Manny Pacquiao Wins by the 12th round after referee stops the fight with Miguel Cotto.

Round 12: They touch gloves in centre ring as the crowd rise inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Just three minutes surely stand between Manny Pacquiao and the most impressive victory of his astonishing career. He just gets better and better. On the attack early in the 12th – Cotto on the ropes and eating a super left. Miguel on the ropes and this one is OVER. BAYLESS STEPS IN AND WAVES IT OFF. PACQUIAO WINS BY TKO. Astonishing performance by Manny, and nobody can doubt him now. Manny can now take up that singing assignment down the road at Mandalay Bay. Simply astonishing. Wonder what Floyd Mayweather Jr is thinking. Surely that fight has to happen, and what a prospect. Cotto for his part brave as they come, and slightly unfortunate not to hear the final bell after withstanding all that punishment in the middle rounds.

Round 11: Just six minutes left in this one now, and so far another astonishing performance from the amazing Manny Pacquiao. The only thing that’s missing is the early finish, but that still could come. He’s slowed in the last couple of rounds. Blood still trickling from Cotto’s left eye. Manny starts this session better and Cotto backtracking already. Tremendous left from Pacquiao with Cotto on the ropes, and Manny follows up with a blistering assault. Cracking counter from the brave brave Cotto but it doesn’t appear to dent the Filipino. Manny again unloads on the ropes, and when he does so with those blazing flurries Cotto just can’t cope with the speed with which punches are coming his way. Astonishing conditioning for Pacquiao when you consider he’s heavier than he’s ever been. Back to the status quo in this round as Manny lands a left. Another round in the bag – leads 109-100 for me now.

Round 10: Cotto spent much of the break between rounds spitting out blood, but out he comes for the 10th. Almost at the stage now where Cotto found the beating at the hands of Margarito too much. Cotto again starts the round okay, but the pattern is that eventually Manny clicks into gear. Into the final minute and now Manny starts his assault, stalking as Cotto circles on the back foot. Left lands from Pacquiao. Manny urges Cotto to come to him. Not the sort of invitation I’d be accepting. Manny definitely slowed a little in this round – after setting an astonishing pace for the first nine. Level round for me, and 99-91 in total.

Round Nine: Cotto in the corner having a cut over his left eye worked on. Cotton wool buds up his nose in a bid to stop the bleeding there. He’s been taken apart so far here by another Pacquiao masterclass. Simply scintillating so far. Roach said 1,9 or 10 this time – will he be right? Better start to this round from Cotto. Pacquiao unloads with Cotto on the ropes as Bayless takes a very close look at what’s unfolding before his eyes. Surely the end is close – another big left from Pacquiao lands and somehow Cotto stayed on his feet. Cotto retreating, dancing backwards as Manny steams forward. Miguel tries to hold for the first time. Another big left and the combinations are flying in. Cotto makes it to the bell but will his corner allow him to come out for round 10? Looks like he’s taken enough to me. 89-81 for me now in favour of Pacquiao.

Round Eight: Kenny Bayless in the Cotto corner between rounds, assessing the damage to the battered Puerto Rican. Not a pretty picture, that’s for sure. Manny starts the eighth looking good again – left and a right land early. Cotto then tries to jab and control the pace. Something he hasn’t been able to do so far. Nice jabs from Cotto in this session, but his meaningful work is intermittent. He’s trying now to outbox Cotto – he started out trying to overpower him. How the tables have turned. He’s the puncher, hunting Miguel down constantly. Cotto again on the back foot as Pacquiao peppers him, lovely left lands again. Now Cotto on the ropes as Manny goes to the body. Cotto lands a couple of shots, but no real pop in those shots now. Must be tired and weakened by the sheer weight of Manny’s punches. 79-72 for me after eight.

Round Seven: Into the second half of a cracking fight, living up to everything we hoped for. Pacquiao starts well again – lovely uppercut from Manny and lefts and rights simply a blur from the Filipino icon. Left and a right land and Miguel is flat-footed and a sitting duck at the moment. Too easy to hit, just can’t live with the pace Pacquiao is setting. Right-left combination from Manny again land and then he darts out. Pacquiao on the front foot almost constantly now while Cotto is in retreat. Cotto lands a jab as he tries desperately to regain a foothold in this fight. Almost impossible though against the speed and amazingly the power of Pacquiao even at welterweight. Manny misses with a big left as the bell goes, but bags another round. I have it 69-63 now.

Round Six: Approaching the halfway stage now, and Cotto continues his recovery from those two knockdowns. Boxing better in this round. Manny using those blistering flurries more sparingly now. Is the pace at this weight beginning to tell? Remember he’s heavier than ever before. Just as I say that Manny goes on the attack again – two-handed assault, best punch a left that lands. Right from Manny lands and he’s looking confident again – Cotto hits back with a left counter though. Cracking action yet again. Nice body shot from Manny. Every so often you just start to think he’s tiring just a little, but then he clicks into gear again. Cotto on the back foot constantly now and hit by a massive left. Manny smiles and Miguel in trouble. But then as the bell goes Cotto hits back with a right. Manny smiles – he knows he has his man in trouble. Another Pacquiao round – now leads 59-54 on my card.

Round Five: Out for the fifth and the straight left again tags Cotto early – Miguel holds. That second knockdown has definitely taken something out of Cotto. Manny takes a breather and waits for his next opportunity to strike. Pacquiao showing blazing hand speed – launches an attack and then he darts out. Cracking uppercut from Cotto as Manny lies on the ropes. Would be some comeback if he could take this one now after those two knockdowns. Manny again on top as the bell goes. Another Pacquiao round for me – 49-45.

Round Four: Out for the fourth, and cracking stuff so far. Living up to the pre-fight billing. Cotto starting well in this session, looking strong and powerful again. He looked in big trouble in rounds two and three, has recovered admirably here. Manny knows he’s in a fight here. Cotto blocks a Pacquiao uppercut. Flurry of punches from Pacquiao – his speed really hurting Cotto now. But Miguel comes back. Blasting away to the body and trying to slow down Manny. Pacquiao lying on the ropes and takes a right. Manny nods to acknowledge the fact – he’s under pressure here. Now Pacquiao hits back and COTTO IS DOWN AGAIN – this time he’s definitely hurt. Final seconds of the fourth. What a round, what a fight. Cotto survives to the bell, but down for the second round in a row. Looks a little stunned in the corner. It was a cracking Pacquiao left on the counter that did the damage as Cotto waded recklessly forward. Manny’s round again – 10-9 for me though and leads 39-36 on my card.

Round Three: Manny again a 1/3 shot now, with Cotto 5/2. How will Miguel respond and has he regained his composure? We’ll find out in the next three minutes. Slightly uncertain start from Pacquiao in the first but he really found his comfort zone in the second. Again on the attack early in the third. COTTO IS DOWN. Takes a standing count from Bayless after getting straight back up. Hit by a counter. He’s unravelling here – being punished for every mistake he makes. And he is making them. Lovely left hook from Cotto – you really can’t see this going the distance at present. Cotto not happy about something, not sure what. Body shots from Miguel, Manny shakes his head as if to say they’re not hurting. Manny again darting in and out, landing with that left hand that destroyed Ricky Hatton so totally back in May. Good uppercut from Cotto. Another super round, and a fascinating fight so far. Cotto’s strength against Manny’s speed. Definitely Manny’s round – 10-8 with the knockdown. 29-27 for me.

Round Two: Sky Bet odds after the first shortening a little on Cotto – 7/4 from a pre-bell 5/2. Manny 2/5 from 1/3. Body shot from Cotto early in the second – the pair starting to exchange now. Good left hand from Manny. Better from Manny now – combination that ends with a super uppercut. Doubt for the first time in the mind of Cotto. Left hook from Miguel as he hits back. Super action in the second. Good straight left from Manny, he’s starting to find his range in this round. And his rhythm. Dangerous moments from Cotto, who is a little ragged. Turned southpaw. Needs to get his head together, and fast. Pacquiao unloaded in the final 10 seconds. Cotto hits back with a left. Cracking round, and definitely Manny’s session. 19-19 for me so far.

Round One: The months of waiting are over and we’re under way in the biggest fight of 2009 so far. Will Manny go for the fast start Freddie Roach promised? Cotto fighting out of that orthodox stance. Throws out a jab early doors. Manny lands a right counter. High guard from Cotto, lands a left. Manny as you’d expect quicker and moving more. Cotto moving forward with purpose, and spearing out that left jab – plenty of power in it as the Puerto Rican is naturally left-handed. Cotto again moving forward – unloads with a couple of body shots. Another nice jab – promising start from Cotto. That Cotto jab definitely the key weapon in round one. Manny knows he has his hands full here – Cotto unloads as the bell sounds. Cotto’s round for me.

0447: Kenny Bayless calls the two men to centre ring and gives them their final instructions. Here we go!

0446: Buffer by the way wearing a tartan tux – sartorial elegance itself. Few boos for Manny as he’s introduced. Surprising. Cheers now though – more like it.

0444: It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Michael Buffer now on with the introductions!

0442: Now Miguel is on his way to the ring. Massive night for him – still the doubts prevail about whether Antonio Margarito stripped away something he’ll never get back. We should get a definitive verdict on that tonight. Looks totally focused as you’d imagine. The excitement and the expectation are massive.

0440: The wait is over – here comes Pacquiao, to the strains of “Eye Of The Tiger”. He’s some story, but definitely no Rocky-style underdog tonight. As ever, he looks calm and relaxed. Total confidence. Kneels in silent prayer in a corner as we await the entrance of the champion.

0436: Michael Jennings, beaten by Cotto earlier this year, says the Puerto Rican’s body shots could be key. “It feels like he’s on top of you even though he’s not in distance.”

0435: Just watching the reruns of Manny’s awesomedemolition of Oscar De La Hoya last December. The difference in speed is frightening, even if Oscar was drained badly at the weight.

0432: Ricky Hatton’s verdict – “I have a sneaky feeling Miguel Cotto might do it.” Adds that he hopes Manny wins, has huge respect for him in and out of the ring.

0431: Freddie Roach on the big one: “We’re going to devastate Cotto – I can feel a knockout coming. I’ve never seen Pacquiao better.” We’ll see, pretty soon now.

0425: Anyway folks, undercard over and now to the main event – Pacquiao and Cotto expected in the ring in the next few minutes at the MGM Grand.

0422: Chavez Jr duly gets win number 41 (scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93), but far from impressive in terms of performance. If he’s serious about a world-title bid in 2010, you’d have expected him to show a bit more there. Few boos in the arena as the decision is announced. Hardly surprising and 99-91 way out of whack in my book.

0419: Just three minutes remaining now in the final undercard fight. Julio Chavez Jr against Troy Rowland.

0414: Good left hand from JC Jr to finish round eight. On the way to victory number 41, but not the most impressive of performances. Not long now to the big one.

0411: All the late money ahead of the big one by the way appears to have been for Manny – currently a 1/3 chance with Sky Bet. Cotto a 5/2 shot. If you think Freddie Roach will be right yet again with his prediction (first-round knockout) – you can get 20/1.

0409: Chavez Jr still in control in round 7, but still taking too much. Against a world-level operator he’d pay dearly for that sort of leaky defence.

0405: Better work now from Chavez Jr in the sixth – landing with a couple of decent left hooks and a nice right. Rowland still hanging on fairly comfortably at the moment though, and still landing a fair bit himself.

0403: Not particularly impressed by Chavez Jr so far – the record might be great on the face of it, but on this showing you’d have serious doubts about his ability at world level. Punches don’t appear to have a great deal of pop and he is being caught a fair bit by Rowland counters.

0402: Just scanning the ringside seats by the way and plenty of star power in view – Derek Jeter of the newly-crowned world champion New York Yankees is on hand. Also close to the action is Shane Mosley – of course a possible future opponent for the winner of the big one.

0358: Rowland has 25 wins in 27 outings, but only seven by knockout. Probably just as well too for Chavez Jr – he landed plenty in the fourth. Maybe this one might get interesting.

0354: Some decent early work from Chavez Jr, but you’d have to worry whether he’d have the power to hurt the likes of Pavlik at 160. You’d also have to worry how he’d cope with that right hand ‘The Ghost’ used to dethrone Jermain Taylor.

0353: This one is scheduled for 10 and we’re currently in the third, so it’s looking highly likely the main event won’t get under way until around 0430 GMT, or even a little later.

0350: JC Jr pretty confident in the first two rounds – won both comfortably. Did though get tagged by a couple of Rowland counters in the second.

0346: Bob Arum talking pre-fight about matching Chavez Jr with John Duddy early next year if all goes according to plan tonight, then possibly a showdown with Kelly Pavlik at some stage. They have to move him on at some stage, and a clash with ‘The Ghost’ would certainly qualify.

0342: About to get a look now at Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who takes on Troy Rowland in an undercard bout. JC Jr has that record of 40-0-1 and a number one ranking with the WBC at light-middleweight. That record doesn’t include many stellar names though, and he’ll be out to look good in this one.

0339: So, to the final countdown for the big one at the MGM Grand, and what could be a sensational fight awaits. Top Rank have called it simply “Firepower” and if it delivers we could be in for something very special. Cotto looking very relaxed in his dressing room. Manny of course always does. In terms of picks, I’ve been wrestling with this one for weeks – have gone backwards and forwards many times. Am just leaning towards Manny presently, but I might change again by the time they get in the ring. The excitement is building!

0335: It’s official, Israel’s finest takes a unanimous decision by scores of 116-110 117-109 117-109 and is the new WBA light-middleweight king. Israel’s first world champion by the way – an historic moment.

0334: Final bell and surely Foreman about to be crowned the new WBA light-middleweight champion after knocking down Santos with a right in the 12th. Fine performance from Foreman but Santos a sad sight to be honest. Just waiting for the cards.

0329: Just a round left now in Foreman v Santos and to add to his problems the latter now has a nasty cut over his right eye. Behind on the cards as well in my humble opinion.

0325: Freddie Roach watching Cotto’s hands being wrapped at the moment – plenty of respect clearly between the two camps. That’s been a feature of the build-up for this one. No trash talk at all that I can remember. Meanwhile back in the ring a plodding Daniel Santos appears to be heading for defeat against Yuri Foreman – we’re in round 11 of that one.

0309: Big cheer around the arena as shots of Manny dancing in his dressing room appear on the big screen. Going for his seventh world title tonight, and apparently singing at Mandalay Bay afterwards. A man of many talents.

0300: Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the massive Las Vegas showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Just over an hour to fight time in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and this one should be a cracker. Cotto’s WBO welterweight title on the line and the biggest fight of the year so far. Daniel Santos and Yuri Foreman currently in undercard action – we’ll bring you all the action in the next couple of hours.

Via Sportinglife