It was only eight months ago that we were praising Manny Pacquiao’s win against our very own Brit fighter, Ricky Hatton. On the 14^th of November (the 15^th for us in LDN), Pacquiao faced the Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in a spectacular 12 round fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for the WBO Welterweight title belt. This marked his seventh world title and a different weight division.

Pacquiao started training for the match-up with Cotto in Baguio City, Philippines. It was a change of scenery compared to the hustle of the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. It was during this time in Baguio that they witnessed the destruction that the country endured from typhoons ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng’. With another typhoon expected to hit, Freddie Roach and Team Pacquiao decided to leave ahead of schedule and head back to LA.

The final weeks of training passed and the day of the weigh-in arrived. The weight division for the Welterweight Division was at the catch weight of 145 pounds. Cotto weighed exact and Pacquiao hit 144 pounds. Supporters remained split on who would be able claim the victory, with talk of Cotto being the bigger and stronger fighter, and that the agility and speed of Pacquiao would defeat Cotto. Pacquiao spoke of himself as being ‘the underdog’… the challenger of this particular fight as it was Cotto’s championship belt on the line. The fight would decide finally decide in the end who would be champion out of the two.

An exciting and stunning twelve round fight kept spectators at the sold-out MGM and a global pay per view audience on tenterhooks. Pacquiao proved to be the stronger fighter as he took the punches thrown by Cotto with ease. The Pacman’s dominance showed throughout as Cotto dropped to the ground in rounds 3 and 4, unable to handle his speed and power. As it progressed near to the end of the fight, Cotto looked a broken man with a swollen and bloody face. He was dazed in the ring as he tried to run backwards to keep up the stamina and ultimately avoid the dominant Pacquiao’s punches. It wasn’t till the final round and 55 seconds in to it, that the referee stopped the fight. Team Pacquiao thought that the fight should have been stopped earlier and were surprised that Cotto continued to fight.

Pacquiao fought aggressively as he had been told that Cotto was physically bigger and stronger. The strategy was not to hurry and to take his time as they knew he would counter.

Cotto admitted that he wasn’t aware where Pacquiao’s punches were coming from and that “Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers I ever fought.”

Winning this title meant that for the Pacman he would no longer move up in the weight divisions.

Pacquiao said that “This is the last weight division for me… It’s history for me and more importantly a Filipino did it.”

Pacquiao yet again proved why he is the number one pound for pound boxing champion. His biggest challenge is yet to come with talk of a March 13^th, 2010 fight against ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather Jnr, which looks to be confirmed and formally announced next week.

Will the Pacman have met his match? Let us know!

Posted on 12 December 2009 by Lani in Sport

Tagged boxing, floyd mayweather jnr, freddie roach, manny pacquiao, wbo welterweight championship