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Source: Dennis Gasgonia, abs-cbnnews.com

-- Boxing historian Bert Sugar said Manny Pacquiao’s victory over Miguel Cotto has easily placed the Filipino icon among the greatest in boxing history.

“He did something so unprecedented tonight,” Sugar said in an interview over ESPN.com. “He leaps over tall divisions in a single bound and he's gone all the way up to seven divisions, winning seven titles.”

“He is sort of the Evel Knievel of boxing,” added the boxing historian, referring to the famous motorcycle daredevil.

The seventh title Pacquiao has won was the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title previously owned by Cotto.

Before that, the Filipino dynamo has already won 6 world titles in the junior welterweight, lightweight, super featherweight, featherweight, super bantamweight and flyweight divisions.

“I've already accorded him the greatest Asian fighter ever, the greatest left-handed fighter ever,” said Sugar. “He's easily in the top 20 (all time list).”

Sugar said Pacquiao's 7th title win is comparable to what boxing great Henry Armstrong did in the 1930's, which was a time when there were fewer weight divisions. Armstrong held 3 world titles in 3 weight classes.

"[This is] something only done in respect to the number of divisions by Henry Armstrong... This is equal. I have Armstrong in No. 2 in the all time [list]. So you gotta give Pacquiao a high place on the Panthaleon."

Sugar was astounded with Pacquiao’s relentless attack on Cotto despite the danger the Puerto Rican boxer poses against him.

“For [the first] four rounds it was [like Marvin] Hagler-[Tommy] Hearns. But it changed, it was Pacquiao, Pacquiao and more Pacquiao,” said the boxing analyst.

Sugar said Pacquiao’s daredevil style of attack has earned him great respect from boxing fans.

“I thought it was a great effort for one reason: he wasn't afraid to walk into a wheelhouse of Miguel Cotto, a welterweight with a heavier punch. And duked it out with him one-on-one. That gained a lot of respect from me and most of the people in the press section,” he said.

A dangerous experiment

For local boxing analyst Ed Tolentino, Pacquiao’s gamble against Cotto was a dangerous experiment.

“During those occasions when Manny Pacquiao was provoking Cotto to hit him, Pacquiao was trying to say: ‘Okay, I thought you were the homerun hitter, here I am, hit me hard. Throw your best shot, no effect, I get to knock you down,’” said Tolentino.

Such tactic, he said has destroyed Cotto’s confidence and has cost him his title.

“It was a dangerous experiment for Manny Pacquiao to encourage Cotto to hit him, but it was a dangerous experiment that only a fighter like Manny Pacquiao can pull off,” said Tolentino.

Speed kills

Other boxing analysts said that it was Pacquiao's speed coupled with his punching power that diminished Cotto's offense.

They said that although the Puerto Rican champ has knock out power, he could not land a perfect punch on Pacquiao.

"Definitely 'yung speed was more of a factor today," said sports analyst Dennis Principe. "Nakita nating sa first round, kuma-counter-counter si Cotto.. but come the second round nung ginamit na ni manny yung handspeed nya, 'yung kanyang counter punching, at moving in and out, iniiwasan na yung mga suntok ni Cotto."

Boxing commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz said it was Pacquiao's ability to beat Cotto to the punch and absorb the incoming barrage that destroyed the Puerto Rican's psyche.

"He's following the old theory of [Gabriel] 'Flash' Elorde: for me to hit him, I have to get hit first. So two things, it showed he could take the power. I mean Cotto hit him with some really good shots but he didnt even blink, it didnt wince, which added to his confidence, and depressed Cotto," he said.