Pacquiao Dismantles Cotto

One for the ages

It was 12 rounds of boxing last night at the MGM Grand, something Filipino fighter Manny Pacquiao isn’t familiar with after his previous two fights. The result however was the same, a victory securing the WBO welterweight belt for his seventh title in seven different weight classes. His combination of power and speed was too much for Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto who proved to be one of Pacquiao’s best challenges.

“I didn’t know from where the punches were coming,” a bloody Cotto said after last nights bout.

The tantalizing hands of Pacquaio were coming at such a pace and being delivered with such ferocity that Cotto’s trainer Joe Santiago was ready to throw in the towel at the end of the 11th round. Cotto however more than held his own to start the fight, winning the first and standing toe to toe with the feisty Filipino. He got dropped with a right hand in the third but didn’t seem fazed and got back up to finish the round strong. The fourth round proved to be the game changer as Pacquiao connected with a left hand that put Cotto on the canvas, the Puerto Rican was never the same afterwards.

Cotto was cut and bleeding heavily from his left eye by the sixth round as Pacquiao relentlessly attacked with stiff jabs and hooks to try and knock Cotto out. Miguel took the damage as best he could and tried to counter Pacquiao but his punches and momentum were already weakened by then.

Pacquiao who came off stunning victories over Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton in his previous fights played his usual role. Using both hands effectively with rapid combinations from different angles slowing his opponent,  then pursuing nonstop until the end. He used his combination of speed and power something he is not recognized for to dismantle Cotto.

Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight 55 seconds into the 12th and final round.

“This is the last weight division for me, It’s history for me and more importantly a Filipino did it.” Manny said who has moved up in weight consistently to fight more prestigious fighters from 106 pounds to the 144 he weighed in last night. Pacquiao is also the first boxer in history to attain seven titles in seven weight classes.

This bout will possibly set up a meeting with the previous pound for pound champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. When Pacquiao was asked about a possible match with Floyd in the future, he responded by saying that he will fight anyone that his promoter Bob Arum brings to the table.

Manny will receive a minimum purse of $13 million dollars while Cotto gets $7 million. Cotto’s wife and child who were ringside left after the ninth round unable to watch the beating any longer. Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter was also seen sitting ringside with actors Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.