to drop Vargas, per Arash Markazi of ESPN.com:

As it is no one wants to see Mayweather-Pacquiao II but you can put the rumors to bed for good if Pacquiao can't even finish Jessie Vargas.

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 6, 2016

He continued the assault into the last rounds and hearkened back the Pacquiao of old, per Rappler Sports:

Vargas went down in the 11th, but it was ruled a slip as Pacquiao continued to dominate.

Fox Sports' Skip Bayless thought Pacquiao was throwing down the gauntlet:

Markazi thought otherwise:

Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas is going the distance. Round 12 is coming up. Floyd Mayweather is watching ringside like pic.twitter.com/bH0BrRaoUi

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) November 6, 2016

Mayweather, on the other hand, remained neutral, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times:

Vargas, fell to 27-2 and has now lost two of his last three fights, with the first coming to Timothy Bradley Jr. in June 2015. 

Pacquiao improved to 59-6-2 and provided a 31st win in a title fight. 

Moving forward, there is little disputing what he wants for a next bout as he's previously set his sights on Mayweather, per Gareth A. Davies of the Telegraph:

This is not my last fight. I would love to avenge the loss to Floyd Mayweather, especially now that my shoulder is fixed. I’m using the right hand a lot now and feel in great shape. This fight against Jessie Vargas I consider the most important of my career because it will determine the direction my future takes.

With the win, Pacquiao at least ensured his hopes of a rematch against Mayweather stayed alive for a little while longer.