MANILA – Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao dominated and defeated a “bigger” Miguel Cotto by technical knockout enroute to winning a seventh world title in seven weight classes at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines).

Cotto was receiving too much punishment in the hands of Pacquiao that referee Kenny Bayless was forced to halt the fight just a little over 2 minutes left in the 12th Round.

Here’s a round-per-round report of how the fight played out:

Round 1
Cotto's jabs were connecting as Pacquiao tries to find his range. Cotto connects with a big left hook, throwing the Pacman back a bit. Cotto was controlling Pacquiao with his jabs while the Filipino was still trying to figure out his opponent. The Pacman connects with a 1-2. Pacman tries to slip the punches then attacked but Cotto held him. Cotto pressed his attack when Pacquiao landed a left hook that wobbled the Puerto Rican a bit.

Round 2
Pacquiao opened the round with jabs then threw a left straight. Cotto fought back and was apparently looking faster than the Pacman. Pacquiao put his defense up then connected with a left straight. The Pacman was throwing a combination when Cotto received a warning from the referee to keep his punches up. Pacquiao then rattled with big left hooks hurting Cotto a bit. The Puerto Rican tried trapping the Pacman in the corner but the Filipino escaped successfully.

Round 3
Pacquiao launched a barrage in the third round, decking Cotto! The Puerto Rican did not seem to be shaken but the referee started counting anyway. Cotto, known for his big heart, engaged Pacquiao in a toe-to-toe. Both fighters unleashed heavy bombs. The Pacman established a distance, launched a jab and a left straight then darted out. Cotto was again warned to keep his punches high. Cotto was pushing the Pacman's head down near the end of the round.

Round 4
Cotto jabbed then suddenly a gigantic left hook. Pacquiao retreated a bit as Cotto followed, throwing body punches. The Pacman throws a 1-2 combo then threw an upper cut, effectively cutting Cotto's attack. The Pacman then launched an assault, wobbling Cotto. Pacquiao invited Cotto to the ropes, slipped the punches and escaped as he trapped Cotto. The Puerto Rican tried to fight back but was caught with a punch in the chin. Cotto was down but was saved by the bell.

Round 5
Cotto pressed the attack in Round 5 as the Pacman boxed from a distance, evading the assault. Pacquiao successfully landed a combo again, forced Cotto to a peek-a-boo defense. Pacman was boxing beautifully, staying again on the ropes. Pacquiao got hit a bit then moved to the center of the ring. The Pacman jabbed and connected, Cotto held him down. Both fighters wrestled a bit. The bell rang in a flurry of exchanges.

Round 6
Cotto jabbed then moved forward. Pacquiao answered with right hook, upper cut and connected with big right hook. Rattled, Cotto dances away from the punches. The Pacman pressed the action forcing Cotto to retreat. Pacman throws a 1-2-3, Cotto held him down again. Cotto then kept the Filipino with effective jabs. Pacquiao suddenly lunged and wobbled Cotto. The round ended with Cotto tapping Pacquiao’s cheek as if saying: "Good round."

Round 7
The Pacman threw a heavy right hand that sent Cotto reeling. The Puerto Rican then kept his hands up, pressed a body attack through a right straight and a left hook to the body. Pacquiao seemed unaffected and even met Cotto with his own attack. The Pacman was already dictating the pace as Cotto tried to dance away. Pacquiao hunted Cotto, connecting a 1-2 before bell rang.

Round 8
Cotto was showing signs of bruises under the eyes. Pacquiao was getting confident as he again controlled the pace. Cotto used the ring to stay away but Pacquiao was relentless. The Puerto Rican tried to peck away with jabs but the Filipino caught him at the ropes. Cotto was hit with a 1-2-3 before he was able to step away. Pacquiao staked his prey, connected an upper cut and hook then trapped Cotto in the corner.

Round 9
Cotto tried to keep away again from Pacquiao as the Filipino slammed his gloves together, as if saying: "Come on and fight." Cotto attacks with a 1-2 but the Pacman fought back. Cotto held him down to stop the attack, then eventually foiund himself trapped at the ropes again. Parts of Cotto's face were already swelling, blood was flowing from his nose.

Round 10
The Puerto Rican tried to be the aggressor in this round but the Pacman held his defense. Pacquiao then launched explosive punches, prompting Cotto to hold his opponent. The Pacman walked forward, stalked a retreating Cotto. The Pacman showed signs of getting tired with all the chase. Pacquiao then picked the pace again. Cotto's face was really a mess by the end of this round. His nose was bleeding, right eye puffed. He also had a small cut in the left brow.

Round 11
By this round, it was clear that Cotto is just trying to survive the fight. This stage was showing shades of his fight against Antonio Margarito. The Pacman connected with 1-2-3-4 punches! Pacman tried trapping Cotto again but the Puerto Rican moved and jogged around. Cotto was already throwing "stay-away-from-me” jabs, drawing boos from the crowd. The Pacman has clearly established ring “generalship”.

Round 12
The final round showed Pacquiao stalking his prey, forcing Cotto again at the ropes. The Pacman launched a barrage against the helpless Cotto: 1-2, 1-2 and another 1-2! Referee Kenny Bayless had seen enough, stepped in and waved the fight off just seconds over 2 minutes remaining in Round 12.

Pacquiao is the new WBO welterweight champion!

Cotto embraced and congratulated Pacquiao while officials draped the WBO belt and the WBC diamond belt on the Pacman.