No More Excuses! Pacquiao Makes History with Masterful Performance Over Cotto
Pound-for-Pound King Manny Pacquiao delivered a masterful performance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas as he demolished former WBO Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto en route to collecting an unprecedented seventh title in as many weight divisions.
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photo: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press
So what would be the excuse this time? Oscar De La Hoya was shot and drained that any regular Joe who knows a little about boxing could have beaten the living daylights out of him while Ricky Hatton’s camp problems and overtraining did him in leading to that second round snoozefest, and so on and so forth.
Certainly, non-believers stressed, those things won’t be happening to Miguel Cotto as he will be the only true and young welterweight that Manny Pacquiao has faced thus far, whose size and power will prove to be too much for the naturally smaller man who by their accounts have finally bitten off more than he could chew this time around.
Well, the Boricua bomber appeared to be the true welterweight indeed as proven by his more massive frame, but his size and power wasn’t enough to deter the Filipino boxing superstar from using his own speed and power as he conducted a systematic demolition job en route to making boxing history by picking up his seventh title in as many weight divisions courtesy of the WBO Welterweight title.
Give Credit Where It’s Due.
Freddie Roach once lamented during a conference call earlier this month that some members of the media are not giving credit where it’s due. Excuses always crop up each time Pacquiao dominates his bigger opponents well as these concerns were never mentioned prior to the aforementioned fights. He asked the assembled press during the conference call that why isn’t it mentioned enough that the Pacman had a great night and was in fact the one responsible for making his opponents look mediocre and not because they had a bad night or whatever excuses there are.
Naysayerswill find it difficult to find an excuse this time as Pacquiao has beaten a legitimate welterweight who was both younger and bigger than the division-hopping Filipino. The Puerto Rican former champion was baffled all night long by the Filipino’s speed, power, and punches that seem to come out of nowhere through all sorts of weird angles, that he was virtually dominated in the score cards save for perhaps a round or two depending on the judges’ perspective. The fight never went to the cards however as referee Kenny Bayless mercifully called a stop to the bout at the 0:55 mark of the 12th and final round.
So what will the excuse be this time? The 145-pound catchweight? Even Cotto himself said that the 2-pound diffrerence is perfectly fine with them which is why they agreed to take on this fight in the first place.
Masterful Execution.
Pacquiao’s left straight kept on ramming through the middle and finding Cotto’s mug all night long. A left upper cut also landed flush on the Puerto Rican’s jaw in the fourth round which sent him wobbling into his second knockdown of the night. Cotto went to his corner after that round looking completely baffled and for the first time in the fight there was a palpable look of resignation on his face. Apparently, they made the fatal mistake that others before them have also paid for dearly and the realization only sunk in after they tasted the canvass twice in the first four rounds. They underestimatedManny Pacquiao and his ability to bring his speed and power despite moving up in weight.
“He hit harder than we expected,” Cotto’s trainer Joe Santiago said in an article by the New York Times. “He was stronger than we expected. Manny broke him down.”
A change of strategy by the Puerto Rican in the fifth and sixth rounds did not help as the vaunted ‘Manila Ice’ right hook of the Pacman repeatedly found its mark when Cotto overly-emphasized on defending against Pacquiao’s dreaded left which has already tagged him several times earlier.
The seventh round onwards progressively turned into a bicycle chase for Pacquiao as Cotto backpedaled from round to round. The Pacman was visibly exasperated as he stopped chasing the former champion several times and egged him on to stop dancing and engage him in a fight. At this point it was apparent that the proud Puerto Rican was just trying to survive and it was just pride keeping him on his feet. Freddie Roach’s mind gamesmay have affected Cotto’s corner so much that they never bothered to try and call for a halt to the punishment that their ward was getting at the expense of his long-term safety and stability, lest they fulfill Roach’s prediction that Pacquiao will make Cotto quit before the fight is over.
By the end of the fight Miguel Cotto’s face was a swollen mask of pain and punishment that we were reminded of the horrendous beating that he received from the supposedly loaded handsof Antonio Margarito last year. We wonder if that played with Cotto’s thoughts throughout the fight as he apparently was on survival mode in the last few rounds when he went to his bicycle in order to avoid the relentless pursuit of the Filipino.
Props to Miguel Cotto however as he sucked it up and tried to finish the fight on his feet despite the fact that he was well behind on the cards and was taking a terrible beating. Any lesser fighter may have already quit on his stool or something when faced with such a winless prospect.
The classy fighter went up to Pacquiao’s corner after the stoppage and embraced the new champion in a show of profound respect which the two gentlemanly warriors have always accorded each other since day one.
“I didn’t know from where the punches were coming,” Cotto was quoted in an article by the BBC. “Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers I ever fought.”
Will Mayweather Step Up?
With his demolition job of the well-respected former WBO Welterweight champion, Manny Pacquiao once again proved that he is the best boxer of this era and certainly would be in serious consideration in the all-time great discussions. His remaining fights in the ring however may already be numbered as he is seriously contemplating on fighting in a different arena, this time the political kind, starting next year.
His record would already speak for itself and he certainly doesn’t need the money anymore but it would really be a treat if the fight that everybody has been asking for would materialize before he’s done – the much-fantasized superfight with former pound-for-pound holder Floyd Mayweather Jr.
After the fight, when the Pacman was interviewed by legendary boxing commentator Larry Merchant, the fans chanted “We want Floyd” in reference to Mayweather as Pacquiao’s next opponent. The ever-cordial Pacquiao said that he would leave the matter with Top Rank. Trainer Freddie Roach however made no bones about it and said without hesitation that they want Mayweather next as it is the fight that everybody obviously wants to see.
So how about it? Will Mayweather finally step up? And please, no excuses.
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30 Comments
He’s a Gayweather… a Gay road runner
WHERE ARE ALL THE PAC HATERS/DOUBTERS?
To all those who said that cotto will lose only if he had an off night, COTTO DID NOT HAVE AN OFF NIGHT IN THE FIGHT. He moved well. he even showed amazing speed in his combinations and used well angled shots which tagged the pac. His head movement was superb, evading some of pacs 3-4-5 punch combinations. He did not have an off night. Pacquiao beat a prime, young welterweight in Miguel Cotto. No excuses.
AMEN!
excellent article!!!!! A+++
Nicely written article. Cotto fought really well in the first round – much quicker hand speed and head snapping jabs to boot. All three judges gave Cotto the round. And somehow, I thought that that would be the pace of the fight all night.
The form of Cotto in Round 1 could have beaten any top fighter. I guess Manny just proved why he’s worthy of being considered an all-time Great. I know Bob Arum loves hyperboles. But on this night, Placing Manny Pacquiao in the same sentence as Armstrong, Ali, Hearns, Hagler, Leonard, and Duran made sense. Cotto wasn’t an average fghter. Manny was just that good.
No shame in Cotto’s performance. No one can question Cotto’s heart and determination whether Margarito took something away from him. The ghost of Margarito is a myth. Any other fighter would have quit on his stool after the seventh round. Cotto still mustered the courage to fight.
But maybe, Cotto was just too brave for his own good. At a time when a fighter is digging deep, relying on his instincts to survive, the corner should have stepped in and invoked common sense. Cotto is valiant which is a mark of a true champion. But that virtue should not cost him his long-term health.
Exciting fight as it lived up to the hype so much so that you could forgive the terrible undercard.
“Fight of the Year” – it has to be.
I think the critics of manny pacquiao has one more excuse this time, that cotto is a damaged fighter after his fight with margarito, i would like to remind those cirtics that cotto was leading the fight from rd. 1 to 6 or 7, threw everything to margarito including the kitchen sink and he did not hurt him, simply put, cotto just run out of steam in that fight
Great article!! no excuses should be made.
Pac-mayweather needs to happen but we also know the craftiness of floyd in making excuses…i bet he’ll use the purse split as an issue…PBF depriving the fans of another great fight -that’s not new to him, he don’t even care…. as he said to the Rugged Man.
Cotto is done and over with! Where are you at Pachaters? Floydfans, where’s your boy toy floydy? In hiding?
Manny is a G.O.A.T! For Sure! paqkyukayo
EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!! EAT CROW YOU DOUBTERS!!!
Manny didn’t just beat a prime, young welterweight. He beat a world CHAMPION with only one questionable loss in his career.
And he didn’t win a close fight (despite his size disadvantage). He busted Cotto up, ran him ragged and ultimately broke his will.
What did Manny prove on this fight? He’s carried his power and speed to welterweight. He can perfectly execute a game plan. And he can, I mean he CAN, take a welterweight punch.
Mayweather, you’re next. Show up or be forever branded a runner.
Time to eat ur crap SANTIAGO…go write on the comics section from now on.
I hope im wrong what i see mayweather will never take risk fighting pacquiao.we know floyd not a high risk taker so im not expecting mayweather pacquiao will happen.
Lets hear it from those who predicted Manny will lose- Oscar de la Hoya, Eric Marks of Doghouse, Lester Salvador of NowBoxing, Tony Montgomery o f Braggy Rights, Vivek Wallace of Examiner.
So quite guys????
hey manay perez… i think it’s time for us to quit. unless we don’t have balls
Let’s add to the list Roger Mayweather who said that he will “be shocked” if Pacquiao will win… or maybe, we can give him some more time since maybe… he’s still in a “state of shock”. Hope he’ll recover in time…he he
Pacman Rules!
Take a hike Liam Santiago! and while you’re at it why don’t you take Joe Santiago (any relation?) with you and go join the ranks of the unemployed!
You listen and you listen good! Next time don’t bet your ass against a manok na may malungay & bistek tagalog-powered Filipino who’s seen the very bottom in this dog-eat-dog, corruption-infested, God forsaken country that we love anyway called the Philippines!
Compared to staring at misery and deprivation straight in the eye, fighting in the ring for the Pacman is child’s play, regardless of who is on the opposing corner. And they’re even paying him insane money for doing this? No wonder the Pacman is all smiles everytime he steps into the ring…. Kaching!
The Pacman is on an entirely different level right now and we’re excited to see if Gayweather will put his money where his mouth is. Come on, fight the Pacman and give us the pleasure of seeing him shut you and your steroid-slandering, stuttering poet of a father’s mouths up!
No other Pinoy makes us so proud like the Pacman does! Thank you Manny!
If mayweather will not accept the fight against pacman then he’s exposed chicken runner.
If there are no fighters left on welterweight i think pacman should jump to jr middleweight or middleweight. Shawn Porter was pacman’s sparring partner, i think he can bring speed and power up to middleweight..
If mayweather will not accept the fight against pacman then he’s exposed chicken runner.
If there are no fighters left on welterweight i think pacman should jump to jr middleweight or middleweight. Shawn Porter was pacman’s sparring partner, i think he can bring speed and power up to middleweight..
BEWARE of pacWOW!!!
I am scared of pacman now. I think pacman absorbs all the power and speed of his opponents and used it to his next victim.
OR
I think pacman is not a human anymore. He was made by a mad master (Mad Freddie Roach) mixing up all strengths and speed in one body. Beware to all title holders of boxing, Mad Roach unleashed a monster or an alien boxer that will get all the titles in the world. Retire now or face the end.
I almost won a lottery when I predicted that I would be going to witness a deadly lift off once again. When Manny landed that 105mm shell to Cotto chin in 4th round, whew! I thought his feet lift off the canvass but he was too heavy, Manny failed to lift him on the air and drop like a heavy log. Cotto was really heavy for Manny to do that stuff he once did against Fasahn 3K Battery. But Manny throw off his spirit out of hid body after that powerful left. He reminded Cotto everything! Salute you Manny… Mabuhay ka!
Yeah! no excuses… GOD is with you MP
manny’s 1st loss: he was overconfident & was just a teen back then (18years old or something), a lucky punch landed to his chin by a veteran filipino boxer) 2nd loss: he already lose that fight & for not making the weight limit but still he fought weight drained & the thailander took advantage with hard shots to the body, 3rd loss: accidental head butt with morales made him missed some of his punches but i say it was a close fight in their 1st encounter — look at him now, he’s regenerated & tremendously improved w/ supervision of coach roach…pound for pound pacman is the best in this era no doubt about it,
You forgot the biggest mayweather loyalists and american patriots KEVIN IOLE, PERCY CRAWFORD. Since MP’s DLH demolition job IOLE already has his writing biases well just ask Dennis D Source Guillermo and he would tell you endless evidences. AND PERCY IS MAYWEATHER’s ASS ITSELF…
Do you know where is the WRITER named TONY MONTGOMERY? Heres a quote on 1 of his few articles before the fight….
“So you are a Manny Pacquiao fan and you are 100% certain he is not just going to beat Miguel Cotto, but he is going to absolutely crush him! Well, Manny Pacquiao fans, I’ve got news for you. You are not just wrong, you are dead wrong! I realize that Manny Pacquiao is one of the most popular fighters on the planet, but after having spoken with plenty of his fans, I have realized that so many of you are Manny Pacquiao fans, but not fans of boxing. You only watch one fighter and only know what you read and believe what you want to believe.”
So TONY MONGOMERY? What can you say now? Whos ignorant now? You should stop writing now and start looking for a new job casue as a boxing analyst, you SUCK!!!!
Pacquiao win because… he is too fast, too much, too good for Cotto. Cotto don’t have a bad night its just Pacquiao has a good night, weight is not a problem to Cotto you can see it from 1 – 3 he’s fast and quick at that round but all things change when Pac landed a powerful left hook/uppercut in round 4 that make cotto kiss the canvass. The Trainer of Cotto ? Joe is very confident that Cotto will smash Pac to death (from what he said to 24/7) but he start to panic when see cotto crawling like a baby.
Good stuff. I predicted a Manny win, but did think that Cotto’s power would have been more of a factor. Manny has improved so much over the last 2-3 years though and his speed and movement couple with punching power was just too much.
Manny Pacquiao as the best boxer in the world!
It was the best fight in pacquiao history… but i just hope he decides to quit his political ambition… he’s a great boxer.. that’s it…! period…
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