By CompuBox
The time has come: Bring on “Money” Mayweather – and the piles of money and publicity boxing’s newest “Fight of the Century” will attract.
After four rounds of pulsating Fight-of-the-Year quality action – a sequence nevertheless punctuated by two knockdowns – Manny Pacquiao further certified his credentials as boxing’s pound-for-pound king by stopping Miguel Cotto in the 12th round and becoming the new WBO welterweight champion.
The final CompuBox numbers were indicative of “The Pac Man’s” dominance.
The Filipino landed 336 of 780 (43 percent) to Cotto’s 172 of 597 (29 percent) and although Cotto prevailed in jabs (79 of 297 to 60 of 227 – both 27 percent) it was Pacquiao’s comet quick power punching that determined the outcome. In that department the new champion was 276 of 560 (49 percent) to Cotto’s 93 of 300 (31 percent) and the round-by-round numbers demonstrated Pacquiao’s escalating command.
Pacquiao out-landed Cotto in overall punches in every round save the first, where each man connected 12 times, and the “Pac Man” swept every round on the power punch grid. For the record, Cotto landed more jabs on six occasions – the only times the defending champ managed to gain astatistical edge – while managing three draws.
The opening round was fought at Cotto’s pace as the Puerto Rican launched 53 punches to Pacquiao’s 41 but from the second round forward Pacquiao dramatically upped his work rate and forced Cotto to fight with him, an equation that ultimately proved disastrous for the Puerto Rican. From rounds two through 11, Pacquiao averaged 71 punches per round (peaking at 92 in the ninth) to Cotto’s 54 but over the final five rounds – as the effects of Pacquiao’s punishment set in – the averages pulled apart to
68-40 in the challenger’s favor.
The power punch figures were even more dramatic. The effects of Pacquiao’s punishment showed themselves in rounds five through 11 as Pacquiao averaged 53 power shots to Cotto’s 20 and amassed a soul-sapping 176-40 connect edge. Cotto failed to reach double-digit power connects from round four onward.
Not only was Pacquiao prolific in terms of numbers he was also brutally efficient. Pacquiao topped the 40 percent mark in overall accuracy nine times while also reaching that threshold 11 times in terms of power punches. The 11th round was Pacquiao’s most accurate as he landed 60 percent of his overall punches (32 of 53) and 67 percent of his power shots (24 of 36).
The fateful 12th was a statistical tour de force for Pacquiao and an athletic nightmare for Cotto as the Filipino pitched 13-0 and 11-0 shutouts in overall connects and landed power shots respectively.
In raw overall numbers Pacquiao’s best came in rounds two and nine when he connected 40 times while Cotto’s high water mark was 23 in rounds two and four. Cotto’s best jabbing round took place in the ninth when he landed 11 while Pacquiao connected on eight jabs on three occasions (rounds eight, 10 and 11). Cotto’s best power-punching round saw him land 18 in the fourth while Pacquiao connected on 35 in the ninth. In fact, Pacquiao surpassed Cotto’s best power punch figure nine times and topped 30 connects on four occasions.
It is a great sign that Mayweather and Pacquiao enter their showdown on statistical highs. Against Juan Manuel Marquez “Money” set an all-time CompuBox record when he compiled a plus-47 in terms of connect percentage (59 to 12) while Pacquiao proved (1) that his weaponry could break down a legitimate welterweight and (2) he could absorb a strong 147-pounder’s punch and come back firing.
Mayweather-Pacquiao is THE fight that must be made and let’s hope that the match inside the ropes will be even fiercer than the negotiations that will precede it.