FT Chronicle

Manny Pacquiao showed everyone why he is the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.

In front of a sold out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night, November 14, Pacquiao made  work of The Pride of Puerto Rico, Miguel Cotto, the 145-pound WBO Welterweight World Champion.

Round one: Cotto using jabs to keep Pacquiao at bay. Cotto unleashes body shots. Pacquiao still looking for his range

Round two: Pacquiao connects to the head. Cotto lands a left hook Pacquiao unleashes a combo. Fierce exchange ending rd. 2. Pacquaio more busy looking for angles and openings, connects with his left and right.

Round three: Cotto lands 1-2-3 on Pacquiao. Pacquiao knocks down Cotto with a right

Round four: Pacquiao targets Cotto’s body. Pacquiao unleashes combo to Cotto’s head; Cotto bounces back though Cotto down again

Round five: More movement from Pacquiao now. Pacquiao caps 5th round with combo.

Round six: Pacquiao backs Cotto to the ropes. Cotto cut in the right cheek. Left cheek also puffy.

Round seven:  Pacquiao explodes with power shots to Cotto’s head and body. Manny is chasing Cotto down. Cotto now breathing heavily.

Round eight: Cotto still in the fight, despite two knockdowns he suffered earlier. Pacquiao in control, shows measured aggression. Pacquiao still in control.

Round nine: Manny takes body shots from Cotto. Manny pins Cotto in the corner. Pacquiao backs Cotto to a corner but champ survives. Pacquiao staggers Cotto. Pacquiao gets Cotto in trouble with barrage of shots but tough Puerto Rican survives round.

Round ten: Cotto still up, despite two knockdowns and absorbing numerous powerful head shots. Pacquiao moving forward, chasing Cotto.

Round eleven: Cotto continues to back pedal, waiting to land big punch on rushing Pacquiao. Manny on the attack, pummels Cotto but Cotto escapes, moves well.

Round twelve: Ref Bayless stops the fight on the 12 round as Pacman pummels Cotto.

Before the match, Roach first predicted a unanimous decision by Pacquiao over Cotto but then a knockout in the first round, 9th or 10^th.

Pacquiao becomes the first boxer to capture seven world titles in seven different weight division – flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight, junior welterweight and now, welterweight.

The Cotto victory is Pacquiao’s fifth win in a row in a different division.

The win improves Pacquiao’s record to 50-3-2. Cotto’s record falls to 34-1-1.

The diamond belt is composed of 18-karat gold plates, 861 diamonds, six rubies, 221 emeralds and 180 Swarovzki crystals mounted on Italian Ferrari leather that also includes photos Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto plus the Puerto Rican and Philippine flags.

La Divas Jonalyn Viray, Maricris Garcia, and Aicelle Santos, in Filipiniana attire, sing the Philippine national anthem.