Win vs. Cotto 7th world title in as many weight divisions
BY JUN MEDINA SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

LAS VEGAS: Manny Pacquiao stopped World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in the final round of their bout by technical knockout to win a record seventh world title in as many weight classes, cementing his position as the best boxer of his era. Pacquiao knocked down a game and tough Cotto in the second and fourth rounds and dominated the fight throughout from there until referee Kenny Bayless stepped in 55 seconds into the 12th round to spare the big-hearted Puerto Rican from further harm.

“PacMan” to his legions of fans, he yielded only the first round, with Cotto starting aggressively and scoring repeatedly with jabs and several combinations.

But the smaller Pacquiao sprang into action midway through the second round, staggering the Puerto Rican with a left hook to the chin to take control of the fight.

He later said that he deliberately leaned on the ropes and allowed Cotto to flail away at him “to test” Cotto’s power and look for an opening for his own power shots.

His trainer Freddie Roach said that his prized student’s Muhammad Ali-like “rope-a-dope” tactic was not part of the game plan, but he allowed him to do the digression. He added that as the main man in the ring, Pacquiao knew what he was doing.

“Everybody was saying he was bigger and stronger than me, so I wanted to try and test his power,” the Filipino boxing superstar said of Cotto.

Roach said that Pacquiao demonstrated yet another facet of his greatness by standing up to a bigger and stronger natural welterweight like Cotto—and proving that he was the stronger puncher and the better boxer.

“Manny is the greatest boxer of his era, that’s for sure,” Roach said during the post-fight press conference.

Cotto was taken to the hospital as a precaution, on orders of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, although he was able to leave the ring on his own and rode the team bus out of the fight’s venue.

PacMan was generous in victory, describing Cotto as a “very good, strong fighter,” and even praised his foe’s courage since the Puerto Rican surprised him by taking so much punishment.

“Cotto is a tough opponent and he got hit lot of solid punches [but] he didn’t go down,” said Pacquiao, who had to have his ear drained of blood after the fight.

Fight statistics showed how one-sided the contest was: Pacquiao threw 780 punches and connected 335 of them for a 43-percent accuracy as against Cotto’s punch output of 597 of which only 172 found their mark for a 29-percent accuracy, according to Compubox.

In all Pacquiao dished out 560 power punches, with almost 276, or 49 percent inflicting damage on Cotto. The Puerto Rican had 300 power punches of his own, but only 93, or 31 percent found their mark.

Boxing greats

Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said that Pacquiao’s sensational win in scoring his seventh world title puts him in the same league as boxing greats Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Bert Sugar, American ring historian, who predicted an eighth-round technical knockout, said that Pacquiao’s legacy cannot be measured only by his seven titles but by the way he achieved them—fighting and winning convincingly against some of the best fighters of his generation.

“I personally consider Manny as one of the best southpaws in the history of boxing,” said Sugar, author of 60 books on boxing. “I think Pacquiao would easily make it among the top 100 boxers of all time, possibly among the top 25.”

Respected boxing commentator Larry Merchant of HBO said that by beating Cotto at his aggressive best, Pacquiao affirmed his stature as the “finest fighter of his generation.”

Merchant added that the Filipino icon’s greatness must be seen in the way he has gone up in weight and having fought the best fighters in the divisions.

Besides the sold-out live gate that netted $9 million, Arum said that attendance at closed-circuit venues at different hotels hit 15,335, helping boost the local economy that is reeling from recession.

Pacquiao said that he is humbled by comparisons made between him and some legendary players of the sport, adding he is just trying to do his best in the ring to “give happiness and enjoyment to people.”

“I thank God for the blessings he showers me. It is really amazing and just unbelievable,” he added. He dedicated his latest victory to his country and his compatriots.

Pacquiao sidestepped the question on who he wants to fight next, saying that he would let his promoter choose his next opponent as he takes a much-needed rest and spend time with his family in the Philippines.

Almost unstoppable

The Filipino icon also looked unstoppable in his two previous victories dominating the legendary Oscar De La Hoya in December 2008 before destroying Britain Ricky Hatton in just two rounds in May.

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

Cotto (34-2, 27 knockouts) praised Pacquiao by calling him the best fighter he has ever fought.

“I fought everybody and Manny is one of the best all time,” said the Puerto Rican, who suffered just the second loss of his superb career. “I didn’t know from where the punches were coming and I didn’t protect myself from the punches.”

It didn’t take Pacquiao long to systematically break down Cotto’s defense even going to the ropes at different times in the fight to recharge his batteries, confident he could weather any storm Cotto could whip up.

“Our plan was to not hurry and take our time early,” Pacquiao said. “We knew his strategy was to counter-punch. We were careful in early rounds.”

By the sixth round, Cotto’s face was showing signs of wear as both eyes became puffy. By the 11th round, the champion was bleeding from both the mouth and nose as his white trunks started turning a shade of red.

Cotto’s trainer Joe Santiago asked his fighter if he wanted to stop the fight after the eighth round and Cotto said no. His father, who works in his corner for every fight, tried to stop the fight after the 11th round but was voted down by the other members of the corner team.

By this time, Cotto’s family had had enough and his wife and young son sitting at ringside left the fight venue after the 11th round.

Cotto did not attend the post-fight news conference because he had to go to a Las Vegas hospital for treatment of his cuts and bruises and X-rays to see if there were any broken bones.
WITH REPORT FROM AFP