Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao (left) challenges Miguel Cotto for the Puerto Rican's WBO welterweight crown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday
When ring announcer Michael Buffer is in town, you know the fight's a big one. Four-weight world champion Pacquiao weighs in at 144lb, one pound lighter than Cotto, who was bang on the contracted 145lb limit
Pacquiao is a huge star with the Philippines public, and an estimated 6,500 turn out to watch him step on the scales in Las Vegas. Many supporters want him to lead the country.
Pacquiao is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, although there have been whisperings that his training camp hasn't been as spartan as maybe it should have been
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, who believes Cotto will be knocked out, presides over a sometimes chaotic training camp at his fabled Wild Card gym in Los Angeles
Mickey Rourke, a former boxing pupil of Roach, makes an appearance at his old gym. He is just one of many actors, musicians and celebrities to pay homage in the weeks before the fight
Although the 29-year-old Cotto is the underdog, he is confident he will have too much power and strength for Pacquiao, 30, who has never fought for a welterweight title before
But Cotto is floored as early as the third round by Pacquiao as the Filipino takes control of the fight
Cotto is floored a round later and more punishment follows for the Puerto Rican with Pacquiao's left doing the damage
The middle rounds are dominated by Pacquiao with Cotto struggling to evade the speedy Filipino
Cotto's corner come close to pulling their man out in the 11th but with 55 seconds left in the final round, referee Kenny Bayless stops the fight
Cotto cuts a dispirited figure following his defeat, the second of his career
For Pacquiao the victory is the 50th of his career and sees him become a five-weight, five-time world champion
Pacquiao could now face unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr
What are these?
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~15~RS~)
~RS~a~RS~International~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~15~RS~){kind=small}
E-mail this to a friend
Bookmark with:
What are these?