Hi everyone! Friendly Neighborhood AstroCrush here. As some of you may be aware of, I am a fan of Manny Pacquiao. To celebrate his historical seventh belt in his seventh weight division, I'm posting this blog entry because I was inspired by the match to write it. Enjoy!




It happened in the eighth round: the rapid fireworks of cheers in our darkened venue diminished into a fog of observant hush. The audience hadn’t counted on the opponent to last this long. Everyone had been expecting a spectacular knockout –but it didn’t come. Battered and dizzy, Miguel Cotto hopped in an uneasy dance of evasion, Manny Pacquiao stalking but wary of counters. When the fighters returned to their corners, the camera zoomed in on Cotto, his scornful visage now a bloodied and worried mask. Beholding his face’s pummeled state, the crowd behind me roared. They were certain he wouldn’t last the seventh round. But through body-hugging, aggressive close quarter jabs and more evasive side-stepping, he did. The memory of Ricky Hatton’s falling to the floor in the second round had swept people in a daze of knockout euphoria – but the people were denied another knockout. And by the tenth round, the crowd starting booing – a shocking turnaround from the festive opening of what many have one-sidedly dubbed “The Manny Show.”

“Firepower”, Manny admitted, would be the toughest fight of his life. And true – in the first two rounds Cotto gave Manny trouble, sending him into the ropes and landing solid blows to his head. In Round Two many Filipinos who were sure of Pacman delivering Cotto to instant oblivion started having second thoughts: the Puerto Rican was good. Manny tightened his defense, drawing in Cotto but still fell prey to several combinations. But when Manny blazed the blows that had sent old foes reeling, he was met with tight defense and resounding counter-punches. Cotto landed good hits through the Pacman’s defense, notably several uppercuts and jabs to the chin. It was Manny’s astounding hitting power that gave him the edge in Round Three, dizzying Cotto and causing him to lose form. The Puerto Rican was shaken: in Round Three Cotto’s confident stance drooped to a sloppy swagger.

Throughout the match furious blows from Manny sent Cotto to the ropes again and again. The display of firepower met with hurrahs erupting in cadence from the millions watching. When Cotto finally stumbled, jubilation exploded as the referee gave him time to get up. Yet through vexing body hugs and ring control, he reeled Manny in as if drawing him to the edges of a knife. Cotto exhibited sustained stamina, and caught his second wind numerous times in the rounds past the seventh.

“Survival Mode” was how one radio commentator remarked of Cotto’s motions past that point. True enough, he backed quickly from Manny who kept advancing like a lion circling prey. The only things that kept Cotto from falling over were the ropes and his body hugging. In one momentous scene his and Manny’s arms were draped on each other’s backs as if Cotto were a wounded soldier being pulled by his comrade off the battlefield. The audience heckled Cotto, chiding him to finally get knocked out by the National Hero. When the bell rang for the final round the agitated audience, starved for an explosive finish, erupted in a final wave of “Manny! Manny! Manny!” And Manny flew in, fists casting Cotto into the ropes like an eagle shredding flesh. When the referee saw Cotto stumble he stopped the round– and it was over. Multitudes screamed as the battle ended dead in the middle of the twelfth round.

The cheers that followed were proud, but surprisingly cautious. Cotto was an amazing –and gracious opponent. At the start of their final round Manny and Cotto struck each other’s gloves, saluting each other in terrific sportsmanship. My heart swelled at the sight. Though Manny walked in the favored win, Cotto promised he would foil Manny’s plans for history. Instead, he made history for himself – through both prowess and chutzpah he lasted the whole twelve rounds with Manny Pacquiao, foiling Manny’s fans’ clamor for a speedy, thunderous knockout. And when the entourages of both camps poured into the ring Cotto walked over and embraced Manny, his wounded face inflated with what I believe to be gratitude. Both fighters gave each other the fight of their lives – Manny knew it would be difficult, and Cotto resolved not to make it easy for him wrest away his belt. And when they saluted each other at the start of the twelfth round, there was nothing but respect.

Manny’s history-making seventh weight division victory was his most challenging bout. Though it spoke of his astounding rise to the title of Pound for Pound King, it only further highlights the path ahead of him. People ask: “Who can face Manny now?” The only real answer is undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. There are very few challenges for Manny left, and the moment he was asked in the ring whether he would face Mayweather the crowd roared in excitement.

But this match should serve everyone well for what challenges lay ahead. Watching Cotto draw in Manny and sending him to the ropes and almost to the floor made me realize Manny’s road will be harder than ever. His opponents can only get more challenging–if we’re to assume that Ricky Hatton was a fluke. Pacman’s rise to undisputed King of Boxing will be marked by harder opponents, with fiercer punches and sharper strategies. Freddie Roach and Team Pacquiao should further improve Manny’s game – as should the southpaw. A celebrated icon now of our time, Manny cannot afford to be waylaid by any distractions from the red carpet boxing history is laying out for him. Cotto was an example of how future opponents may treat the threat of Manny. He showed that though he acknowledged Manny’s feats and abilities, he wasn’t below stunning Manny with his own. By going the full twelve rounds, Cotto revealed a strong resolve not to be one of Manny’s celebrated knockout wins.

On my ride home someone remarked that Manny’s opponents now feel the beating drum of anxiety even before stepping into the ring. If only to see what his opponents look like before their fights with Manny, and after three rounds with him, I agree immensely. Manny stands now in history, a fearsome and intimidating fighter with a record as astounding as his talent. But Team Pacquaio must heed the warning of Cotto: they’d best prepare to face opponents with stronger resolve not to be swept away by the tour de force that is Manny’s road to history.