FILIPINO boxing king Manny Pacquiao masterfully broke down Puerto Rican champion Miguel Angel Cotto throughout their encounter Sunday (in Manila) before referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bleeding with 55 seconds to go in the final round to secure his solitary place in boxing history by becoming the only boxer to annex world titles in seven different weight division.
And he did it in a very convincing and methodical manner that answered all doubts about his ability to dominate a talent-laden welterweight division and dismiss all doubters about his boxing greatness.
Pacquiao cut down Cotto with punishing hand speed and blinding footwork, knocking down the totally outclassed former champion in the third and fourth.
In the end it was no longer a question if Manny can take Cotto’s vaunted power. He repeatedly taunted the Puerto Rican to throw his best punches to the Filipino’s well-defended torso. He stood toe to toe with Cotto in the middle of the ring, on the ropes and in the corner.
Most of the times, Manny got the better of the exchanges and flurries by delivering short but crisp combinations.
Late in the fight, it was the Puerto Rican who avoided Manny’s scorching combinations, boxing himself out of harm’s way.
But there is no escaping Manny’s wrath.
He repeatedly staggered the former champion and the bout was almost stopped in the eleventh round when Manny had Cotto in queer streets which sent his trainer to the apron.
Referee Bayless allowed the fight to go on only to stop it in the last round after Cotto absorbed yet another flurry. Cotto lamely protested but the outcome was no longer in doubt.
The most exciting round of the evening was in the fourth when the two recalled the furious exchanges of Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler twenty five years ago.
Cotto rocked and staggered Pacquiao with several uppercuts and left hooks and was winning the round when he got tagged by a short left uppercut that sent him down to the canvass for the second time.
He was visibly hurt and survived another near knock down towards the end of the round.
A round earlier, Cotto was sent to his knees with a crisp right hook from Manny
His trainer later said Cotto injured his shoulder in the eight round.
That notwithstanding, it was all Pacquiao with only the first and, probably, the fifth rounds going for the dethroned champion.
Cotto, his face almost as grotesque as it was when Antonio Margarito stopped him, was never able to seriously hurt Manny despite delivering his signature left hooks.
He jabbed. He mixed it up with Manny. He boxed.
But he was not able to tee off and solve Manny’s premier strength: speed.
He also came to respect Manny’s power when he went down twice in the fight.
Where Cotto failed to solve Manny, the Filipino was perfect with his game plan albeit an unexpected one. Nobody ever thought he would stand in front of Cotto and offer himself for the Puerto Rican’s best punches.
But Manny being Manny is at best when he is unpredictable just as his punches are dumbfounding.
With his historical feat, Manny solidified his claim as the best boxer, pound for pound, in the planet.
His camp is calling out Floyd Mayweather Jr., who once held the title of boxing’s pound for pound king before he retired two years ago.
It is now undisputedly Manny’s title.
Should Mayweather insist he still is, he should fight the Filipino boxing phenomenon sooner, not later.
