Cotto - Pacquiao mailbag: round one

My hate of Manny Pacquiao is legendary among those Manny-Maniacs who see only white or black when it comes to their idol. So when it was announced that Manny will be fighting Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and I had the nerve to report on the scheduled bout, Pacquiao's idolaters came out of their caverns to sling comments and e-mails at me.

Here are my responses to a few...enjoy.

So will you predict a crackhead wobble, wobble this times? - Urbino

I am not the only person who predicted Pacquiao to beat Oscar De La Hoya, my error was to predict De La Hoya would make Pacquiao do a Zab Judah inspired knockout strut inside the ring and boy, I have never lived it down. This fight will be close and tough to predict, but I will leave my prediction for the week before the fight. But, really, the worst thing I could do for Pacquiao Nation is to pick the Pinoy as I seem to have a kiss of death when it comes to picking fights.

Mr. Lois, would you care to give us your prediction on the fight? - joebentvice

I predict PAIN, for now.

Where will you be watching Manny beat your countryman? - Tremblethembones

Man, let us get is straight. I am CUBAN-AMERICAN. First when Manny was mowing down Mexicans, I was Mexican. Now that he has cross-hairs on Cotto, I am Puerto Rican. Get it straight! But Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Filipinos are all connect by their Spanish blood and love for LECHON!

Why such an issue when PACMAN wants to fight Cotto in 143lbs. Anti-pacman will say that is a Pacquiao advantage. What they didn't see is Manny need to gain more weight than Cotto needs to lose. - Pinoyako

Well the issue is that Cotto is settled in as a welterweight and anytime you need to come down in weight, that is not good for a boxer - in general. Remember 2006 was the last time Cotto fought as a junior welter and he had trouble making weight and he was looking weak in the ring. Manny does not HAVE to gain the weight to fight at 145, he can come in at 130 if he wants to. Face it, Cotto shedding weight is an advantage for Manny.

Miguel has already a power punch, all he needs now is to tighten his defense. - George

Yeah, too bad tightening your defense is not an over-night or three month process. Keep in mind, Cotto just changed trainers his last fight and was getting hit so cleanly by Joshua Clottey's predictable right-hand that it was damn near embarrassing. Also keep in mind that Manny is a lefty and Cotto had his issues against another fast and powerful southpaw in Zab Judah.

I am sure we will have more of these scintillating mailbags as the big fight gets closer and closer...

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-2850-LA-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m7d20-Cotto--Pacquiao-mailbag--Round-One