Manny Pacquiao's Top 5 Greatest Matches: Dominating the Champion

Manny's Top 5 Greatest Matches Pacquiao: Domination over the champion

How the Filipino got closer to the world's all-time top

Manny Pacquiao is the most successful welterweight boxer of the current century, and with his success in the lighter divisions, he is considered by many to be even the most successful of all divisions for the 21st century. The Filipino achieves a number of significant and memorable successes in matches that please the eye of the fans. In 2009, Pacquiao managed to grab not one, but two big victories. In five different parts, we present to you the five most significant and great fights involving Pacquiao. In this installment number four, we'll talk more about the fight in which Pacquiao was able to capture a seventh title in a seventh different division.

It's about the fight with which Manny surpassed Oscar De La Oya, and less than a year after dealing with the American. After Pacquiao easily handled Ricky Hatton and equaled De La Oya's record in May 2009, it was time for the next step. Triumph in another category, in a match for another world title. The match against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto is a fight for the World Boxing Organization's welterweight championship belt. The match takes place on November 14, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the already familiar MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In-form world champion Cotto is determined not to let his second loss in the professional ring go easily. Out of 35 fights, he won 34 of them 27 and, logically, enters the fight with the world number 1 and light welterweight champion with huge confidence. Although he outweighs his opponent by 4 centimeters and 1 kilogram, the Puerto Rican knows that it will be extremely difficult for him.

However, Cotto comes into the first round with more determination, manages to make some good combinations, and some of his hooks hit the target, with which he wins the round undisputedly. Round number two is the round of Pacquiao realizing and showing that he will dictate events, despite what happened in the previous part. In the third round, a knockdown follows, Cotto is on the ground, but quickly manages to stand up. Another knockdown follows, coming amid a super left uppercut. The advantage for Pacquiao began to become tangible, but in the fifth part the Puerto Rican showed that he was still in the match, albeit briefly. Cotto managed to pin his opponent to the ropes, which Pacquiao said after the match was simply a test of the strength left in his opponent's hands.

The match continues with the Filipino boxer completely dominating in round number nine, in which Cotto is so badly hurt that people wonder how his corner did not ask for a stoppage. Even the wife of the Puerto Rican contestant leaves the hall, frightened by her man's bloodied face. Despite everything, he continues his participation and lasts almost to the very end. 50 seconds before the final gong in round number 12, the referee stops the match, and the judges' cards show 109:99, 108:99 and 108:100 in favor of Manny Pacquiao. The sweet TKO victory is a fact. The Filipino grabs a world title in a seventh different category, and by absolute dominance. 336 of his 780 punches landed, while Cotto only managed to land Pacquiao 172 times out of 597 attempts.

A historic match, a historic success and a seventh title in a seventh different division make Pacquiao the first in the world to achieve such an achievement, which also earns him a special belt from the World Boxing Council. A belt that is all covered in diamonds. There is still one more peak for Manny to climb, one that will make him one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in boxing history.