Manny Pacquiao Solidifies His Place as King of Boxing

Manny Pacquiao is unmatched in the combat sports world right now. If people are wondering why a blog dedicated to kickboxing and MMA has been Manny Pacquiao Central for the day, the reason is very simple; watch the Cotto fight. Miguel Cotto was not only a game opponent, he was one of the absolute best that Pacquiao has ever faced. Cotto's one loss previous to this said nothing about Cotto the fighter as much as it showed how a gifted fighter can't overcome cheating (still speculation, but so what). The fight started off with heavy exchanges from both men until Pacquiao really went to work dissecting Cotto. After this fight it is hard to argue that Manny Pacquiao is anything but the best fighter of this generation. Bad Left Hook sums up how big of a deal this is.

Manny Pacquiao was sensational tonight in Las Vegas, knocking down Miguel Cotto twice, battering him throughout the majority of the fight, and forcing Kenny Bayless to stop the fight in the 12th round of a dominant performance, giving Pacquiao his 50th career win and arguably his most impressive.

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 JO) floored Cotto on timing shots in the third and fourth rounds, but after Cotto looked sharp, strong and fast early, he was dominated over the latter half of the fight. Pacquiao proved that there is no questioning his power at this weight, and no questioning his ability to take a good shot, either. He walked through some strong punches from Cotto (34-2, 27 KO) and seemed to barely feel them. Pacquiao, on the other hand, was able to hurt Cotto consistently.

He was faster, stronger, and better. Miguel Cotto isn't old, wasn't drained, isn't "overrated." Cotto did all he could tonight, but he was laid to waste by a superior fighter.

Pacquiao is now the WBO welterweight titleholder, the seventh weight class in which he's won a major title, the first man to ever do that.