There was no stopping Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao from achieving greatness in boxing as he conquered Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto yesterday via a technical knockout in the final round to claim his seventh world title in as many divisions.

Pacquiao added to his collection Cotto's welterweight title, his seventh after winning the world championships in the flyweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight.

His historic victory was personally witnessed by about 16,000 crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas , Nevada and millions of Filipinos and boxing followers all over the world, among them, the Negrense community who packed all venues where free live telecast of the bout was shown, and those who patiently waited for the delayed telecast in their television.

“He is the greatest and every Filipino boxer should live up to the standard he is setting for all of us,” World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Negrense Donnie Nietes said.

Nietes, who watched the fight in Cebu where he is presently based, said the fight could have ended in the 8 th or 9 th round had Cotto chose not to dance away from Pacquiao's range.

“Manny, once again, made us all very proud as Filipinos. He has achieved boxing immortality,” said Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonarida, who, for the 8 th time, carried one of Pacquiao's championship belts and witnessed the unfolding of history at the ringside.

“I will not be surprised if someday, somebody would recommend Manny as a national hero,” Leonardia added.

Equally proud of Pacquiao's latest conquest was Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco who considers the Pacman the world's best fighter.

“I'm proud of him as he brings honor and glory to the Filipino people in the field of boxing,” Zayco said.

The unprecedented win of Pacquiao showcased the world-class talent and skills of Filipinos, Games and Amusement Board Commissioner and Negros Amateur Boxing Association president Juan Ramon Guanzon said.

This historic event in boxing elevated the status of Filipinos in the world. Pacquiao, indeed, made all of us very proud of our race, businessman Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, who sponsored free live telecast of the fight in the cities and towns of Negros Occidental's Third District said.

As Pacquiao punched his way through history, the 3,000 crowd that gathered at the Don Alejandro Acuna Yap Quina Arts and Cultural Center in Victorias City cheered him on.

Just as loud were the shouts of jubilation at the Wilkinson Social Court in E.B. Magalona, where Mayor David Lacson and other town officials gathered to watch the bout, and in the cities of Silay and Talisay where a similar live telecast was shown.

In Murcia , about 1,300 people trooped to the La Consolacion College Covered Court as early as 10 a.m. where a wide screen was installed.

Joining them was businessman Andrew Montelibano who said that Pacquiao's victory showed to the world the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people.

The stunning 12-round TKO sealed Pacquiao's status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

He dominated the bout from the second round up to the last 55 seconds when referee Kenny Bayless finally stepped in to stop the slaughter as the bloodied Cotto staggered inside the ring.

In a post-fight interview, Pacquiao said he was surprised that Cotto continued to fight as he was sure that the barrage of punches he threw the Puerto Rican in the 11 th round was enough to make him go down.

He knocked Cotto down for the first time in the third round with a short right hook set up by a left jab and again in the fourth round as the Filipino champ came off the ropes and threw a short left hook that sent Cotto sprawling sideways across the ring.*NAB

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