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Live round-by-r0und blog of championship fight between challenge Manny Pacquiao against WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto from Las Vegas.  The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds.  Pacquiao is moving up at weight class to try to take Cotto’s welterweight championship belt.

Main event about 10min away. Three Filipino women are currently singing the Filipino national anthem. Come on hurry it up ladies!  There is a ton of energy here in the arena just minutes before the start.

Pac walking to the ring in the colors of his homeland.  Pacquiao is a heavy favorite to win. He walked in while AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ and ‘Eye of the Tiger’ blared.  I believe Cotto has a chance tonight, but it will take all he has to defeat Manny.

Kenny Bayless is the referee for tonight’s main event.

Here comes Miguel Cotto walking towards the ring in a white rob, with Hispanic rap playing, while holding his WBO Championship belt. Cotto is all business/grimacing while Pacman is smiling at him.

Michael Buffer just did his over-hyped “Let’s get ready to rumble!”

Cotto is in the white and red. Both fighters have just touched gloves and it’s time to fight.  Here we go!

Welterweight Championship: Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto

Round 1: Cotto is aggressive from the start. Pac tries to get close but Cotto keeps pushing him back with his jab. A good start for Cotto as he is setting the tempo early on.  Cotto is working Pac’s body and responds with a strong  jab after dodging an uppercut from Pac. Cotto is completely in control and is landing nearly every punch. He seems extremely prepared and if he can maintain his endurance he is going to have an easy night. First round comes to an end and goes to Cotto. Round: Cotto 10-9

Round 2: Pacquiao comes out more aggressive to start the second round and lands a fast combo a few seconds into the round.  Cotto just landed a nasty left hook to Pac.  Pacquiao is warming up and showing how fast he can land punches.  Cotto took some punches but seems unflustered by it as he dished out a bit more.  A very close round.  Round: Cotto 10-9

Round 3: Pac lands a strong right hook that stuns Cotto and sends him to the canvas. He is ok as he gets up quickly.  Cotto seems to have changed his style a bit and lands a couple of punches. Pacman is looking more confident as the fight progresses.  Cotto is continuing to land a ton of punches. How many can many take?  It will be interesting to see if he gets worn down by them.  Cotto lands a massive uppercut against Pac. It seems to have rattled Manny’s cage a bit.  Cotto finishes the round strong but the knockout gives it to Manny.  Round: Pacquiao 10-8

Round 4: Cotto pushes Pac back into the ropes and hits him over the head with a left hand.  Cotto is starting low in his progressions and working his way up to the head of Pacquiao.  Both men exchange punches near the center of the ring before Cotto drives Pac back into the ropes. Pac flips it and sends Cotto into the ropes before knocking him down for the second consecutive round with an uppercut.  Cotto is the first fighter to look hurt as his legs are starting to leave him.  Round: Pacquiao 10-8

Round 5: The bell came at a good time for Cotto as it allowed time for him to regroup. He comes out in round 5 once again as the aggressor. But Pac cuts Cotto and Cotto is starting to look like he is in serious trouble…and Pacman knows it too. Pacman turns up the intensity as he is literally smelling blood at this point.  Pac is fully in control and is working on his jabs and waiting for the precise time to end this fight.  Cotto is showing what he is made of as he is hanging in there.  Cotto looks composed once again. He has been a bit Jekyl and Hyde so far.  Round: Cotto 10-9

Round 6: Cotto starts yet another round by getting Pacquiao against the ropes. Both men are landing hooks, but Pac looks more sure footed. He appears to know that he can end this if an opportunity presents itself.  Cotto lands another strong left hook, but Pacman responds with a jab.  Cotto continues to make some slight mistakes due to fatigue.  Cotto holds onto the ropes at the end of the bell to avoid another knockdown. He seems to know his fate is already determined. Round: Pacquiao 10-9

Round 7: First round all night where Pacquiao is the aggressor at the start of the round. Each punch by Pac does more and more damage to Cotto. The end of this fight is closer than around the corner.  A hook followed by an uppercut by Pacquiao.  Cotto is landing some punches but they are soft rolls at this point.  Another right hook by Pac. Cotto is looking for an opening but Pacquiao is keeping his guard tight.  Cotto is surviving but that is about it.  Round: Pacquiao 10-9

Round 8: Cotto wants to either fight this round or get knocked out in the center of the ring.  Manny is thinking of how to end it. Probably surprised Cotto is still standing.  Cotto is maneuvering but looks grandpa slow doing it.  Cotto is covering his face with his gloves after getting punched.  He is hanging on for pride at this point.  Cotto’s eye is badly damaged and he is doing all he can to protect it. Pacman continues to land combinations.  Cotto gets off the ropes at the end of the round as Pac lands another punch.  Round: Pacquiao 10-9

Round 9: For the second consecutive round Pacquiao starts the round strong with a right followed by a left.  Cotto comes with several left handed punches at Pac. None of them seemed to do too much. Pac pins Cotto in the corner and Cotto is holding onto Pacman. More punches to Cotto’s face make him look like a beaten pizza. The ref should call this fight soon.  It’s decided and only brain damage is mounting at this point for both men, mainly Cotto.  Pacman dominated this round.  Round: Pacquiao 10-9

Round 10:  Correction above in round 8. I mistakenly gave it to Cotto when Pacquiao clearly won it.  Cotto won’t let them stop this fight. He comes out for the 10th round.  The crowd rallies behind Cotto.  Too bad they can’t punch for him at this point.  Give Cotto credit.  He is extremely tough and has made this a very memorable fight.  The first five rounds were extremely competitive.  Cotto’s wife and son have left, as should Cotto about 4 rounds ago.  The round and fight easily goes to Pacquiao who is the new welterweight champion whether it be now or in two more rounds.  Round Pacquiao 10-9

Round 11:  Pacquiao is more pissed than anything at this point that he is having to continue to fight against this motionless piñata.  Cotto continues to throw weak punches that just piss off Pacman.  The fans have turned on Cotto and are now booing him as he is not engaging and this has frustrated Pacquiao.  Well, on the bright side, just one more round.  Round Pacquiao 10-9

Round 12:  This is more procedure than anything at this point. The ref, Cotto, and his corner should have stopped this rounds ago.  Pacman wants to end it a few seconds early still as he is gunning for a knockout now.  Referee Kenny Bayless finally steps in and ends this fight.  Manny Pacquiao is the new WBO welterweight champion.  TKO

MANNY PACQUIAO defeats Miguel Cotto by 12th round TKO

The crowd starts chanting, “We want Floyd! We want Floyd!” in reference to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.  Will Mayweather and Pacquiao get together to decide who is the best boxer on the planet right now?

Undercard Results:

Julio Cesar Chavez  Jr. (40-0-1) vs. Troy Rowland (25-2) – 5 rounds in and Chavez is in control, having won about 4 of those 5.  Chavez continues to be in control through the sixth round. This one is scheduled for 10. I will be surprised if it goes that far. A stronger 7th round for Rowland but the round still goes to Chavez. A rough round for Chavez as Rowland closes extremely strong to take the round. Rowland is re-energized. Through 9 rounds Chavez leads 7-2. Here comes the 10th and deciding round. Rowland takes momentum and wins 10th round but more than likely too little, too late. Judges decision coming soon.

Yuri Foreman (27-0) vs. Daniel Santos (33-2-1) – Foreman in control so far, having won almost every round. Foreman continues to pummel Santos but this fight is now going into the 12th round. The Israeli – Foreman – wins a unanimous decision over Santos 117-109, 117-109, 116-110

Alfonso Gomez (21-4-2) vs. Jesus Soto Karass (24-4-3) – Gomez won by a decision over Karass.