Using speed, power and wit, Pacquiao beats bigger Cotto

Outpunching a taller and heavier opponent yet again, Manny Pacquiao this time needed all 12 rounds to win by technical knockout (TKO) over a bloodied Miguel Cotto in their “Firepower" match Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Earning his seventh weight division title and still peaking at age 30, the national icon cemented his status as one of the greatest boxers ever. Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight at 55 seconds of the 12th round after seeing Cotto being pummeled by Pacquiao at the ropes. "Miguel Cotto is one tough opponent. He took a lot of punches but still wouldn't go down that easily," said Pacquiao, who suffered a right swollen ear, after the fight. Pacquiao collected his seventh world title with the win as he snatched Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown and the diamond-studded World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt, an honorary championship for elite boxers. The General Santos City native Pacquiao – who started fighting as a 106-lb in the strawweight division – also holds the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight crown. He previously ruled the WBC light weight, WBC super featherweight, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight, WBC flyweight and RING Magazine’s featherweight divisions. He, however, declined to give a glimpse of his future. “I’m not yet thinking of my next fight. I just want to enjoy this win first," said Pacquiao, who now holds a record of 50 wins, three losses and two draws. For Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach, the only one left out there to challenge is Floyd Mayweather Jr. Cotto, his face bloodied and swollen, dropped to 34-2, becoming Pacquiao’s 38th KO victim. “Manny is really one of the best," he said. It was also the first loss for the Puerto Rican since absorbing an 11th round TKO loss against Antonio Margarito last year. Pacquiao’s recent triumph also extended his winning streak to 11 fights after yielding a 12-round decision setback to Erik Morales on March 19, 2005. Cotto was the aggressor in the match, having a good first round dictating the tempo to somehow contain Pacquiao’s opening attacks. But Pacquiao stuck with his game plan - to use his speed, be aggressive, continue his attack, and stay off the ropes - and seemed unfazed by Cotto’s power, quickly adjusting in the second round that saw several fierce exchanges between the two fighters. Cotto’s game plan of taking control of the match early, using his power and avoiding a slugfest with Pacquiao at close range seemed to work in the early rounds as he kept Pacquiao busy looking for better angles and openings. Pacquiao, like a diesel engine that needs to warm up, went to work in the third round with a left-right combination, dropping Cotto on his knees and was later given a standing eight count by referee Bayless. That did not rattle Cotto and the Puerto Rican retaliated with his own 1-2-3 combo before the end of the third. Pacquiao then pressed on with his attack in the fourth, targeting Cotto’s body and unleashing several powerful combos. Moments later, Cotto was once again down on his knees. After the fourth, Cotto's offense and game plan seemed to be a thing of the past as Pacquiao pounded the Puerto Rican’s face, making it swell and opening up several cuts around the eyes. Cotto trainer Joe Santiago seemed ready to throw in the towel at the end of the 11th but Bayless and ring-side physician James Gane talked for a while and decided to let the deposed champion continue with the fight. Pacquiao, sensing his imminent victory, poured it on in the 12th, catching Cotto near the corner. Seeing enough of the carnage, Bayless stepped in and signaled the stop of the fight as jubilation erupted in Pacquiao’s corner and around the arena, with assistant trainer and long-time friend Buboy Fernandez giving the Filipino champ a victory ride around the ring. – Jonathan Perez, GMANews.TV