Puerto Rico nervous over Cotto fight

Puerto Rico is on the edge about its son, World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, squaring off with Filipino boxing icon Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao on November 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Dignelis Jimenez, its candidate in the 2009 Miss Earth beauty pageant hosted by the Philippines, said during a recent visit to The Manila Times that her countrymen are anxious but excited over the Pacquiao-Cotto fight.

“Manny Pacquiao is all over the newspapers and local websites in Puerto Rico, and honestly, we are very nervous since we want Miguel Cotto to win,” Jimenez added.

She said that Puerto Ricans, at the same time, are “ecstatic” to watch the fight since it is an honor for them to see Cotto clash with Pacquiao, acknowledged today as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Dignelis added that the Filipino boxing icon also has fans in Puerto Rico.

“In fact, there are a lot of PacMan fans in my country since he knows how to put up not just a good fight but also because watching Pacquiao in every round entertains us,” she said.

Dignelis, a lawyer by profession and an advocate for the environment, said that beauty pageants and boxing are the main sources of entertainment in Puerto Rico, which has produced a respectable number of world boxing champions from a population of only 8 million.

When asked on who she thinks would win the fight, Dignelis did not make a clear pick.

“Cotto is very much dear in Puerto Rico, maybe as much as Filipinos love Pacquiao, but it all boils down to a good fight, entertainment and great competition, so may the best man win,” Jimenez said.

KATRINA VALDEZ

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/5940-puerto-rico-nervous-over-cotto-fight