Published: 15 November, 2009, 20:23
Edited: 28 February, 2010, 12:13
Manny Pacquiao knocked down Miguel Cotto twice and turned his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him 55 seconds into the 12th round to win his seventh title in seven weight classes.
Even by the standards of Pacquiao's two previous visits to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, both of whom he beat decisively, this was a stunning performance.
Pacquiao used his blazing speed and power from both hands to cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hand early in the third round and put him to the canvas with a big left hand late in the fourth.
Cotto fought gamely, but in the later rounds he was just trying to survive as blood flowed down his face and Pacquiao kept coming after him relentlessly.
But in the 12th it was finally over for Cotto. Pacquiao believes the referee could have stopped the bout earlier.
"I thought in 11th round they would stop the fight,” Pacquiao said. “I am surprised he continued to fight."
Cotto's face was swollen, blood was flowing from his nose and his cuts, and he simply could not stand it until the end.
"I didn't know from where the punches were coming," Cotto said. "Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers I ever fought."
The victory sets up the possibility of a long-awaited clash between Pacquiao and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.