Cotto vs Pacquiao Reviews

Pacquiao won a fight against Cotto in 12 rounds

2009-11-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao celebrates with trainer Freddie Roach after beating Miguel Cotto in a WBO welterweight title fight on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Manny Pacquiao staked his claim atop boxing’s mythical throne as the pound-for-pound best, using his lightning hand speed to beat and batter Miguel Cotto into submission Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao knocked Cotto down once in the third round and again in the fourth, pummeled him repeatedly and easily lifted the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from the Puerto Rican with a 12th-round stoppage. The time was 55 seconds into the final round, as referee Kenny Bayless leaped between the fighters to save Cotto a more savage beating and ignominious end.

Cotto came out strong and landed some hard punches, but Cotto couldn’t deal with the speed. Pacquiao was landing three shots for every two Cotto did early. After the knockdown in the fourth, Cotto’s offense was nonexistent as he spent most of the last two thirds of the fight fending off Pacquiao’s onslaught.

Cotto landed in single digits in power shots in every round from the fifth forward.

Pacquiao nearly had the stoppage after the 11th when Cotto trainer Joe Santiago walked onto the ring apron and waved his hand at Bayless.

It appeared he was going to stop the fight, but then Bayless and ringside physician James Game spoke and allowed it to continue. It was only extending the misery as Pacquiao poured it on in the 12th.

When the fight ended, the crowd began to chant, “We want Floyd!” It was a reference to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other man with a claim to the top of the boxing pound-for-pound list.

Pacquiao, who has won championship belts in five divisions and beat the linear champion in two others, can no longer be knocked as a small man who was beating washed up fighters.

In Cotto, he took on an elite and powerful welterweight whose only loss came under suspicious circumstances to Antonio Margarito last year. There is suspicion that Margarito’s gloves were loaded for that fight, though it has never been proven.

But Pacquiao proved he was able to not only take a welterweight punch, but rock him repeatedly. It was a magnificent performance and will create public demand for a fight with Mayweather.

“I want to see him fight Mayweather,” Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said.

Santiago said Pacquiao hit harder and was stronger than expected. Cotto injured his left shoulder in the eighth.

Pacquiao vs Cotto

Watch Pacquiao vs Cotto Live Streaming Internet

2009-11-14T09:10:00.001-08:00

Live Streaming of Pacquiao vs Cotto Online

As for the weigh-in, Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico pose during an official weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. Pacquiao weighed in first at 144 pounds, then Cotto at 145.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KO) and Cotto (34-1, 27 KO) met centerstage in a traditional stare down for media before briefly tapping each other on the arm.

Televised bouts:
WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title fight: Jesus Soto-Karass (24-3-3, 16 KO), 147.5 pounds vs. Alfonso Gomez (20-4-2, 10 KO) 145.5 pounds

WBA Super Welterweight Title fight: Yuri Foreman (27-0, 8 KO), 154 pounds vs. Daniel Santos (32-3-1, 23 KO), 154 pounds

Middleweight fight: Troy Rowland (25-2, 7 KO), 159 pounds vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (40-0-1, 30 KO), 160 pounds

The Cotto vs Pacquiao fight would be one of the biggest of the year in boxing. But it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing for boxing fans, because it would also be a step away from the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather superfight that everyone wants to see.

Live Streaming of Pacquiao vs Cotto Internet

Watch Pacquiao vs Cotto Live Streaming Online

2009-11-14T09:10:00.000-08:00

Watch Pacquiao vs Cotto Online

Live Streaming of Pacquiao vs Cotto Online

Cotto expected to fight like Manuel Marquez

2009-11-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

The betting is WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico will try to fight like Juan Manuel Marquez and use a counterpunching style in his second title defense against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 14 (Sunday morning, Manila).

A source from Pacquiao’s camp said yesterday trainer Freddie Roach has prepared several strategies and tactics depending on what Cotto brings to the ring. But the expectation is Cotto will counterpunch instead of come forward to avoid presenting Pacquiao with an easy target.

Pacquiao went the distance twice with Marquez and was hard-pressed in both 12-round bouts. Marquez, a technical fighter with a counterpunching style that appeared to baffle Pacquiao, said he’s convinced he won the fights.

The first encounter ended up a split draw at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in May 2004. Judge John Stewart scored it 115-110 for Pacquiao, judge Guy Jutras 115-110 for Marquez and Burt Clemens, 113-all. Clemens later admitted he erred in scoring 10-8 instead of 10-7 when Pacquiao decked Marquez thrice in the first round. If Clemens had not made a mistake, Pacquiao would’ve won by split decision.

In the rematch last year, Pacquiao was stretched to the limit in pounding out a win by split decision. Judge Duane Ford had it 115-112 for Pacquiao, judge Jerry Roth 115-112 for Marquez and judge Tom Miller 114-113 for Pacquiao.

Ford is one of three judges assigned for the Pacquiao-Cotto bout. The others are Adalaide Byrd and Dave Moretti.

Since Pacquiao had difficulty with Marquez, Cotto probably figures to do exactly what the Mexican did in the two fights against the Filipino icon. It’s no secret that Marquez gave Pacquiao a lot to think about in their faceoffs. Cotto wants to do that, too.

“We expect Cotto to counterpunch, do something different,” said the source. “But whatever he does, it won’t work. Manny’s in the best shape of his life. There’s no way Cotto can win, no matter what style he shows.”

Cotto, a natural left-hander, could be Pacquiao’s toughest opponent ever because he’s clever, unpredictable and bigger. He’s also known to use unorthodox tactics, like hitting below the belt to stymie his opponent’s momentum.

Cotto fights right-handed but because he’s a natural southpaw, he has the ability to switch-hit. The Puerto Rican displayed his flexibility in fighting either way in halting Demetrio Ceballos in the seventh round in Las Vegas in 2003.

Roach said he’s not taking Cotto lightly. “I know what he can do,” said Roach. “He can box or punch, come forward or fight from a distance. That’s why we brought in different types of sparring partners for Manny. We’re ready for any eventuality.”

In training for Cotto, Pacquiao has sparred with former world champion Jose Luis Castillo, 35 (60-9-1, with 52 KOs), Shawn Porter, 22 (10-0, with 8 KOs), Urbano Antillon, 27 (26-1, with 19 KOs), Danny Escobar, 20 (3-0, with 3 KOs), Raymundo Beltran, 28 (22-4, with 14 KOs) and Rashad Holloway, 28 (11-1-2, with 5 KOs). The sparmates are a mix of welterweights, lightweights and a lightmiddleweight.

In contrast, Cotto’s sparmates are far from quality fighters. They’re all southpaws like Pacquiao. Welterweight Fred Tukes, 36, has a 7-1-1 record, with 5 KOs, and hasn’t fought since figuring in a four-round draw with Max Skayzer last year. Lighweight Kenny Abril, 25, has a 9-3-1 record, with 5 KOs. Another sparmate Francisco (Gato) Figueroa, 31 (20-3-1, with 13 KOs ) was fired after a week and the speculation was he made Cotto look bad.

Aside from working with superior sparmates, Pacquiao has the advantage of a high-quality corner. Roach, 49, is joined by Argentinian cutman Miguel Diaz, a trainer and manager in his own right with a storybook career. His strength and conditioning coach is Colombian Alex Ariza. Cotto’s trainer is Joe Santiago, 32, who got the job after the Puerto Rican booted out his uncle Evangelista Cotto before the fight against Joshua Clottey five months ago. Cotto’s cutman is Joe Chavez and his strength and conditioning coach is Phil Landman.

Diaz used to be Cotto’s cutman and Chavez previously worked with Pacquiao. Now, they’ve exchanged corners with Pacquiao clearly getting the better deal.

Source: Philippine Star

Pacquiao ready for Cotto's counterplay

2009-11-07T09:17:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao won’t make the same mistake twice, and that’s an absolute guarantee.

That mistake, there for all to see in Pacquiao’s fight against Juan Manuel Marquez in March last year, will be the same mistake Miguel Cotto is hoping to exploit when he climbs the ring against the red-hot Filipino southpaw next week in Las Vegas.

Too bad for the champion from Puerto Rico that Pacquiao has already found ways to correct them.

“We all know they studied our fight against Marquez,” said Buboy Fernandez, who helps Freddie Roach work the corner of the 30-year-old pound-for-pound champion, at the Wild Card Gym here Friday.

The childhood friend and assistant trainer of the greatest fighter in the planet today said against Marquez, Pacquiao, winner of the controversial split decision, showed his tendency to drop his left hand when he throws the jab, and leaves himself open.

“They probably saw Manny’s weakness, which they could counter,” said Fernandez.

“Binababa niya ang kaliwa pag tumapon ng jab,” he added.

While the wide-bodied Cotto makes a living with his left hook, he can always go for Pacquiao through every opening.

“That’s why we worked hard on that aspect. Pinag-aralan namin ang pinag-aralan nila sa atin (We studied what they studied against us),” added Fernandez, heavy on the belly but always up to the task of working Pacquiao’s corner.

“We found the ways to counter this mistake now,” he said.

When Pacquiao is on the ring, sparring or working on the mitts, Fernandez is always there to air his voice, and in Friday’s workout gave Pacquiao constant reminders when moving in and out and throwing punches both ways.

“Ingatan lang ang left hook ni Cotto (We should be wary of the left hook),” added Fernandez.

Pacquiao hit the mitts for eight rounds with Roach, and oftentimes the American trainer would remind Pacquiao not to be as reckless as he probably was against Marquez when he walked into the Mexican’s right the whole night.

It was the closest Pacquiao came to defeat since March of 2005 when he lost to Erik Morales.

“Remember, don’t walk straight into him. Don’t be reckless,” Roach kept on reminding Pacquiao as they worked the mitts.

Fernandez said Pacquiao is good to fight anyday from now, considering that all the hard work has been done, with close to 150 rounds of sparring over the last seven weeks.

Pacquiao spars another four rounds Saturday, and on Monday will close it out with a couple more before he and his huge entourage take the four-hour ride to Las Vegas.

“We’ve achieved the number of sparring rounds we wanted. We’re close to 150 now (144 in total) and that’s as many as we’ve had in the previous fights,” said Fernandez.

“I feel like I’m in perfect condition now -- a hundred percent. I can already feel the power in my hands. It’s there. I’m ready,” said Pacquiao.

Source: The Philippine Star

Cotto Getting Ready In Florida

2009-11-06T23:27:00.000-08:00

Cotto Getting Ready In Florida; Arum Says Pacquiao's Trainer

TAMPA - Interesting tattoos. They spread out across the arms and torso of Miguel Cotto like a creeping vine, growing upward, closer and closer to his cheek and chin, toward that crazy Mike Tyson look that Cotto might want to avoid.

When it’s jokingly suggested by a member of the media that Cotto doesn’t let the tattoo creep up onto his face ala Tyson, Cotto just grins. He’ll do what he wants, but I’m guessing the artwork won’t stretch past the collar line.

The tattoos have grown some since the last time Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) was here training at the Fight Factory. That was this spring when he was getting ready to fight Joshua Clottey in June at Madison Square Garden. He won that fight, but it didn’t come easy. He won by split decision and received a bad cut over his eye from a head butt early in the fight. Any questions about his heart were answered.

So he and his growing tattoos and his young trainer, Joe Santiago, are back in Tampa, training for his fight with Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2) on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Cotto likes training in Tampa. There aren’t a lot of distractions here and the weather in October is hot and humid, kind of like it is back home in Puerto Rico.

“Puerto Rico is my country and that's where I live,” he said, talking with the media after a two-hour workout that included skip roping, bag work, a session on the focus mitts and some crunches. “But there are a lot of distractions when I’m there. That’s what I like best about Tampa, there are no distractions. I do two things when I’m here. I train and I rest. Train and rest.“

Cotto’s training regimen is a lesson in routine. Everything is planned, precise and consistent. And he seldom says a word. He just listens to his music and works the rope or the bag or the mitt. The last time we were here when he was getting ready for Clottey, he went through the same routine he went through for Pacquiao, again, hardly saying a word.

He doesn’t give out secrets.

Promoter Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, was in town this week to see how the second half of his promotion was doing. Earlier this month, he was in the Philippines checking on Pacquiao, who is training in his home country intil later this month.

“I’m very, very careful not to favor one fighter over the other,“ Arum said as he watched Cotto train. “Right now, with Manny so far away, it makes it easier (not to show favoritism). I never interfere. I just want to see that they are both getting the best possible training.”

Arum might not have a favorite, but Pacquiao is a bigger draw right now than Cotto, and he’ll get a bigger piece of the pie.

“I take great pride in this fight,“ Arum said. “We have two guys who are going to make their biggest payday on Nov. 14. Pacquiao will make over $20 million and Cotto will make over $10 million. And I helped create that.“

Still not showing any favoritism, Arum said Pacquiao’s biggest advantage going into the fight was having trainer Freddie Roach in his corner.

“Manny is an offensive machine,” he said. “He blends in his defense in the best possible way. In essence, he turns himself into a magician in the ring. He can disappear while in plain sight.

“Manny is an explosive puncher, but he doesn’t have the ultimate power Miguel has. Miguel is the bigger guy, and Manny might be vulnerable to Miguel’s left hand to the body and the head. It’s how Manny reacts to those left hands that will be the story of the fight.”

Arum said there are no secrets about what each one brings into a fight.

“They both have histories,“ he said.

The two will be fighting for Cotto’s WBO welterweight title, though they’ve abandoned the 147-pound limit and agreed to a catch weight of 145 pounds.

Asked what he thought of the catch-weight, Cotto said if he thought he’d have trouble making 145 pounds, they wouldn’t have taken the fight.

“I weighed 146 when I fought Clottey,“ he said. “I’m in my best shape ever.”

By Rick Folstad ()

Pacquiao on TIME Magazine Cover Front Page

2009-11-06T23:21:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao on TIME Magazine Cover

20 years after former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has attained the same feat. A month after several typhoons devastated the Philippines, “Pacman” is featured on the cover of TIME Magazine (Asia edition). All regions of the publication will feature a story on the pound-for-pound boxing icon this weekend.

Titled “The Great Hope” the General Santos City’s appearance on the cover is historic for any sports athlete. The last Filipino featured on the cover was the late President Corazon Aquino. She was named TIME Magazine’s “Woman of the Year” in 1986, for toppling the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Only nine boxers have ever been featured on the cover of TIME. Reserved for Popes, presidents, Nobel Prize winners, and societal feats, the publication decided to shine the spotlight on the Philippine hero. The tale? Clawing out of the abyss of homelessness, dropping out of elementary school to support his family, and participating in local fights for a purse of $2 – if he won. On some days, he slept on cardboard boxes and ate one meal a day consisting only of rice.

Pacquiao worked menial odd jobs. After running away to Manila as a young teenager, Pacquiao would begin to hone his pugilistic skills. His ferocious drive bludgeoned with distinct clarity the faces of his ring opponents. They represented nothing more than the extreme adversities which he long sought to overcome. On the flight back home after his demolition of Oscar de la Hoya (Manny was a 2-1 underdog going into the fight), he declared “Nothing is impossible, so long as you keep God in your heart and in your mind.” That message is a rallying cry for a struggling people. Today, he makes his mark as an all-time great. He remains a gentleman outside of the ring. Out of the many legendary fighters to have fought in the last 25 years, Mike Tyson was the last boxer featured (in 1988). The likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Roy Jones, Jr., Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Evander Holyfield were not. Prior to Tyson, Muhammad Ali was last on the cover in 1978.

“What is happening to me now is the most humbling experience of my life. It is a great honor for me to be the face of my people and to let everyone know we are a small but mighty country. I have great pride for all of the Filipinos living throughout the world and it is these people that I fight for each and every time I step into the ring.”

Manny Pacquiao’s significance on and to Philippine society may never be overstated – or entirely understood by the West. And he is only 30. The West cuts down and cannibalizes its own role models. In the East, heroes are praised and elevated – especially upon the retention of original values and virtues. Michael Jordan, widely considered the greatest basketball player, appeared on TIME’s cover once (in 1998). (Other Athletes on TIME Magazine Cover) Pacquiao’s humility, generosity, and faith are qualities that resonate with his people. For the West, who also struggles under a deep economic recession, he provides an opportunity to reflect upon its mores of brashness, ego, and obsession on self-interest. In a recent interview on Philippine GMA News at a church in Los Angeles, Pacquiao said he not only prays for himself but for all of his opponents in the ring. That includes a prayer for his next opponent on November 14th. Proverbs 22:4 may aptly describe the examplar: “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.“

Should the Filipino emerge triumphant in his bout with Puerto Rico’s welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, he will have become the only fighter in the long history of the sport to secure seven world titles in seven different weight classes. Many expect it to be a tough fight against another larger opponent. In seeking boxing immortality, Manny Pacquiao discloses the attributes of a man that on a daily basis choose large, historic challenges. He intends to permanently retire from boxing in 2010 and run for congress in the Philippines in May next year. The struggle lives on. Inspiration marches alongside.

By Marv Dumon (examiner.com)

Miguel Cotto: Calm and Confident

2009-11-06T23:18:00.000-08:00

Miguel Cotto calm and relax

He’s coming from a lower division,” said WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto moments ago to reporters. “If they think they have more power than Miguel Cotto, they’re wrong!” As for any speed advantage Pacquiao has, Cotto stated “I’m prepared for anything he can bring… I’m prepared fo r all he can show me.” On whether he’ll KO Manny, Cotto commented, “I never come out to knock out any fighter… [but] if I hit him pretty good, I’m going for it… I’m very confident that I’m going to come out with a victory that night!” Cotto vs Pacquiao takes place November 14 in Las Vegas for what is shaping up as a huge boxing pay-per-view blockbuster. Source: fightnews.com

Watch Pacquiao vs Cotto Live Streaming

2009-11-04T03:26:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto dubbed as “Firepower”, is set to take place on November 14, 2009 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET. at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The much anticipated fight, Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto is set at 145-pound limit, will be shown live on HBO pay-per-view. The Pacquiao vs Cotto fight is scheduled for 12 rounds for new WBC Belt.

The showdown Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto will be at a catch weight of about 145 pounds and is promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate.
WHERE TO WATCH PACQUIAO VS COTTO LIVE STREAM ONLINE?

The Pacquiao vs Cotto fight will be available in live Pay Per View while people have flocked to free live streaming online channels just like where they found websites in the results for the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez. Now, its time for Pacquiao vs Cotto live fight that boxing fans are going to have a hard time finding free Pacquiao vs Cotto live stream. Best thing is if you already have your tickets to watch the fight live. If you can’t afford to go Las Vegas to see it LIVE, I will recommend to watch it live on HBO Pay-Per-View (PPV) to be sure of good quality streaming video.

HBO already started airing Pacquiao vs Cotto HBO 24/7 on October 24, 2009 signaling the countdown before the fight on the 14th.

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Fight Results will be posted here as soon as it happens.

Pacquiao vs Cotto Prediction

2009-11-04T03:18:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao vs Cotto

These two will fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 14 in what promises to be another great war between two superstars—this one at a catch weight of 145 pounds. Cotto is 34-1 with a lofty KO percentage of 77.14 while Pacquiao is 49-3-2 with an impressive KO percentage of 68.52.

The Breakdown: In many ways, these two are more alike than not. They are skilled, have great heart, are great sportsmen, and represent their respective homelands with dignity and class, but enough of the niceties, let’s cut to the chase..

Level of Opposition:

Manny has fought 9 fights against 5 guys who arguably have a great shot at being inducted into the Hall of Fame. But he also fought and beat fine Thai and Filipino fighters with great records coming in. If you throw a dart at his list of opponents, you might, for example, hit South Korean Seung-Kon Chae (23-0), Mexican Oscar Larios (56-4-1), Thai Wethya Sakmuangklang (41-3), or Colombian Jorge Eliecer Julio (44-3).

Cotto’s list of opponents is also impressive. It includes name like Zab Zudah, Sugar Shane Mosley, and Antonio Margarito. He is now coming off a split decision win over the tough Joshua Clottey, a fight in which he showed that he can still fight through adversity.

Style

Cotto is a boxer/puncher but most often, he is a stalking and menacing presence that carefully breaks down his opponents with heavy and punishing body attacks. In his fight with Mosley, he showed he is far more than a banger; in fact, he seems to add to his technical skills each time he fights.

But speaking of skills, Pacquiao now seems to possess an arsenal the qualitative content and completeness of which only Floyd Mayweather Junior can stake claim to. With his in-and-out whirlwind movement, effective jabs, fight-ending hooks from both hands, solid stamina, and a sound defense, there is little to criticize. As for speed, Pacquiao is flat out faster than Cotto in every way, particularly with his foot movement.

Both have one punch Knock Out power, though in my opinion, Cotto is stronger than Pac Man at this weight and if he connects flush, he could send Pac Man back to General Santos City faster than you can say “Boricua.” But Pacquio’s ability to send Cotto to Caguas dreamland should not be underestimated. It will be interesting to see what happens when Miguel tests Manny with his first rattling body shot.

Chin

Cotto has been hurt on a number of occasions and I see his chin as being relatively weaker than that of Manny’s, but his recuperative power and strength advantage make this a wash. Manny has been hurt badly as well, but it occurred too far back to be meaningful in my view.

Ring IQ

Both are savvy and experienced fighters, but I believe Pacquiao has the edge as he can adapt to different situations faster. However, Cotto showed he can adjust as well in the Mosley fight and then later against Clottey when he fought from the outside during the last rounds. Yet, was this from being overly cautious perhaps as a result of the so-called “Ghost of Margarito,” or was it because Clottey held back for some inexplicable reason and did not press the action? If a similar situation develops in this fight, Pacquiao will not be reticent and will jump on Cotto faster than you can say “Pinoy.”

Intangibles

These are particularly important. Let’s start with …

1) Momentum: Pac Man gets the clear nod. He is on a great streak of big wins (Hatton, De La Hoya, Diaz, Marquez, Barrera, Solis, Morales, and Larios). Cotto, however, is coming off a close SD win, a walk-over win with Michael Jennings, and a devastating TKO loss to Margarito. More importantly, the loss to Margarito raises questions as to whether he is as good as he once was.

2) Cuts: Both fighters are prone to cuts, so the effectiveness of their respective cut men could play a key role here. It certainly did in Cotto’s last outing. Moreover, Manny’s body is more rested than Cotto’s.

3) Trainers and Camp: Freddie Roach vs. Junito’s relatively new corner. On April 8, 2009, Cotto fired his uncle, Evangelista Cotto, from the team's staff, following a reportedly violent discussion. He then appointed Joe Santiago, who had been his nutritionist, as his new trainer. Though he guided Miguel to victory in the Clottey fight, the clear nod goes to Roach. Look, you don’t argue with his kind of success.

However, there have been rumors (which I don’t necessarily buy) that the strong chemistry between Freddie and Manny has been straining some. If true, this evens out what could be an obvious advantage for Pacquiao. The typhoons have devastated the Philippines while Manny was training there. How this might impact him is conjectural, but it did, in fact, force Roach to break camp early against Manny’s objections. Still, it could provide an incentive for Manny in the fight. This is a classic intangible factor. On balance, it does appear Cotto is having a more serene camp than Pac Man.

4) Cotto's loss to Margarito: Some say it was suspicious and therefore the severity of it should be discounted. But even assuming that to be so, the beating took place so suspicious or not, the damage was done.

5) Catch Weight: Cotto coming down; Pacquiao coming up favors Cotto, though Pacquiao seems to take his strength with him as he moves up in weight.

6) Dimensions: They are both about the same size, but Cotto has a naturally bigger frame.

Outcome

I see Pac Man beating Miguel Cotto in a fast paced action fight in which Manny will exploit Cotto’s weakness beginning in the mid rounds (but I don’t see it happening the other way around). This exploitation will be enhanced by Pacquio’s incredibly fast in-and-out movement accompanied by just about every punch in the manual-- and each thrown with malice aforethought—as he cuts and befuddles Cotto and starts to slow down his trademark stalk as he lands punches from every direction.

Now then, I clearly remember Cotto backing up in the late rounds against Clottey and I think I even might have seen glimpses of “Margorito” being somewhere in that ring. If Cotto backs up against Pacquiao (and I think he will at some point), the Filipino superman will be on him fast and will not let him off the hook. Of course, if Pac back up against Cotto going into the late rounds, that could spell doom for him, because Cotto is a stalker extraordinaire and who knows how to close off a ring and knows how to close a fight.

In sum, given his superb performance against Ricky Hatton and given Miguel’s not-so-superb performance against Clottey, Manny may well win within the distance, perhaps on cuts. Cotto will not like the overwhelming variety of weapons he faces including stinging jabs, right hooks to the head, left hooks to the jaw, brutal uppercuts (remember Margorito), speed, and in-and-out movement the likes of which he has never before seen. Miguel, on the other hand, will show Manny nothing new except strength and maybe one of the best body attacks in boxing. But speed will be the decisive factor here and speed is what Manny Pacquiao is all about.

One thing is certain; this will be a blood and guts type of affair.

Cotto vs Pacquiao: and the winner is..

2009-09-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

Cotto vs Pacquiao Fight

Less than three months separate salivating fight fans from the November 14 catch weight showdown in Las Vegas between WBO Welterweight Champion, Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), and pound-for-pound kingpin, Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs). At stake is Cotto’s WBO Welterweight Belt, along with the newly-minted WBC Diamond Belt, though most fans know there’s plenty more at stake than title straps.

Also up for grabs are legitimate claims to pound-for-pound supremacy within the boxing world, and a seemingly guaranteed match-up with the winner of the September 19 bout between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (39-0, 25 KOs) and Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs).

And while Internet chat rooms are abuzz with passionate support for both combatants, who will really have the edge on November 14? The theories are numerous, but the old adage still rings true: Styles make fights. It’s one of the reasons Kelly Pavlik was able to vanquish Jermain Taylor on two occasions, and why Bernard Hopkins was able to completely outclass Pavlik in a separate bout, despite the fact that Taylor had beaten Hopkins twice himself. Whose style suits them best in this fight?

The vast majority of analysts seem to agree that Pacquiao’s speed and footwork have the potential to give Cotto fits, and conversely, that Cotto’s power and potent body attack embody threats that Pacquiao has likely never faced in his long and illustrious career. However, both fighters have proven in the past that they have the tools necessary to adapt to their opponent’s attack. Cotto managed to neutralize the speed and footwork of Zab Judah in 2006 and Shane Mosley in 2007, and Pacquiao quickly put to bed any concerns over his apparent size and strength disadvantages in his dismantling of Oscar de La Hoya and Ricky Hatton earlier this year.

Leading up to Pacquiao’s last two fights, critics argued that his opponents possessed physical characteristics that would spell his doom. Both times they were proven wrong. However, assuming a normal rehydration between the weigh-in and fight night for Cotto, its safe to say that Cotto will represent the biggest obstacle that Pacquiao has ever met in his career, both literally and figuratively. Will this finally be the fight where Pacquiao meets his match in someone who’s simply too big for him?

Or will this be a fight that turns out exactly as odds-makers are predicting? The early 2-1 odds in favor of Pacquiao spell the belief that Cotto won’t be able to keep up with a fighter with the speed, pop, and footwork that Pacquiao possesses.

Critics can argue advantages and disadvantages until they’re blue in the face, but one point that everyone should agree on is that this fight was named “Firepower” for a reason. For as long as this fight lasts, fans can expect high-paced action from bell-to-bell. Cotto and Pacquiao have built fan-friendly reputations because of their penchant for delivering and absorbing punishment, not because they were content to Compu-box their way to a points victory. And despite your allegiances, fight fans from every corner should be thrilled that this bout has come to fruition.

What does the future hold? Over the next three months, how the boxing landscape will be painted is anybody’s guess. Will we see Pacquiao vs. Mayweather in 2010? Cotto vs. Marquez? Or some other variation among the four fighters? Time will tell. Let the countdown begin.

Cotto vs Pacquiao (Boxing Fight)

Cotto vs Pacquiao - Big Fight

2009-09-14T08:59:00.001-07:00

Cotto vs Pacquiao - Big Fight
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Pacquiao vs Cotto - Big Fight

Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions officially announced yesterday that the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto fight, scheduled for November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is a done deal at a catch-weight of 145 pounds. In what has been a strange, transitional year for the sweet science, this is likely to prove the only true super-fight of 2009 in terms of both the legitimacy of the match-up and the interest it generates.

So far this year, there’s only been one really big boxing event – Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton on May 2. And though that was a high-profile bout that garnered a lot of crossover attention and did big business (over 800K in PPV buys), when Pacquiao pulverized Hatton in only two rounds, it confirmed the belief of most boxing pundits that the fight was a mismatch from the start. Once again, Hatton rode his rabid following and great popularity in the UK to a gigantic payday, and once again he proved to be a second-rate fighter with first-rate drawing power.

Other than Pacquiao/Hatton, the only other meeting of A-list names in ’09 was January’s fight between Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito at the Staples Center. But while that was also a very successful promotion, the mere fact that it wasn’t a pay-per-view event indicates its stature in the category of bling. When a fight is really big, it’s PPV, no questions asked. Mosley/Margarito was right on that pay-per-view bubble, and in the down economy, the promoters chose to put it on regular HBO, a smart move for all concerned.

As far as the rest of the year’s schedule goes, there’s only one fight left on the roster to even compete in magnitude with Pacquiao/Cotto, and that’s the Floyd Mayweather/Juan Manuel Marquez fight taking place on September 19, also at the MGM Grand and also on pay-per-view. Buoyed by a media blitz and the HBO 24/7 treatment, this bout may do big numbers, although doubts linger about the interest in the fight. But for boxing insiders, the doubts concern the relative size of the two principals. Marquez is a truly great and heroic fighter, but he recently looked undersized at 135 pounds when fighting Juan Diaz. He’ll be fighting Floyd at somewhere in the neighborhood of 144 pounds. The likelihood of a man who is at his physical best as a super featherweight jumping up three weight classes to defeat a talent of Floyd’s caliber has to be rated at slim to none.

Thankfully, Pacquiao vs. Cotto is not sullied by any such concerns. This is a Grade A, hands-down, pay-per-view level showdown of stars in which there are sound reasons to believe that either man has the edge going in. The first gambling odds to appear on the internet list Pacquiao as a 2-1 favorite, but I doubt that will stand up for very long. Serious questions will hover over both fighters heading into this thing. Will Pacquiao be able to handle the punches of unquestionably the biggest, strongest man he’s ever faced? Will Cotto be able to maintain his strength dropping down to 145 pounds, and will he be able to cope with Pac Man’s blinding speed and relentless attack? These and other questions are sure to provoke fiery debate among the boxing cognoscenti over the next four months, because each of these fighters is backed by a large and devoted following. In short, what we have here is a true fight fan’s delight, a meeting of high-profile and worthy opponents that right now looks as if it could pull off that rare boxing double of being both big and good.

Pacquiao vs Cotto
Cotto vs Pacquiao - Big Fight