Saturday November 14 2009 - MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.Manny Pacquiao claimed the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from Miguel Angel Cotto.
For the first few rounds Cotto came out stronger than expected, but got knocked down in the 3rd and 4th rounds. But from the 5th round going forward he remained fighting, if only to fend off Pacquiao's powerful punches. During the 11th round the fight was almost stopped, as Joe Santiago, Cotto's trainer, signaled to referee Kenny Bayless. But Cotto wished to fight until the end, and for that he has earned our respect. For the 12th and final round it only took 55 seconds into the fight for Bayless to jump in and stop it.
The crowd went wild, as did most Filipino onlookers from around the world.
Cotto's lips were swollen and his face was bleeding profusely, as Pacquiao was never knocked down and emerged from the fight with only a few scratches and bumps on his face.
Pacquiao has now won officially sanctioned belts in five divisions and has been regarded as a champion in seven.
“I think he is the greatest fighter I have seen,” said the 78 yr old Top Rank Chief Bob Arum. “Certainly the greatest of this era. There was a time in this country when boxing was mainstream, it really mattered, and Manny is helping to bring that back."
“Don’t be afraid to put this guy up there with the greats,” said trainer Freddie Roach. “What he is doing just doesn’t happen these days and boxing is lucky to have him."
“It is not for me to say where I am in the history of boxing,” said Pacquiao. “I just try to win my fights and represent my country. I don’t think too much about these things.”
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