Inside the training camps of Pacquiao and Cotto

Natural disasters, in-team quarreling, and other out of the ring distractions, the work continues to pile up for Manny Pacquiao, and we haven’t even mentioned training camp or the second week of sparring.

This week, although Freddie Roach resists, the rest of team Pacquiao is bringing in 60-win veteran Jose Luis Castillo to try and mimic the younger Puerto Rican superstar, Miguel Cotto. Urbano Antillon and Shawn Porter have already started their rotation in the ring opposite the p4p king as camp picks up. In his own words, Roach reiterates that he “can’t use a shot fighter to get Manny ready for Cotto” in reference to the former 135 and 140 pound champion. Well, we tend to agree. His last couple fights haven’t been the FOY-type slugfest that he had with Diego “Chico” Corrales but never-the-less Castillo is still a body banger who can pass as a sparmate. Look for El Temible to jump into the existing rotation as Manny continues the usual Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday sessions. Over a dozen (or two) rounds have been completed, about a hundred more to go. One thing’s for sure, Freddie Roach and Alex Ariza have their hands full.

As per the norm, there is always some sort of rumbling in the buildup to a superfight. Having the volume pick up just means that fight night isn’t too far away. First up was the some-what expected early training camp kick-off for Miguel Cotto. Then the movie sets started shutting down and Pacquiao steps away from the cameras, at least for a couple weeks. And now we are slowing breaking into the (early part of the) middle stages where camp accusations and rumors spiral almost completely out of control. Whether they hold true, false, half-true, or half made up, it still catches the eyes of the many adoring fans.

Sure there are many aspects to aid in reasoning why a fighter may or may not be getting the proper treatment when prepping for a fight, but not all of them sum up a resolution every time. Just about the only thing we can do is to try and be as unbiased as possible—but how can we cheer for one athlete over the another without a tinge of favoritism. And if that fails, just accuse the man who is direct opposite of you of being a ‘roid head, however removed from reality the statement may be. And yes, I’m referring to big Floyd and his endless supply of verbal garbage. But that’s nothing new.

Now let’s look at the activity at the Fight Factory in Tampa, Florida, where Jose Santiago and Phil Landman have been working diligently to create a functional blueprint for their warrior from Caguas (Puerto Rico). We have Frankie Figueroa (20-3) who, earlier this year, was dismantled by Randall Bailey (a recent KO victim of the sluggish but strong Columbian Juan Urango) and barely won over an aged Emanuel Augustus (38-31). And then there’s Rochester, NY native Kenny Abril who, at 9-3-1, has been fighting boxers who have had more L’s than W’s since 2006. The only plus is that he’s a southpaw. Lastly there’s Fred Tukes whose foes have even more losses than Abril’s. But yes, he is a southpaw.

I don’t know about you, but in training camp, I would rather take Pacquiao’s sparmates over Cotto’s any training day of the week.

Although the catastrophe in the Philippines provided a minor setback, I don’t believe that it did more harm than the million and one other distractions that take place everyday for the national hero. As camp moves forward and training hits full swing, one can only hope that the fighters find that next gear as well. Besides, this is the fight that can propel either Manny Pacquiao or Miguel Cotto into the next stages of superstardom in the sport of boxing, not to mention a slot opposite Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Speaking of Jr., or Money, or whichever moniker you are more familiar with. I was hoping that his delayed return would be as big as this one--big in a sense that the ‘great one’ would finally test himself after years and years of self-proclamation. Yet, we were left with thoughts such as “why didn’t he sign on with Mosley”, or “I would’ve loved to see Money fight Andre Berto or Antonio Margarito”, or even “any welterweight would do!”

But instead he chose the easier route. It is very true that Money dismantled Juan Manuel Marquez, but in saying that he’d do the same to Pacquiao is like presuming that Kelly Pavlik would toast Bernard Hopkins. In the end styles do still make fights. But there are always rebuttals to every statement. This is the pleasantry of opinions.

Not too long ago big Floyd was quoted as saying that “Pacquiao can forget about it now” when it comes to facing his son after the brilliant performance Jr. put on last month. But Floyd Sr. also went on to say, “Everyone wants to talk about the weight. Weight ain’t got nothing to do with that.”

Umm Floyd? You DO know that this is the sweet science, right? And you do know that the sweet science has weight divisions?

So how does weight NOT play an active role?

If this was the case, then Money should’ve fought Marquez at lightweight to prove his dominance, not the other way around.

Now back to “Firepower”. Miguel Cotto is one of those hearty, likeable brutes. He shows his warrior spirit in every battle and he is not afraid to mix it up with whoever is unlucky enough to be in front of him. So far, this is a definition you cannot use to describe the Mayweathers. In the event of a Cotto upset--and I say upset because the large majority of the audience has spoken and Pacquiao’s their man—I would want nothing more than to see a Cotto-Mayweather showdown. Matter of fact, while Pacquiao and Cotto duke it out, so should Mayweather and Mosley. Not only is this more than acceptable, this seems to be quite fair considering the big payday of a super duper fight featuring both winners. But getting that wish is like having every little girl who ever wanted a pony for Christmas to get one this December, the chances are pretty slim.

Right now we can only salivate over the possible fight lineup for 2010 after boxing in 2009 is done and over with. But before we get there, all eyes will definitely be on Puerto Rico and the Philippines come November 14th. If Floyd Mayweather wants a piece, he better get in line now.

Source: http://www.diamondboxing.com/newsstory.php?list=9862