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| Date | November 14, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Venue | MGM Grand Garden Arena,Paradise, Nevada,U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title(s) on the line | WBO welterweight title | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pacquiao wins via 12th-roundTKO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manny Pacquiao vs.Miguel Cotto, billed asFirepower, was aboxing match for theWBOwelterweight championship.[1] The bout was held on November 14, 2009, at theMGM Grand Garden Arena, inLas Vegas,Nevada, United States. Pacquiao won the fight viatechnical knockout in the twelfth round.
The fight was sanctioned as a world title fight in the welterweight division, where the weight limit is 147 pounds, however Cotto's camp agreed to fight at acatchweight of 145 pounds to accommodate Pacquiao's smaller physique. Cotto's camp also conceded the larger share of the purse to Pacquiao, who received a 65% share ofpay-per-view buys, compared to Cotto's 35% share.[2]
In the opening round both fighters were tentative, although Cotto appeared to have the edge, as he connected with several solid jabs that arguably won him the round.[3] However, from the second round onwards Pacquiao picked up the pace, as he knocked Cotto down in round three with a right hook, and then again in round four with a left uppercut.[3] In round five Cotto mounted a brief comeback and arguably won the round, but thereafter Pacquiao went on to dominate the fight.[3] Cotto had some success when he managed to pin Pacquiao against the ropes, although Pacquiao later admitted that he had allowed this to happen, as he wanted to test Cotto's power.[4]
After a one-sided ninth round in favor of Pacquiao, wherein Cotto received significant punishment, many people thought that Cotto's corner should have stopped the fight.[5] At this point, Cotto's wife even left the arena.[6] However, a bloodied up Cotto decided to continue the fight, but he could not evade Pacquiao's onslaught, prompting the referee to stop the fight fifty-five seconds into the twelfth round.[7] Pacquiao was ahead on all three judges' scorecards before the stoppage, which read 109–99, 108–99, and 108–100, all in favor of Pacquiao.
With this victory, Pacquiao took the WBO world welterweight title (his seventh world championship), to become the first boxer in history to winseven world titles in seven differentweight divisions.[7][8] Pacquiao also won the specialWBC Diamond Belt.[9] After the fight, promoterBob Arum stated: "Pacquiao is the greatest boxer I've ever seen, and I've seen them all, including Ali, Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard."[10] Meanwhile, Cotto was taken to a hospital as a precaution.[7]
The fight generated 1.25 million buys and 70 million dollars in domestic pay-per-view revenue, making it the most watched boxing event of 2009.[11] Pacquiao earned around 22 million dollars for his part in the fight, whilst Cotto earned around 12 million dollars.[11] Pacquiao–Cotto also generated a live gate of $8,847,550 from an official crowd of 15,930.[11]
Pacquiao's victory sparked a media frenzy, concerning his latest achievement against Cotto,[12] and a potential match-up withFloyd Mayweather Jr.[13]
Confirmed bouts:[14]
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs.
Troy RowlandAlfonso Gomez vs.Jesus Soto Karass Rodrigo García vs. Martin Vierra
Eden Sonsona vs.
Eilon Kedem
Matt Korobov vs. James WinchesterRichie Mepranum vs. Ernie Marquez
Abner Cotto vs. Guadalupe Guzman| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
 Australia | Main Event |
 Canada | Viewers Choice |
 Hungary | Sport 1 |
 Poland | Polsat Sport |
| Philippines | Solar Sports (Pay, live) |
| GMA Network andC/S 9 (Terrestrial, delayed) | |
 United Kingdom | Sky Sports |
| United States | HBO |
| Preceded by | Miguel Cotto's bouts November 14, 2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Manny Pacquiao's bouts November 14, 2009 | Succeeded by |