Cotto- Pacquiao it's just getting started fight fan

I have a good feeling that this is just the tip of something big. With both fighters clad in Yankee pinstripes and beautiful New York as the back drop, the press conference kick-off sent waves of potent reminders that the November 14th clash will be a highlighted date in both men’s careers. Heck, some might even go as far as to underline it. Even as Floyd Mayweather Jr’s September 19th match-up with Juan Manuel Marquez looms just around the corner, we still cannot over-salivate for the Top Rank card dubbed “Firepower”.

While UFC’s main man, Dana White, battles all members of the “Number One/Numero Uno” card (from Mayweather to De la Hoya to Marquez), Bob Arum and his event stars are seemingly staying away from all the drama and bad blood. Although their own fight date is occupied by the UFC’s other big showdown, UFC 105: Penn vs. Sanchez, Arum and co aren’t paying too much attention to the rival presentation. Besides, I do believe that Pac-Cotto would do some serious damage if White is really looking to question boxing’s best card of the year. Even while dueling with Mayweather-Marquez, the UFC needs to know that they are also going head to head with the large and loyal Mexican fanbase on one of the worst weekends possible; Mexican Independence day is September 16th, and Marquez is undoubtedly the best Mexican fighter today.

Miguel Cotto made it clear that he wasn’t taking anything lightly in preparation for his upcoming showdown with the number one fighter in the world. He also made it known that he isn’t the one-dimensional fighter that Ricky Hatton was, and he sure isn’t the aging Golden Boy either.

While gauging and respecting the power factor that the Pacman name accompanies, Cotto states, “I am not De la Hoya or Hatton… the punch he hit Hatton with would’ve dropped Mike Tyson.”

And then prideful Puerto Rican went on to reiterate the fact that he is a smarter man inside the squared circle as well.

“He won’t find me that easily. My mind is my best weapon.”

Amidst the early Cotto training camp, Manny Pacquiao wraps up his tv sitcoms and commercials, while nonchalantly discussing his political future in the 2010 year. In reply to Pacquiao’s statement that he “can do both”, Roach vehemently shot back a quick, “No he can’t.”

This is just one, or three, of the many sidetracks that could potentially derail the Pac-man express. Not only has there been louder than normal whispers about the turbulence within Pacquiao’s camp, the idea that his self-proclaimed best friend and trainer didn’t hear from him while going through bereavement for his brother is not good. Or in other words, my best friend wouldn’t do that to me.

‘09’ isn’t just the number on Pacquiao and Cotto’s Yankee jerseys, it is also the year in which boxing is taking competition to another level. We’ve all been waiting for the best to fight the best and I get the feeling that we will see the year end as promising as ever. I also believe that with the bigger cards, the dollar signs will speak for themselves so I’m sure that not too many people, including Mayweather and Arum, are going to stand in the way of that.

The Pac-man shares his thoughts on a potential match-up with fellow p4p contender Money Mayweather.

“We’re going to wait to see who wins… It’s possible. If that fight happens, it will be a big, big fight.”

But Freddie Roach may want something else entirely—a third meeting with Marquez—which we would also be extremely interested in as well.

“I want one more shot. I want Manny to beat him so they will stop whining about the other fights and just shut up.”

Roach might want a third meeting with Marquez to seal the deal once and for all but if ‘money’ issues were non-existent, would there be different rumblings? The great trainer states that he believes if Mayweather wins, his ego will go to an all-time high which will make breaking a financial deal almost impossible. And the opposition’s corner might not be his only concern.

While addressing the possibility of facing Mayweather, Roach attests that, “Mayweather will want a lot of money... but Manny will not fight for less than Mayweather, he is pretty stubborn too.”

Yankee Stadium is just the beginning, with 1000 fans tuning in on a school day, I wonder how the environment will be when the tour gets to Puerto Rico. It’s as if Arum and company are laying the ground work for something big in the Big Apple. And remember, the last time a championship fight took place in the Bronx was in 1976 when Muhammad Ali decisioned Ken Norton, and the promoter then was, you guessed it, Bob Arum.

Next stop: Puerto Rico, then onto San Francisco, Los Angeles, and then San Diego.

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Juan Manuel Marquez

September 19th, 2009.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto

November 14th, 2009.

Source: http://www.diamondboxing.com/newsstory.php?list=9548