By Klaas Mabetlela: It looks like we are all caught in our own excitement or disappointment to blow Manny Pacquiao’s win out of proportion. The great thing about Pacquiao’s slaughter of Miguel Cotto is that is has rejuvenated boxing in general and brought back some lost masses to the fistic arena. Boxing has not really been shinning in the past few years but Pacquiao’s recent performances, style and destruction of Cotto are all welcome to help boxing hold its own against other codes. But do we really need to exaggerate for and against this fantastic win?

Most articles and surrounding hyperbole out there make it look like Pacquiao just beat the greatest fighter out there and we are supposed to have never seen something like this. Most are jumping into the bandwagon with Bob Arum saying that Pacquiao is the best he has ever seen. I can’t blame Arum because great salespeople use all opportunities they get to up-sell. But it shows how fickle and easily manipulated we can be when we are excited or disappointed. The right picture will start emanating when the dust settles. At best, Cotto was one of the 3 best welterweights in the world when he fought Pacquiao. Cotto was not the best in the division let alone pound-for-pound and with no credentials whatsoever in as far as all-time greats are concerned.

On the flip side, Pacquiao is accused of ensuring that Cotto is weakened and all of a sudden 2 pounds makes all the difference. This argument is used to try to lessen the magnitude of Pacquiao’s win. The truth is in between, Pacquiao exceeded the expectations with his performance and cemented his status as the best pound for pound king. Cotto is and has always been a strong, good fighter with known flaws. Cotto lost to a superior fighter and the 2 pound excuses just do not cut it.