|
By Gareth A Davies
Brilliant display by Manny Pacquiao to win the WBO welterweight title. Never looked in trouble. Clinically dismantled Cotto. On this form, he would defeat Mayweather.
Round 1: Cotto normally a slow starter looks fast, and boxes a superb round. Pacquiao looking to counter. Cotto’s round. 10-9
Round 2: Pacquiao troubles Cotto for the first time, fighting in bursts. Cotto becomes aggressive and makes mistakes, and is caught by the challenger. Cotto switches to southpaw and is punished. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 3: Cotto touches down from a Pacquiao left and takes a standing count from referee Kenny Bayless. Pacquiao very accurate with the straight left, finding great angles. Cotto lands with an uppercut, Pacquiao simply stands and covers up, takes hooks from Cotto. Pacquiao 10-8.
Round 4: Cotto starts aggressively, but takes body shot from Pacquiao. Cotto advances, Pacquiao drawing him in covering up on the ropes. Great right from Cotto, acknowledged by the Filipino. Cotto on the ropes now, then down again from a crippling left hook as he comes forward. There are 13 seconds left in the round. Cotto survives but finishes the round looking very glazed in his eyes. Pacquiao 10-8.
Round 5: Cotto still aggressive, lands with a good jab, and backs Pacquiao up. Pacquiao then lands with a left-right, and a right hook. Cotto looks to be slowing, Pacquiao finding the target more often more easily. Cotto then finishing the round with better boxing again, Pacquiao now looking a little ragged in his work. Pacquiao scores with two shots on the bell. Cotto 10-9.
Round 6: Great right hook and body shot from Pacquiao, then a good right hand. Cotto is slowing, looking uncomfortable and tired. Pacquiao’s speed and power beginning to tell. Pattern of the fight has changed, Pacquiao now hunting his man down. Huge left from Pacquiao. They stand and trade on the bell. Big smile from Pacquiao. He loves it. His plan has worked to perfection. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 7: Pacquiao lands a right hook, slashing punches slowing Cotto. Still lands with explosive punches and combinations. Cotto not moving as much, and is now being dismantled. Pacquiao now looks like the bigger stronger man. Cotto lands with a good left hook, and rocks Pacquiao’s head back with his jab. Cotto is now dancing away and counter-punching. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 8: Left body shot from Pacquiao. Cotto has taken up dancing now, he is moving more, wants to box. It is now Pacquiao looking for debilitating attacks. Great left from Pacquiao, then he goes to the body. Pacquiao walks through solid left-right from Cotto. His blistering handspeed is still there as he attacks in flurries. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 9: Pacquiao is now breaking Cotto’s heart. The champion is clinging on, back in his shell,. Counter-punching and on the move. Good left from Cotto but no real power. Cotto very slow now, Pacquiao hunting him. Cotto is surviving on instinct, no real venom in his actions now, looks like he is intent on survival. His face is a mess. Can he go on? Bayless has a word with his corner between rounds. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 10: Cotto still dancing, attacks with single shots and has a great round, boxing well as Pacquiao appears to take a breather. Cotto 10-9.
Round 11: Cotto still running, attack from Pacquiao leaves Cotto in trouble on the ropes. Pacquiao is caught by a Cotto counter. But the champion, now clinging on, is spitting out blood. He simply wants to survive, his pride in tact. Pacquiao wins the round without looking for the finish. Pacquiao 10-9.
Round 12: Pacquiao steps up the attack early in the round, left-right, left-right. Attacks Cotto on the ropes, not landing with heavy punches but many being thrown and none coming back. Referee Bayless has seen enough. Fight stopped. Pacquiao wins seventh world title having come up seven weight classes from flyweight to welterweight. The WBO welterweight title belongs to the Filipino sporting icon. Source:http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Read 1 Comments... >> |
