Pacman unloads 411 power shots

DALLAS – The number of power punches landed by Manny Pacquiao on Antonio Margarito just came close to what the hard-hitting Filipino needed to beat Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey combined.

In 12 rounds Saturday at the Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao landed a total of 474 punches, 411 of them power shots, meaning the rest could have been jabs or punches that merely grazed the Mexican.

Yes, 411 power shots.

Against Cotto, exactly a year ago today in Las Vegas, Pacquiao threw 560 power punches and only landed 276, and with Clottey, last March also at the Cowboys Stadium, he threw 686 power shots and landed 232.

Cotto was knocked out in the 12th and final round while Clottey lasted the distance, the way Margarito did. Combined, Pacquiao landed 508 power punches in his last two fights prior to this one.

Yet, Margarito remained up on his feet at the final bell, never going down even once, even if he looked in serious trouble as early as the fourth round.

It was in this round where Margarito’s right eye started to swell, the round where Pacquiao landed 43 of 62 power punches, including a few crunching shots to the body.

Then in round five, Pacquiao went 40-of-60 with his power punches; in round 10 going 57-of-89; and in the 11th round 51-of-75.

Margarito, who was an easy target, landed 132 power shots on Pacquiao.

Certainly not enough to carry him to victory.