Did manny ease off on Cotto out of respect?

Yeah, I'd say so. Cooto was really backpedaling which made it more difficult but it seemed like if Pacquaio gave 30 seconds of hard pressure in the 10th or 11th he could have gotten him out. I think pacquaio was hoping Cotto's corner would pull the plug.

Or, how about this, perhaps, Pacquiao knew things were in the bag and just wanted to savor the moment as he had nothing coming at him at that point. It's like getting to peak of the mountain and enjoying the scenery for awhile rather than just climbing down, right after arrival.

 

I think he just started gassing at some point, fighters don't ease off.

 

No, Pac is a professional.... exactly, plus manny said he was still trynna knock him out, and he also said he knew cotto was just trynna get that one hit ko by 9th round and above, so he was carefull to, i notice pacquaio has gotten way smarter with his iq now in the ring

 

the fight should been stopped in the ninth. however ever, if it goes to 12rd with only a minute left,bayless should have let it continue. cotto's physical wounds will recover, but his pride and dignity will take a little longer to recover for bayless to stop the fight.

 

Nah, I think he was slightly gassed. His cardio looked bad in the sparring sessions that I saw. Also he didn't have as much power in the last couple of rounds. It was his speed and precision that was killing Cotto. So he might not have wanted to shoot his load. Cause Cotto was still reasonably strong. Not strong enough to really hurt Pac but no one likes taking too much unecissary punishment when its already been a hard fight an you've got it in the bag.

Just the way he came out in the twelth made me think that he was looking for a knockout if he could get one. So saying that he carried Cotto there doesn't make much sense.

 

He said post fight that he thought the referee should've jumped in earlier. He was amazed they let him out for the twelth round. I thought he could've ended it any time in the "championship" rounds

 

Pac clearly took his foot off the gas pedal in the 10th and 11th round. I think he knew Cotto wanted to make it to the 12th round. Then Pac wanted to get the stoppage, and he did so swiftly. He could have done that at any point in the 10th and 11th, he just chose not to.

It was a lot like Jones-Calzaghe where Calz let Jones hang around out of respect.