| Manny Pacquiao Defeats Cotto |
 Manny Pacquiao made history on Saturday night and became the only fighter to ever win 7 belts in 7 different weight classes. He further cemented his stature as one of boxing’s most legendary fighter. Pacquiao made an undisputed claim that he is truly the best pound for pound fighter in the world. The fight was promoted as firepower from two world class fighters, and in the early rounds both fighters didn’t disappoint the fans. In the first two rounds both fighters traded vicious punches at each other and Cotto even won the first round but it was all part of the game plan for team Pacquiao. "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." Pacquiao’s blazing speed and tremendous power finally dropped Cotto down the third round with a right hook but Cotto though a bit dazed was not badly hurt. It was in the seventh round when Manny’s powerful left hand put Cotto on the canvas and sealed the fate for Cotto. After the seventh round Cotto was not the same fighter and fought moving backwards just to survive. Cotto continue to fight sparingly while Pacquiao relentlessly chased him around to further damage Cotto’s face with precision scissor blade punches. Cotto's face was swollen from Pacquiao’s blinding speed and torrent of punches. His face flowed like a river of blood as Cotto’s camp tried feverishly to stop the bleeding after each round. Referee Kenny Bayless gave Pacquaio the TKO victory after calling the fight in the 12th and final round. After seeing Cotto take such a beating, one can’t but help but question whether the fight he lost to Margarito has forever damaged his career. "I didn't know from where the punches were coming," Cotto said. "Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers I ever fought." Pacquiao had silenced the critics that he got lucky fighting a bigger but dehydrated De La Hoya by beating Cotto at his natural weight class of welterweight and thus capturing the WBO welterweight title. Pacquiao won this title in typical Manny Pacquiao fashion throwing and landing a flurry of punches that connected 47% of the time he threw a punch. This win surely sets up the mega fight everyone has been waiting for against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and many fans at the soldout MGM Grand arena began shouting, “We want Floyd! We want Floyd after the fight had ended. Whether Mayweather will accept a fight against Pacquiao is still in question, especially seeing how Pacquiao dismantled Cotto like all his previous opponents from weight class starting at 106 to 144 pounds. Pacquiao did say that this will be his last weight class and will not move up any more weight class. "This is the last weight division for me," Pacquiao said. "It's history for me and more importantly a Filipino did it." Pacquiao has once again made his countrymen and countrywomen of the Philippines proud with this impressive win over Cotto and will surely return to the Philippines to a jubilant nation welcoming back their victorious warrior. Pacquiao will now have an even larger contingent of fans all across Asia, the United States, and the world. He has marveled the believers and doubters in the boxing world and saying he is legend is an understatement. Pacquiao won this fight which will earn him a minimum of $13 million while Cotto will take $7 million, but beyond money Pacquiao has shown us that fights for even greater purpose. Manny Pacquiao fights for his family, fans, and the proud people of the Philippines. |