Manny Pacquiao weighed 144 pounds, while Miguel Cotto weighed 145 in the Friday late afternoon weigh-in at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas."
Manny Pacquiao made history Saturday night. And in the process, made a mess of Miguel Cotto's face.
Pacquiao attacked Cotto with a ferocious barrage from the start, but especially throughout the second half of the fight, and finally had done so much damage that the referee stepped in and stopped the fight 55 seconds into the 12th round, giving Pacquiao a technical knockout and Cotto's WBO welterweight best.
UNDERCARD: Rabbi-to-be wins belt
It was Pacquiao's record seventh world title in his seventh different weight class. Nobody had ever won more than six. He also has held lineal titles in four weight classes and could stake a claim to the welterweight title with a win over Cotto, who has beaten Shane Mosley.
Pacquiao's incessant barrage gave him a big edge in total punches, 780 to Cotto's 597, according to CompuBox statistics. Cotto, whose left jab was effective when he used it, threw 297 to Pacquiao's 220. But Pacquiao clearly did not need to use his jab, being able to get inside on Cotto at will, especially when he got him on the ropes.
Pacquiao nearly doubled Cotto in power shots, landing 560 to Cotto's 300, and Cotto landed just single digits in power shots from the fifth round through the end of the fight.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said, "Manny fought Cotto's fight too much in the beginning and stayed on the ropes too long. As the fight went on, Manny's speed was too much for him. Manny dictated the fight. They should have stopped it three rounds sooner when Cotto began to run.
"We put pressure on him all night. That was our game plan."
Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a powerful left hook right near the end of the fourth round.
Cotto won the first and 10th rounds on each of the three judges' scorecards, but Pacquiao took the rest.
Asked if Cotto had hurt him, Pacquiao said, "Yes, sometimes. But I was very disciplined and stayed with the plan. We didn't panic."
Pacquiao said he needed time early in the fight to test Cotto's power. He also said as the fight went on, "I was looking for a one-shot knockout."
Asked after the fight who he wanted to fight next, Pacquiao said, "It's my job to fight in the ring. It's my promoter's job to make the fights.
"It was a hard fight, and this is the last weight division for me. I'm happy for my people in the Philippines and those here tonight."
Cotto was taken to the trauma unit after the fight, with 30 family and team members on his bus. He said he was sore, but felt pretty good, although his father had wanted the fight stopped well before it finally was. But Cotto wanted to fight on.
"I respected Manny before the fight and I respect a lot more now," Cotto said, both eyes nearly swollen shut. "He's probably the best fighter I ever fought."
Cotto's trainer, Joe Santiago, said he and his fighter were surprised by Pacquiao's strength. "Early on, Pacquiao took some good shots, which was a surprise. We knew he was fast, but he was a lot stronger than we thought."
While Pacquiao wouldn't say who he wanted to fight next, Roach wasn't nearly as bashful.
"Floyd Mayweather," the trainer said, without hesitation.
Round-by-round report
Round 1: Pacquiao in red trunks, Cotto in white. They feel each other out, fighting in the middle of the ring, which is where Pacquiao wants it. Cotto connects with a couple of left jabs, then counters with a left uppercut. Pacquiao scores with a left. Cotto connects with a couple lefts. Cotto using his jabs effectively. Pacquiao swings wildly and starts to go after Cotto, but Cotto ends the round with a nice combination. He wins the round. Cotto 10-9
Round 2: Pacquiao swings but misses, then after Cotto connects with a left, counters with a right. They exchange lefts, staying in the middle of the ring. Pacquiao connects on a combination, then nails Cotto with a left to the head. Cotto connects with a left hook and gets Pacquiao on the ropes, but he escapes. Pacquiao clearly the aggressor in this round. But both fighters connect on combinations, and both took punishment to the head. The last 30 seconds of the round was wild. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 3: The crowd yells "Manny-Manny, Manny." At 2:10 of the round, Pacquiao hurts Cotto with a right hook and Cotto goes down for the count. He was shaken. Cotto goes to the body and connects. Pacquiao connects with right jabs then a left. But a Cotto uppercut scores cleanly on Pacquiao's jaw. Wild action throughout. Pacquiao 10-9
Round 4: Pacquiao comes after Cotto right away with combinations, Pacquiao connects with a left uppercut, Cotto goes to the body, but Pacquiao comes after him. Cotto has him on the ropes and punishes him right near the end of the round, Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a powerful left hook. Great round for Pacquiao, Wild action throughoutt again. Relentless punching. Pacquiao 10-8
Round 5: Cotto starts out jabbing, but Pacquiao connects with a combination; Manny staggers Cotto with a right hook. It's hard to believe they can keep up this pace. Cotto gets Pacquiao on the ropes and staggers him with a left uppercut. Pacquiao chases him at the end of the round, but give this round to Cotto. Cotto 10-9
Round 6: Cotto looking quicker than most thought he would, but Pacquiao connects with a left hook; Pacquiao hitting Cotto at will in the head; Cotto connects with a left; Cotto in the center of the ring circles and connects on Manny. Right near the end of the round, Cotto connects with a left. There's a furious exchange at the end of the round, both men land solid punches. Great fight. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 7: Pacquiao connects with a left, then begins a furious exchange; both men connecting; Cotto using left jab well; Pacquiao connects with a left uppercut; again, Cotto uses the jab effectively, connecting several times; Cotto combination, then Pacquiao gets Cotto on the ropes and connects with a combination; round ends with Pacquiao nailing Cotto with a quick left; give the round to Cotto. Cotto 10-9.
Round 8: Cotto connects with left hook but doesn't hurt Pacquiao. Another combo by Cotto; Cotto again connects with a left jab. Pacquiao chasing him around the ring but gets Cotto in corner and connects with a left to the head. Powerful left hook by cotto; folloowed by a straight right; Pacquiao gets him on the ropes and punishes Cotto in the last 20 seconds of the round. Cotto looking weary. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 9: Cotto connects with a right uppercut, then connects with a combination; Pacquiao has Cotto on the ropes and begins a relentless barrage; Cotto taking great punishment; his right eye is nearly swollen shut. Big round for Pacquiao; not sure how much longer Cotto can take this kind of punishment. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 10: Pacquiao looking strong, pursues Cotto; connects with a right hook. Pacquiao headhunting on cotto; takes off on him every time he gets him near the ropes; again, Pacquiao delivers fierce combinations. Pacquiao ends the round with a solid right. Cotto's only hope at this point appears to be a knockout, but that looks unlikely as Pacquiao keeps getting stronger. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 11: Pacquiao gets Cotto in the corner and goes after him. Cotto taking great punishment; again Pacquiao gets him in the corner and tees off; Pacquiao exhorts Cotto to come and fight. Wild right misses by Pac. Cotto appears pretty helpless at this point. Cotto's corner wants to call the fight, but Cotto wants to go back for the 12th. And he does. 10-9 Pacquiao
Round 12: Pacquiao chases Cotto and goes in for the kill, but before he can, the referee calls the fight and it ends on a 12th round TKO for Pacquiao, who makes history by winning his seventh belt in his seventh different weight class. Cotto's face is a mess. Strong fight by Pacquiao. Is Mayweather next?
No comments:
Post a Comment