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Manny Pacquiao in 2009: A Short Glance
December 15th, 2009
As the year winds down to its last days, let us take a look back at the
road Manny Pacquiao took en route in this year towards his much
anticipated career-defining fight (and perhaps his last) opposite
former Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather.
May 2, 2009 – Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton (140lbs)
In
his second bout above 135, Pacquiao easily dismantled the top dog of
the junior welterweight division. Coming off an impressive win against
boxing legend and future Hall of Famer Oscar dela Hoya (who retired
shortly after their fight), many predicted Pacquiao to be on the losing
end in this bout, saying that he is going up against an elite fighter
in the division where he is still untested.
Pacquiao proved his doubters wrong when he decked Hatton twice in
the first round and completely sent him to dreamland in the next,
wringing from the Manchester-native the IBO junior welterweight and
Ring light welterweight titles.
Memorable quotes
“Same move every time.” – Ricky Hatton
“I am the greatest trainer of all time. Not this time, not that time, but of all time.” –Floyd Mayweather, Sr.
November 13, 2009 – Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto (147lbs)
In
a fight billed as Firepower, both men literally let their hands ablaze
and pummeled each other with everything they got in the first four
rounds. That is until Cotto got knocked down in the third and the
fourth stanzas by sneaky punches coming from weird angles.
Significant number of analysts and boxing figures, including
Emmanuel Steward, Paulie Malignaggi, and Roger Mayweather, said
Pacquiao will be chomping more than he could chew here. A true welter,
Cotto is known as a power puncher. His shots do have some pop as he
managed to bust Pacquiao’s eardrum.
However, it was Pacquiao who prevailed in this fight, forcing Cotto
to retreat rather than engage the smaller man. Using his speed and
superior boxing skills, Pacquiao dominated the Puerto Rican for
majority of the fight, Battered and bruised, Cotto was handed his
defeat after referee Kenny Bayless called a halt to the bout 55 seconds
into the final round, giving Pacquiao the WBO welterweight championship.
In the process, Pacquiao became the first and only boxer to win seven titles in seven different weight classes.
Memorable quotes
“I don’t know where his punches are coming from.” – Miguel Cotto
“We want Floyd!” – MGM audience
Pacquiao’s
victory over Cotto has finally forced the young Mayweather in a
position where he can’t refuse to face the Filipino. With their match
still in the oven, fight fans can only hope and pray that we get a
fight we have been wanting for so long.
More of my boxing ramblings at Boxers’ Camp.
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