Round 1





Round 2





Round 3





Round 4





Round 5





Round 6





Round 7





Round 8





Round 9





Round 10-11





Round 12

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Image Source: Yahoo Sports!

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MANILA, Philippines - It took a lot of guts to do what Manny Pacquiao did in beating Miguel Cotto for his seventh world boxing championship in seven different weight divisions at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila).

Pacquiao, a 3-1 favorite, realized from the onset that Cotto’s power left jab – the same weapon he used in scoring a unanimous 12-round decision over Sugar Shane Mosley in 2007 – would be a huge problem.

Cotto pumped double left jabs to keep Pacquiao off-balance in taking the first round of their WBO welterweight title bout. Fighting from a distance, Cotto had the advantage of dictating tempo because of his jarring left jab.

Pacquiao knew that his chances of winning hinged on getting Cotto to come forward so he could use his hand-speed and foot-speed to frustrate the Puerto Rican. But if Cotto continued to throw the left jab, it would be a long night for the Filipino icon.

Pacquiao made instant adjustments to offset Cotto’s edge but it meant taking a huge risk. Abandoning his plan to stick and run, Pacquiao held his ground, inviting Cotto to engage. He even did a version of Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope, leaning against the ropes without hitting back to lure Cotto inside. Pacquiao’s gamble was to raise Cotto’s level of confidence so he would forget about jabbing from a distance and instead, move in to unload power shots.

In the third round, a right put Cotto down for a mandatory eight-count but it hardly made the Puerto Rican think twice about moving in. Cotto wasn’t badly hurt and in fact, was on the attack before the round ended.

Pacquiao’s adjustment was evident in the fourth as he allowed Cotto space to lean on him against the ropes. It was a dangerous strategy as Pacquiao exposed the side of his body to Cotto’s murderous left hooks. But Pacquiao figured it was the only way to get Cotto out of his jabbing mode and make him an easier target.

What happened late the fourth round was exactly how Pacquiao planned it. Cotto became comfortable throwing short-range bombs and got caught with a vicious left hook to the jaw. It was a brutal blow. Cotto dropped to his knees and looked wobbly as he stood up. The bell rang shortly after to save the Puerto Rican from another fall.

Clearly, Cotto couldn’t figure out what Pacquiao was up to and walked into the Filipino’s trap. In the sixth round, Pacquiao staggered Cotto once more, methodically turning the contest into a one-sided massacre. Cotto’s face was a mask of lumps, bruises and cuts. He looked like a beaten man before the bell sounded to open the seventh round.

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With his will to win slowly eroded by Pacquiao’s unforgiving pressure, Cotto decided to do the unthinkable for a defending champion – he began to run. At that point, all he wanted to do was to survive the fight on his feet. He got on an imaginary bicycle and took off, leaving Pacquiao in hot pursuit. Cotto’s aggressiveness was gone, a thing of the past, and he transformed into a shadow of his old self, running scared instead of standing up to fight.

If you think about it, Cotto would’ve probably stolen some rounds from Pacquiao using the power jab to stymie the Filipino’s momentum. That would’ve kept Pacquiao at bay. But Pacquiao had Cotto all figured out. He knew if Cotto continued to dictate with the jab, he wouldn’t be able to get untracked. The danger of losing on points loomed.

Cotto’s adjustment to box starting the seventh round threw off Pacquiao momentarily. Cotto might have even taken the eighth canto using the stick-and-move routine as the Filipino tried to chase down his prey. But the change in tactics proved futile. Inevitably, Pacquiao caught up with Cotto who progressively grew slower as the fight wore on.

Referee Kenny Bayless mercifully stepped in to halt the carnage at 0:55 of the 12th round. He could’ve allowed Cotto to finish the distance as it didn’t seem like he was in any danger of going down. But Cotto didn’t deserve the reprieve. Down the stretch, he fought like a mouse running away from a cat – it was no way for a champion to go. You would expect a defending titlist to go down fighting, not to go down running.

Bayless did the right thing to stop it and award Pacquiao the satisfaction of winning inside the distance. Cotto no longer fought back anyway and in fact, Bayless would’ve been justified to stop it even a few rounds earlier.

For Pacquiao, the five elements that sealed the victory were:

• Speed. Clearly, Cotto had no antidote to negate Pacquiao’s hand-speed and foot-speed. The boxing adage of “speed kills in the ring” was obvious in the fight.

• Stamina. Pacquiao was in excellent physical condition. He still looked fresh in the 12th round and probably could’ve gone a few more. The Filipino was stung occasionally but never took a step back.

• Adjustments. Pacquiao didn’t take long to make adjustments. He took away Cotto’s power left jab by drawing him close then as the Puerto Rican got comfortable inside, the Filipino whirled around to throw his bombs. Pacquiao fought intelligently. Cotto wasn’t smart enough to blunt Pacquiao’s edge.

• Two-fisted attack. Pacquiao rained punches from all angles. Cotto didn’t know where the blows came from. Pacquiao decked Cotto with a right in the third and a left in the fourth.

• Heart. Pacquiao took a big gamble by leaning against the ropes to invite Cotto to whale away. Only a gutsy and fearless fighter would do it. Pacquiao once more showed how big his heart is and when you come down to it, that was the margin of difference.

LAS VEGAS — Miguel Cotto walked out of the MGM bruised and battered but unbowed.

“I just came from a fight so that’s how I’m supposed to look,” Cotto, according to Top Rank pointman Ricardo Jimenez, told someone who made a comment that the Puerto Rican fighter looked “beat up and swollen” after the fight.

Cotto took so many blows to the head he had to skip the post-fight press conference. He was taken to the UMC Hospital for precautionary measure, and Jimenez said the ex-champion was to undergo a complete body scan.

“Miguel wants to come out here. He’s a real man. But the Nevada State Athletic Commission wanted him to go straight to the hospital. So he had to go. Not because he wanted to but because the commission wanted to,” said fight promoter Bob Arum.

Cotto, according to Jimenez, was okay as he was brought to the hospital, and needed no help as he boarded the Team Cotto bus that took him to the hospital. The bus was loaded with around 30 members of his family and his team.

Cotto had cuts over or under both eyes and bled from the fourth round onwards. His trunks, white with red bands, were stained with his own blood. Pacquiao did not go home unscathed either as he wore puffy eyes to his post-fight concert.

It took Pacquiao a little longer to attend the press conference because doctors had to do some procedure to drain blood from inside his right ear. So he showed up at the press conference with his head bandaged and his right ear protected.

But it was Cotto who drew sympathy from all those who saw the fight.

“Miguel Cotto has always been a courageous fighter. It’s just that he was in with a guy who’s the best fighter of our era and may very well be the best fighter ever. My heart goes out for him — to see his face and to see the damage,” Arum added.

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Even in defeat, Cotto was gracious to acknowledge Pacquiao’s historic win. As the Filipino prayed in his corner, down on his knees, the Puerto Rican, with a bloody face, came up to him to congratulate Pacquiao.

“I’m still proud. I’ve fought everyone, but Manny’s one of the best boxers of all time,” said Cotto, adding that his seconds had wanted to stop the fight a couple of rounds earlier, but he decided to go on.

“I told Joe (Santiago, his trainer) I wanted to continue fighting. It was my decision. It was a real hard fight,” said Cotto who drew cheers from the MGM crowd as he spoke on the microphone and got off the stage.

With his head held high.

LAS VEGAS – Don’t expect Manny Pacquiao to go higher than 147 lb so whoever wants to fight him next should stay within the vicinity.

“For me this is the last division I will fight in,” said the newly crowned WBO welterweight champion and possibly a future congressman in Saranggani in the Philippines.

“I just want to take a vacation and it’s up to my promoter who my next opponent is. This was a hard fight (at 147). I think 154 (super-welterweight) is too big for me,” said Pacquiao.

“But I’m happy with this victory,” said the only fighter in history to win seven world titles in seven different weight classes.

He started his career in 1995 at 105 lb, and as he grew older he gained on weight, but just got stronger and faster winning crowns in the flyweight, super-bantamweight, featherweight, super-featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight.

And now, as a true welterweight.

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“Manny fought the top welterweight in the world and he outpunched and outboxed him. There was nothing Miguel could do to stop that express. Miguel was so gracious after the fight and he acknowledged that,” said Bob Arum.

“We proved that we were the better puncher. In the early rounds, he said he wanted to test his power and said he couldn’t hurt me. I think Manny can punch with any 147 pounder in the world. He has the power and speed,” added Freddie Roach. – Abac Cordero

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao’s swollen right hand, and Miguel Cotto’s bloody face told the entire story.

And based on the numbers, as provided to the media by CompuBox, it was quite difficult to imagine how the ex-champion from Puerto Rico survived 12 brutal rounds with the hard-punching Filipino ring icon.

Pacquiao, as busy on top of the ring as he is outside, threw a total of 780 punches and landed 336 of them for a respectable batting average of 43 percent. Yes, 336 punches landed in one night of boxing.

Cotto, whose left hook is as famous as Puerto Rican rum, baseball and its beauty queens, threw less punches, 597 in all, and landed only 172 for a dismal 29 percent.

Cotto won the jabs department, throwing them 297 times and connecting 79 of them. It was the first punch that landed in the opening seconds of the fight, and sent a good message.

In the eighth round, Cotto landed a jab that made Pacquiao’s head move like sombody pulled his hair from behind.

Pacquiao, who’s never really known for his right jab, threw 220 jabs and connected on 60 occasions. But it was really with the power punches that the left-handed slugger from Genereal Santos in Mindanao made a living.

Pacquiao threw 560 power punches and found its target like a guided missile. He landed 276 times, enough to send Cotto to the hospital after the fight for precautionary measures.

Cotto, the younger, bigger and supposedly stronger fighter, let loose 300 power punches and hit Pacquiao, either to the head, the body or the arms, 93 times. His punches, any one of them, could have knocked out a lesser opponent.

But most of Cotto’s power punches were thrown in the first five rounds of the fight because from thereon he only managed to throw them in single digits until the end came with only 55 seconds left of the 12th and final round.

“We knew he was fast but he was a lot stronger than we thought,” said Cotto’s young trainer, Joe Santiago.

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“I tried to bring all I can everytime for all the fans. But tonight didn’t go my way. The jabs I threw were landing but I didn’t protect myself,” said Cotto just minutes after the fight.

“The instruction was not to hurry so we were very careful in the early rounds. And I was trying to test his power that’s why I got hit. But when I started to control the fight I became more aggressive,” said Pacquiao.

“In the second round I was looking for the knockout that’s why I threw a lot of punches and I landed the right hook in the third round. I heard he was bigger than me. So I wanted to test his power. And his punches hurt,” he admitted.

Cotto was knocked down twice, once in the third and fourth rounds, and must have been ordered by his cornermen to stay away from trouble, and that means staying away from Pacquiao.

But it seemed inevitable for the fight to be cut short. Because after the last power punch thrown by Pacquiao, a left to Cotto’s head, referee Kenny Bayless had to step in between and put an end to the fight.

LAS VEGAS – Here’s the same old question: who’s next?

This was the biggest question that faced Manny Pacquiao and his promoter, Bob Arum, after the Filipino’s sensational and historic victory over Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand on Saturday evening.

The who, according to Arum, should come first, but as of the moment there’s nothing as clear as the blue Nevada sky as to who gets to face Pacquiao next, and who fights the world’s greatest boxer.

Arum dropped the names of three boxers who may have the chance. Or at least, those who had the chance.

First was Shane Mosley, the reigning WBA welterweight champion, who had practically begged for a fight with Pacquiao before the fight with Cotto was sealed right after Pacquiao demolished Ricky Hatton last May.

Arum said Mosley was close to making the fight with Pacquiao and in fact was being considered a worthy opponent, until he decided to fight undefeated fellow American Andre Berto on Jan. 30 here in Las Vegas.

Arum said he couldn’t imagine what went through Mosley’s mind making the Berto fight, and announcing it the day before the Pacquiao-Cotto fight, when months ago he was crying for a fight with the Pinoy attraction.

“Shane Mosley says nobody wants to fight him and he wants to fight the winner of the Pacquiao-Cotto. Then he signs a contract to fight Berto. He could have been a great opponent. But what the hell was he doing?” said Arum.

“Shane says Pacquiao is ducking him and that’s not the truth. Manny is just ducking him in the sense that he can’t fight two guys in the same night. Manny is open to fight anybody. But I’m not gonna negotiate in the newspapers,” said Arum.

Then came the name everybody was waiting for: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Arum had said that the undefeated American, whom he used to promote until they had a bitter falling out, can set a fight with Pacquiao if he drops his “delusional” thoughts of getting the bigger share of the purse.

“If he wants the fight he knows whom to call. He hates me and I hate him but it doesn’t really matter. Enough of the trash talk. If they want the fight they know whom to call. Period. Period,” Arum told the press.

“Don’t listen to Floyd Sr. who’s my friend but talks too much and don’t listen to the rest of them,” said Arum, who expects a call from Golden Boy’s Richard Schaefer anytime next week with regards to Mayweather’s stand.

“The world wants to see a (Pacquiao) fight with Mayweather. I want Mayweather. But if Floyd wants 65-35 (in his favor) he won’t get it,” said Roach.

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Arum, the great negotiator, then told the hottest trainer in boxing today not to worry because “we’ll not give him that offer.”

Edwin Valero, the sensational knockout artist from Venezuela, was also mentioned and like Mosley, may have shot himself on the foot. But whoever it is, Arum said Pacquiao will fight either in Nevada, Texas or Florida, but never in New York because of heavy taxes.

Arum said Valero, who’s been given the green light to fight in Texas after being banned to fight in any other part of the United States after failing a medical a few years ago, had his US visa cancelled due to drunk driving.

Arum said Valero claimed his visa was cancelled because he had a tattoo of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is anti-US, on his body.

“He got caught for drunk driving after the Hatton fight and when he came back to the US they wouldn’t give him a visa. To compound the problem the idiot said it’s because he was wearing a Hugo Chavez tattoo on his chest. So, that makes two idiots from Venezuela.”

Arum’s remark drew laughter from the press, and then the Top Rank president said, “I’m 78 years old. I can say whatever I want to say.”

MANILA, Philippines - HBO boxing analyst Larry Mercant was overheard as saying how the streets of Manila would go crazy after the fight.

In fact, not only the streets of Manila but also at various venues all over the metropolis, particularly at the historic Araneta Coliseum where an estimated 15,000 fans, went on a frenzy right from the opening bell.

That scene would be replicated all over the country – from as far as down south in Manny Pacquiao’s hometown in Gen. Santos City to as far north as one of Pacquiao’s closest friends Gov. Chavit Singson’s province in Ilocos – as they all savored the Filipino icon’s historic victory over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

“Walang katulad talaga si Manny (Manny is one of a kind). By becoming the first fighter to win seven titles in different divisions, Pacquiao is unquestionably the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer,” a fan who watched the fight at Mall of Asia said.

“Manny always makes us proud to be Filipinos,” said another Pacquiao supporter.

Over at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, nearly 8,000 came as early as 6 a.m. to avail themselves of the free viewing and snacks, courtesy of Department of Energy and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, whom Pacquiao looks up to as father.

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When the end came in the 12th round, Atienza, wearing his usual printed polo shirt, jumped in joy to celebrate his friend’s victory.

Over at the nearby San Andres gym, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim hosted the live telecast and treated his constituents to free lugaw (porridge).

Even the military took a break from their job after the Air Force men were allowed to watch the fight live at the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.

Nearly a thousand soldiers, with their respective families in tow, packed the hangar equipped with a wide screen theater and all went home happy and proud.

LAS VEGAS – On a cold Saturday evening, Manny Pacquiao put on the hottest performance of his life, winning an unprecedented seventh world title in different weight classes, and this time making sure that he’ll be remembered forever as the greatest of them all.

It was nine degrees outside when the 30-year-old Filipino superstar waged war against the bigger Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico at the MGM Grand. The fight looked one-sided even if it wasn’t, and in the end, after almost 12 rounds, Pacquiao was declared winner via technical knockout.

Referee Kenny Bayless stepped in and waved his hands to put an end to the fight, a bloody one for Cotto, when the 29-year-old underdog took a big left to the head and looked ready to fall for the third time, pinned on a neutral corner. The end came in the 55-second mark of the final round.

“Takbo siya ng takbo. Ako naman parang mabangis na tigre (He kept on running while I looked like a ferocious tiger,” said Pacquiao in the post-fight press conference, all dressed up, and ready to treat his fans to a mini-concert at Mandalay Bay.

Pacquiao wore a fedora hat because his head was bandaged to protect his right ear where blood was sucked and drained by experts to help ease the pressure. He had a swollen right hand after all the blows he landed on his opponent.

Cotto skipped the press conference because he was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures.

Bob Arum of Top Rank, the promoter of both fighters, welcomed Pacquiao to the packed press center, almost an hour after the fight, as the greatest boxer of all time. It was the same thing he said after Pacquiao knocked out Ricky Hatton last May.

But this time, Arum felt he needed to say it once more.

“I am now going on record to say that Manny Pacquiao is the best boxer I’ve ever seen and that include Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard or Marvin Hagler. I have never, ever seen anyone like him,” said Arum of the new WBO welterweight champion.

“He is the greatest of all time,” Arum added, and not one from among those who packed the ballroom could disagree.

Except for Pacquiao, perhaps, winner of world titles in the flyweight, super-bantamweight, featherweight, super-featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight. No other fighter in boxing history has won as many crowns in different weight classes.

“I don’t want to compare myself to anybody. I don’t want to compare my achievements to their achievements. All I do is fight, try to win my fights, and bring honor to my country or make the fans happy,” he said.

“I’m just an ordinary fighter,” he said, and his trainer, Freddie Roach, cut him short.

“You’re not ordinary,” said Roach, whose eyes lit up, and said, “You’re the greatest of our era.”

By the time the bout ended, Cotto’s blue corner had turned red with all the blood that flowed from cuts, or gashes, over and under his eyes, his nose, and lips. He was bleeding as early as the fourth round, and after the fight should have checked if Pacquiao had brass knuckles on.

In the ninth round, Cotto, who left the MGM stripped of his WBO welterweight title, started spitting blood to the canvas. You knew he was ready to go, but just wouldn’t yet.

Cotto did land heavy shots of his own, and from ringside, just 10 feet away from the action, Pacquiao looked hurt at times. But he tried not to show it, and succeeded, because each time Cotto connected, he also had something to trade, whether it was as strong or even stronger.

Pacquiao knocked Cotto down for the first time in the fight with a right hook to the head in the 2:10 mark of the third round. But he failed to finish off his opponent, and again in the next round, with only 12 seconds left, a left uppercut sent the Puerto Rican down on the center of the ring.

At some points of the match Pacquiao stood in front of Cotto or did a rope-a-dope, just covering up. But it was not a very good idea because Cotto managed to sneak in strong, powerful punches that made the fight look even or that he was getting hurt.

Cotto brought his bicycle into the ring in the seventh round and stayed away from Pacquiao. He must have felt that going toe-to-toe with the reigning pound-for-pound champion is no longer an option, and the best he could do was stay out of trouble and hope to land the lucky punch.

In the eighth he almost did. With another left jab that had landed early on, Cotto sent Pacquiao’s head tilting backwards that the Filipino must have seen the overhead lights of the grand arena that was filled with more than 16,000 screaming fans, Filipinos, Puerto Ricans and of any other race.

But Pacquiao, the fighter, countered with his own good shots, and connected with a good combination before the bell sounded just near Cotto’s corner. There seemed to taunt each other after the bell, and it looked like the Puerto Rican was to walk to the wrong corner but retreated to his own.

Pacquiao dribbled Cotto’s face with punches early in the ninth round and again the fight appeared to be headed toward the end. Cotto was in serious trouble, and it was just a matter of time, before he either falls down for good or the fight is stopped.

Cotto’s corner was a very busy one at the end of the ninth, and Pacquiao looked so tired punching he sat slouched on his stool. The next two rounds were all for Pacquiao, and Cotto’s handlers must be ready to throw the towels all the same time.

During breaks, the doctor and the referee were observing Cotto if he could still carry on with the fight. But as gallant as he is, the native of Caguas in Puerto Rico kept on, still looking for that one lucky punch that could turn it around. But it never came.

Once or twice, Pacquiao looked frustrated that Cotto kept on running away, bouncing around the ring, just to stay alive. And Pacquiao seemed to have motioned to the referee if there was anything Bayless could do to ask Cotto to engage.

Before the start of the final round, both fighters touched gloves at the center of the ring. In Cotto’s mind, perhaps, is that he’s do anything, and may even jump out of the ring, to avoid being knocked out. In a way he did, because he was up on his feet when the fight was stopped.

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A little past seven, Cotto arrived at the fight arena, accompanied by his wife and kids and just a handful supporters. He hardly spoke to his companions and kept himself glued to whatever he was listening to on his Bose headphone.

Cotto was in smart casuals, wearing an embroidered long-sleeved shirt, and as tradition called for he went straight to the ringside section to watch the welterweight action between Alfonso Gomez and Jesus Sotto Karas.

It’s by tradition that Cotto, since he started his pro career in 2001, comes to the venue a little earlier to watch some of the action. It could be some sort of a psychological warm-up and only one other boxer shared that habit with him.

Larry Merchant, the ageless fight analyst, said that boxer is no less than Ali.

Pacquiao came in a few minutes later, with more family members and friends in tow. Still, there was his famous entourage which the fight commentators said make Pacquiao surroundings more like a circus the whole day.

On the giant screens inside the venue, as Yuri Foreman and Daniel Santos were trading heavy blows, Pacquiao was shown inside his dressing room, taking some instructions from his chief trainer.

Then the Filipino superstar was shown with his hands being wrapped by his cutman, Miguel Diaz, as someone who appeared to be a member of Team Cotto watched closely. He was smiling as usual.

By this time, Cotto’s hands were done, and the Puerto Rican was already in his fight uniform, shadow boxing inside his own hideout. He appeared to be in great shape. Later on, the hands of both boxers were checked and signed by the commission.

Richie Mepranum of Saranggani broke the ice for the Filipinos won a split decision over Ernie Marquez in their six-round, junior lightweight contest. Eden Sonsona followed suit, knocking out Eilon Kedem of New York in the second round of their bantamweight clash.

Notes: The gates to the arena opened at 3 o’clock, and shortly after came a steady flow of fight fans. Three hours later the opening bouts took place, and the arena, which could house 17,000 started to look like an entertainment center... It was packed an hour before the evening’s main bout started, The fans came in all shapes, color and style, but it was a big, beautiful, gorgeous crowd... Vehicular traffic was heavy in the streets surrounding the MGM, and inside the grand hotel, the sight of many memorable fights, human traffic was even heavier. It was a common sight, people looking for spare tickets to the fight, and willing to pay more.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada : Manny Pacquiao hopes his stunning victory Saturday over Miguel Cotto will put him in line for a mega welterweight showdown against Floyd Mayweather in 2010.

Filipino southpaw Pacquiao showed he is ready to lead boxing's revival by taking Cotto's World Boxing Organization belt and claiming his seventh world title in seven different weight classes.

He scored a final-round technical knockout, putting the Puerto Rican champion down as the referee stopped the onslaught 55 seconds into the 12th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Under siege from mixed martial arts, boxing has seen its fan base shrink in the past few years.

With his stunning demolition of his last three opponents, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and now Cotto, Pacquiao has become the face of the sport even making the front page of the Asian edition of Time magazine this month.

What better way to showcase the sport's newest poster boy than to have a pound-for-pound showdown between Pacquiao and American Mayweather.

"That is the fight the whole world wants to see," said Paquiao's trainer Freddie Roach.

Asked after the Cotto fight if he wanted Mayweather next, Pacquiao said, "My job is to fight and it depends on promoter Bob Arum to negotiate that."

Pacquiao said earlier in the week he doesn't think Mayweather will step up to the plate and called him a boring boxer.

"Boxing for him is like a business. He doesn't care about people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring as long as the fight is finished and he gets his money," Pacquiao said.

Roach said even if Mayweather agrees to a deal, the fight won't take place at any cost.

"If Floyd wants a 65-35 (purse) split then he is not going to get it," Roach said.

Heading into the Cotto fight, Pacquiao looked relaxed all week even smiling and waving as he climbed into the ring.

Underdog Cotto was the more serious of the two knowing the odds were stacked against him and his best hope for a win was to be the aggressor and try to land his savage left hook.

Pacquiao's game plan against Cotto was to engage him from the opening bell try to land an early shot and take away the champion's confidence.

While he didn't stick to the script entirely, Pacquiao did what he had to do in the first round to figure out his opponent and then break him down with his superior hand speed and boxing skills.

Pacquiao's confidence increased after the third round when he realized he could take Cotto's punches without losing any steam. In the fifth, he switched from being the aggressor to counter-puncher, landing several hard blows as Cotto tried to spin away from exchanges.

"I couldn't see where the punches were coming from," a bloodied Cotto said in the ring before heading off to the hospital for x-rays and treatment of cuts and bruises.

When he didn't get the knockout he wanted in the sixth and seventh rounds, Pacquiao appeared to carry Cotto into the later rounds, hoping to catch him with a flurry in the final minute of a round that would finish the fight. Either that or he was hoping the referee would evoke the mercy rule.

Roach said all week he didn't think Cotto's corner would be able to make adjustments very well in the middle of the fight and there seemed to be confusion among Cotto's handlers about when, and if, to the stop the fight.

"I would have stopped the fight if I was his corner man," Roach said of Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago.

"Once he (Cotto) started running he gave up and he was looking for way out. I would have given him one. I wouldn't have let him take a beating."

- AFP /ls

LAS VEGAS: Filipino Manny Pacquiao made history by becoming the first fighter to win seven world titles in as many weight classes with a stunning 12th round technical knockout of Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao looked unstoppable for the third consecutive fight, knocking Cotto down twice in the early rounds on Saturday before putting the finishing touches on in the 12th round to claim Cotto's World Boxing Organization welterweight title.

The Filipino dominated from the second round on, putting on a stunning display of boxing skills and laying a savage beating on the champion at the MGM Grand hotel and casino.

Referee Kenny Bayless finally stopped the slaughter 55 seconds into the final round with Cotto unable to defend himself from Pacquiao's lightning quick combinations.

"I tried my best to knock him out," Pacquiao said. "I thought in 11th round they would stop the fight. I am surprise he continued to fight."

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) solidified his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

He also looked unstoppable in his two previous victories, dominating Oscar De La Hoya in December 2008 before destroying Ricky Hatton in just two rounds in May.

This was only his second fight as a welterweight as he is now being lined up for a blockbuster fight against American Floyd Mayweather.

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"Everybody was saying he was bigger and stronger than me so I wanted to try and test his power," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao opened slowly in the opening round before switching to his up tempo style in the second and then knocking Cotto down for the first time in the third.

In the next round Pacquiao scored another knockdown, this time sending Cotto sprawling across the centre of the ring by landing a left hook.

"I fought everybody and Manny is one of the best all time," said Cotto, who suffered just the second loss of his brilliant career. "He jabs and throws. I didn't know from where the punches were coming and I didn't protect myself from the punches."

- AFP/sc

LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao knocked down Miguel Cotto twice and turned his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him 55 seconds into the 12th round Saturday to win his seventh title in seven weight classes.

The Filipino star used his blazing speed and power from both hands to cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.

Cotto took such a beating that his face was a river of red from the fury of Pacquiao’s punches but he refused to quit even as his corner tried to throw in the towel after the 11th round.

The fight was billed as a 145-pound classic, and in the early rounds it didn’t disappoint. The two went after each other with a vengeance and Cotto more than held his own as they traded punches in the center of the ring.

Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hand early in the third round, but he wasn’t badly hurt and came back to finish the round strong. But after Pacquiao put Cotto on the
canvas with a big left hand as Cotto was advancing forward late in the fourth round, the Puerto Rican was never the same again.

“Our plan was not to hurry but to take our time,” Pacquiao said. “It was a hard fight tonight and I needed time to test his power.”

Cotto fought gamely but in the later rounds he was just trying to survive as blood flowed down his face and Pacquiao kept coming after him relentlessly. In the 12th, Cotto went back out to take even more punishment before a final flurry along the ropes prompted referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight.

Cotto’s face was swollen, blood was flowing from his nose and his cuts, and he simply couldn’t stop Pacquiao from bouncing inside and throwing both hands at will.

“I didn’t know from where the punches were coming,” Cotto said. “Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers I ever fought.”

Pacquiao, coming off spectacular wins over Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, added another one against Cotto, who had lost only once and held the WBO version of the welterweight title.

Pacquiao did it in trademark fashion, throwing punches in flurries and from all angles until Cotto began to slow down and then pursuing him relentlessly until the fight finally ended.

The fight will likely set up an even bigger fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and many in the capacity crowd at the MGM Grand arena began chanting “We want Floyd! We want Floyd” after the fight ended.

“I want to see him fight Mayweather,” trainer Freddie Roach said.

Mayweather may have second thoughts after Pacquiao did what no other fighter has done before and win a belt in a seventh weight class.

More impressive, though, is how he has fought, dismantling opponents despite moving up consistently in weight.

The welterweight ranks will be the last ones Pacquiao conquers, though. He said he will not move up any more in weight.

History

“This is the last weight division for me,” Pacquiao said. “It’s history for me and more importantly a Filipino did it.”

Pacquiao was credited with landing almost twice as many punches - 336-172 - as Cotto. He earned a minimum $13 million for the win, while Cotto got $7 million Pacquiao was favored, largely off his last two performances in which he forced De La Hoya to quit on his stool and then knocked out Hatton with a huge left hook in the second round.

Back home, President Arroyo enjoined the public to emulate the grit and determination to win against any odds shown by boxing champion Manny Pacquiao who triumphed against Puerto Rican fighter Miguel Cotto Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday Manila time).

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Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President was unable to watch the boxing match due to tight schedules at the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Singapore, but she joins all Filipinos and supporters of Pacquiao worldwide in celebrating his victory.

“Once again, Filipino grit and determination triumphed over great odds. May this serve as inspiration to the entire Filipino nation especially the youth that there is no limit
to our capacity for success for as long as we work hard, put our hearts and focus our minds to achieve our goals,” Remonde said, quoting Arroyo.

She cited that Pacquiao trained long and hard for the fight, and imposed stringent self discipline, persevered, and “placed himself in the hands of God.”

“I hope we all learn from his example so that, together, we can also move forward as a nation,” she said. (AP/Sunnex)



Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 16, 2009.

Pacquiao knocks out Cotto in 12th. Manny Pacquiao put on yet another dominating performance Saturday night, knocking down Miguel Cotto twice in the first four rounds and turning his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him 55 seconds into the 12th round.

Pacquiao used his blazing speed and power from both hands to win his seventh title in seven weight classes and cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Cotto took such a beating that his face was a river of red from the fury of Pacquiao’s punches.

Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hand early in the third round, but he wasn’t badly hurt and came back to finish the round strong. But after Pacquiao put Cotto on the canvas with a big left hand as Cotto was advancing forward late in the fourth round, Cotto was never the same again.

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Cotto fought gamely but in the later rounds he was just trying to survive as blood flowed down his face and Pacquiao kept coming after him relentlessly.

Source: http://www.nierva.com/cotto-vs-pacquiao-fight-results-video/

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports 2 hours, 17 minutes ago

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao staked his claim atop boxing’s mythical throne as the pound-for-pound best, using his lightning hand speed to beat and batter Miguel Cotto into submission Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao knocked Cotto down once in the third round and again in the fourth, pummeled him repeatedly and easily lifted the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from the Puerto Rican with a 12th-round stoppage. The time was 55 seconds into the final round, as referee Kenny Bayless leaped between the fighters to save Cotto a more savage beating and ignominious end.

Cotto came out strong and landed some hard punches, but Cotto couldn’t deal with the speed. Pacquiao was landing three shots for every two Cotto did early. After the knockdown in the fourth, Cotto’s offense was nonexistent as he spent most of the last two thirds of the fight fending off Pacquiao’s onslaught.

Cotto landed in single digits in power shots in every round from the fifth forward.

Pacquiao nearly had the stoppage after the 11th when Cotto trainer Joe Santiago walked onto the ring apron and waved his hand at Bayless.

It appeared he was going to stop the fight, but then Bayless and ringside physician James Game spoke and allowed it to continue. It was only extending the misery as Pacquiao poured it on in the 12th.

When the fight ended, the crowd began to chant, “We want Floyd!” It was a reference to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other man with a claim to the top of the boxing pound-for-pound list.

Pacquiao, who has won championship belts in five divisions and beat the linear champion in two others, can no longer be knocked as a small man who was beating washed up fighters.

In Cotto, he took on an elite and powerful welterweight whose only loss came under suspicious circumstances to Antonio Margarito last year. There is suspicion that Margarito’s gloves were loaded for that fight, though it has never been proven.

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But Pacquiao proved he was able to not only take a welterweight punch, but rock him repeatedly. It was a magnificent performance and will create public demand for a fight with Mayweather.

“I want to see him fight Mayweather,” Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said.

Santiago said Pacquiao hit harder and was stronger than expected. Cotto injured his left shoulder in the eighth.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-pacmanwins111409&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Boxing Writer 1 hour, 11 minutes ago

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Manny Pacquiao’s speed and power were way too much for Miguel Cotto’s heart.

Pacquiao put on yet another dominating performance Saturday night, knocking down Cotto twice and turning his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him at 55 seconds of the 12th round.

The Filipino star used his blazing speed and power from both hands to win his seventh title in seven weight classes and cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Cotto took such a beating that his face was a river of red from the fury of Pacquiao’s punches, but he refused to quit even as his corner tried to throw in the towel after the 11th round.

“I didn’t know from where the punches were coming,” Cotto said.

The fight was billed as a 145-pound classic, and in the early rounds it didn’t disappoint. The two went after each other with a vengeance and Cotto more than held his own as they traded punches in the center of the ring before a roaring sellout crowd at the MGM Grand arena.

Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hand early in the third round, but he wasn’t badly hurt and came back to finish the round strong. But after Pacquiao put Cotto on the canvas with a big left hand late in the fourth round, the Puerto Rican was never the same again.

Cotto won two rounds on the scorecards of two ringside judges and just one round on the card of the third. The Associated Press gave Cotto just the first round.

“Our plan was not to hurry, but to take our time,” Pacquiao said. “It was a hard fight tonight and I needed time to test his power.”

Cotto’s face was marked early and he was bleeding midway through the fight as Pacquiao kept bouncing around and throwing punches in his unorthodox southpaw style. He tried to keep taking the fight to Pacquiao, but by then his punches had lost their sting and his only real chance was to land a big punch from nowhere.

“He hit harder than we expected and he was a lot stronger than we expected,” Cotto’s trainer, Joe Santiago, said.

Cotto fought gamely, but in the later rounds he was just trying to survive as blood flowed down his face and Pacquiao came after him relentlessly. Santiago tried to stop the fight after the 11th round, but Cotto went back out to take even more punishment before a final flurry along the ropes prompted referee Kenny Bayless to end it.

Cotto’s wife and child, who were at ringside, left after the ninth round, unable to watch the beating any longer. They later accompanied him to a local hospital for a post-fight examination.

“My health comes first. I just want to make sure I’m fine, but I feel great. I’m swollen but that’s all,” Cotto said.

His face swollen, Cotto was bleeding from his nose and his cuts, and he simply couldn’t stop Pacquiao from bouncing inside and throwing both hands at will.

“Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers I ever fought,” Cotto said.

Pacquiao, coming off of spectacular wins over Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, added another one against Cotto, who had lost only once and held the WBO version of the welterweight title.

Pacquiao did it in his trademark way, throwing punches in flurries and from all angles until Cotto began to slow down. Then he pursued him nonstop until the end.

The fight likely will set up an even bigger one against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and many in crowd were already chanting, “We want Floyd! We want Floyd.”

“I want to see him fight Mayweather,” trainer Freddie Roach said.

Mayweather may have second thoughts after Pacquiao did what no fighter has done before—win a belt in a seventh weight class. More impressive, though, is how he has fought, dismantling opponents despite moving up consistently from 106 pounds to the 144 he weighed for the fight.

The welterweight ranks will be the last ones Pacquiao conquers, though.

“This is the last weight division for me,” Pacquiao said. “It’s history for me and more importantly a Filipino did it.”

He was so dominant in the later rounds that Cotto was fighting backward most of the way, simply trying to survive. Pacquiao was credited with landing almost twice as many punches—336-172—as Cotto.

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“I knew when Cotto started backing up, the fight was over,” Roach said.

Pacquiao earned a minimum $13 million, while Cotto got $7 million.

Pacquiao was favored, largely off his last two performances in which he forced De La Hoya to quit on his stool and then knocked out Hatton with a huge left hook in the second round. Some in boxing, including Roach, thought Cotto had been slowed by his devastating loss last year to Antonio Margarito and would be further slowed by having to come in 2 pounds lower than his normal weight.

That wasn’t the case early in the fight, with Cotto winning the first round and fighting well. Once he was knocked down by a big left hand late in the fourth round, though, he slowed noticeably.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AuwUtBvdAtMeVK.vshQTjcedCIh4?slug=ap-pacquiao-cotto&prov=ap&type=lgns

In an amazing, violent fight, Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) stopped WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) in round twelve to win another world title in an unprecedented seventh weight division on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Both fighters were on the attack from the opening bell. Pacman dropped Cotto with a right hook in round three. Cotto dominated round four, but was dropped by a left uppercut at the end of the round. Cotto fought courageously but was rocked again in the sixth by Pacman’s hurtful shots coming in from all angles. Cotto began to box from the outside in the seventh with some success. However, Pacquiao continued to stalk him and break him down. Cotto was in survival mode down the stretch. Referee Kenny Bayless finally waved in off in round twelve. Time was :55.

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Source: fightnews.com

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(Photos by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Nov. 13, both Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto made weight for their 145 lb catch-weight title fight.

WBO welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto who will be putting his strap on the line, came in at a trim 145 lbs

Manny Pacquiao who will be the challenging for the WBO title came in at 144 lbs, the heaviest weight of his career.

This will be Manny Pacquiao’s 7th title shot at a 7th different weight class, if he wins he could make history as the first fighter to win 7 titles in 7 different weight divisions.

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The WBC diamond belt for catch-weights will also be on the line.

The boxing match will take place at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. HBO pay per view will broadcast the event live! The pay per view event starts at 6pm PT.

Source: http://www.nowboxing.com/archives/4273#more-4273

 

 

 

 

 

 

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By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Nov 2009

Las Vegas, NV:- Top Rank held the weigh in for the gladiators fighting tomorrow at the MGM Grand Garden Arena moments ago.

Miguel Cotto, the Boricua from Puerto Rico came in right on the nose:- 145lbs. Pacquiao, the challenger was a pound less at 144 lbs.

The rest of the weigh results are as follows:

Troy Rowland -- 159lbs vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. -- 160lbs

Yuri Foreman -- 154 lbs vs Daniel Santos -- 154 lbs

Jesus Soto-Karass -- 147.5lbs vs Alfonso Gomez -- 146.5lbs

Martin Vierra -- 152lbs vs Rodrigo Garcia -- 150lbs

Eilon Kedem -- 119.5lbs vs Eden Sonsona -- 121lbs

Mustafah Johnson -- 158lbs vs Matt Korobov -- 160.5

Ernie Marquez -- 112lbs vs Richi Mepranum -- 112lbs

Lupe Guzman -- 134.5lbs vs Abner Cotto -- 133lbs

The event could have been “uneventful’ if not for the sharp verbal exchanges between Freddie Roach and Joe Santiago, Santiago said something that did not sink in too well with Roach and the Wildcard Gym master charged towards Santiago. But, as they go in these events, cooler heads prevailed and the two trainers were separated.

At this writing, we are still looking for people who heard what was said and as soon as we get to the meat of that exchange, we will post it in this site.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-29618.html