MANNY PACQUIAO’S iconic stature will surely be elevated to a demigod after that 12-round massacre of Miguel Cotto.

I have seen the best in the boxing world during my time—Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, to name a few. But Manny Pacquiao is simply phenomenal with his clinical devastation of one of the best welterweights we have seen.

LAS VEGAS—Lightning kept striking in sharp, penetrating bursts on Saturday (Sunday afternoon in Manila) night in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Most of it was hitting Miguel Cotto’s face.

Finally, 55 seconds into the final round of the 12-round welterweight boxing match, referee Kenny Bayless stepped in and stopped the thunder and lightning and huge headaches being administered by the incredible fighting machine, Manny Pacquiao.

LAS VEGAS—Manny Pacquiao knocked down Miguel Cotto twice and turned his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him 55 seconds into the 12th round on Saturday to win his seventh title in seven weight classes.

The Filipino star used his blazing speed and power from both hands to cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.