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Source: gmanews.tv

-- Outsmarting a taller and heavier opponent, Manny Pacquiao needed 12 rounds to win by technical knockout (TKO) over a bloodied Miguel Cotto in their “Firepower" match Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Earning his seventh weight division title and still peaking at age 30, the national icon cemented his status as one of the greatest boxers ever.

Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight 55 seconds of the 12th round after seeing Cotto being pummeled by Pacquiao at the ropes.

"Miguel Cotto is one tough opponent. He took a lot of punches but still wouldn't go down that easily," said Pacquiao after the fight.

Pacquiao collected his seventh world title with the win as he snatched Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown and the diamond-studded World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt, an honorary championship given for elite boxers.

The General Santos City native Pacquiao – who started fighting as a 106-lb in the strawweight division – also holds the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight crown. He previously ruled the WBC light weight, WBC super featherweight, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight, WBC flyweight and RING Magazine’s featherweight divisions.