INQUIRER Sports

Once they?re done with the repair job on the severely damaged Miguel Cotto, the former world welterweight boxing champion can explain that he didn?t mind losing to twin warriors in Las Vegas Sunday.

Manny Pacquiao was indeed alone when he dethroned Cotto at the arena of MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

But there were fiery instances during the rigid bout when Cotto appeared like he was being confronted by two foes.

The hairless, tattooed Puerto Rican looked like a troubled ship reeling from a twin rain of chainsaw and lightning.

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The defeat was sharp, clinical and complete.

Of course, Cotto would be too proud to admit the humiliation.

In fact, after a tight, suspenseful start, Cotto loomed like a full-fledged menace, not the damaged boxer he was suspected to be.

This was the time when Pacquiao sized up his bigger foe.

Unfortunately, after being pitifully dominated by Pacquiao following a knockdown in the fourth, Cotto quietly shifted tactics.

He resorted to backpedaling in the final three rounds in a bid to finish on his feet and to save face.

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Referee Tony Bayless denied Cotto a dignified ending when he stopped the howling Pacquiao onslaught before the final bell.

As expected, Cotto protested the overdue stoppage.

But he was instantly in the other corner to humbly acknowledge Pacquiao?s superiority and greatness.

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Needless to say, the final result was another punching picnic for the extremely swift and sharp Pacquiao.

The bout was no less one-sided than Pacquiao?s previous conquests of Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

But, thanks to Cotto, Sunday?s slugging feast for the Filipino boxing superhero had a more delectable twist.

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No, the bout did not turn into a full-scale battle on the bridge as Pacquiao went on to capture an unprecedented seventh world crown unscathed.

But it cannot be said that he achieved the incredible feat trouble-free.

There were exciting stretches when Cotto ably stood his ground and made a good account of himself.

He did give Pacquiao a respectable amount of trouble.

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In gymnastics, this is the degree of difficulty used to gauge perfect scoring.

Cotto proved strong and tough enough to provide a legit test.

As a result, Pacquiao did not end up flattering himself with another easy win.

Cotto, an intrepid soul, raised the bar, so to say, that set Pacquiao soaring to record heights of greatness.

But weren?t there actually two Pacquiaos?the super swift puncher and the slower but dominant slasher?who cut, bloodied and conquered Cotto on Sunday?