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Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Post Fight Press Conference

2009-11-17T08:08:00.001-08:00

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Video Recap

2009-11-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6

Round 7

Round 8

Round 9

Round 10

Round 11-12

Pacquiao vs. Cotto Photos

2009-11-15T11:20:00.000-08:00

Image Source: Yahoo Sports!

Pacquioa vs Cotto: Fight Recap

2009-11-15T00:13:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao knocks out Cotto in 12th. Manny Pacquiao put on yet another dominating performance Saturday night, knocking down Miguel Cotto twice in the first four rounds and turning his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him 55 seconds into the 12th round.

Pacquiao used his blazing speed and power from both hands to win his seventh title in seven weight classes and cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Cotto took such a beating that his face was a river of red from the fury of Pacquiao’s punches.

Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hand early in the third round, but he wasn’t badly hurt and came back to finish the round strong. But after Pacquiao put Cotto on the canvas with a big left hand as Cotto was advancing forward late in the fourth round, Cotto was never the same again.

Cotto fought gamely but in the later rounds he was just trying to survive as blood flowed down his face and Pacquiao kept coming after him relentlessly.

Source: http://www.nierva.com/cotto-vs-pacquiao-fight-results-video/

Pacquiao batters Cotto for TKO win

2009-11-15T00:11:00.001-08:00

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports 2 hours, 17 minutes ago

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.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-pacmanwins111409&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Pacquiao stops Cotto to win 7th title

2009-11-15T00:07:00.000-08:00

By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Boxing Writer 1 hour, 11 minutes ago

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Manny Pacquiao’s speed and power were way too much for Miguel Cotto’s heart.

Pacquiao put on yet another dominating performance Saturday night, knocking down Cotto twice and turning his face into a bloody mess before finally stopping him at 55 seconds of the 12th round.

The Filipino star used his blazing speed and power from both hands to win his seventh title in seven weight classes and cement his stature as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Cotto took such a beating that his face was a river of red from the fury of Pacquiao’s punches, but he refused to quit even as his corner tried to throw in the towel after the 11th round.

“I didn’t know from where the punches were coming,” Cotto said.

The fight was billed as a 145-pound classic, and in the early rounds it didn’t disappoint. The two went after each other with a vengeance and Cotto more than held his own as they traded punches in the center of the ring before a roaring sellout crowd at the MGM Grand arena.

Pacquiao dropped Cotto with a right hand early in the third round, but he wasn’t badly hurt and came back to finish the round strong. But after Pacquiao put Cotto on the canvas with a big left hand late in the fourth round, the Puerto Rican was never the same again.

Cotto won two rounds on the scorecards of two ringside judges and just one round on the card of the third. The Associated Press gave Cotto just the first round.

“Our plan was not to hurry, but to take our time,” Pacquiao said. “It was a hard fight tonight and I needed time to test his power.”

Cotto’s face was marked early and he was bleeding midway through the fight as Pacquiao kept bouncing around and throwing punches in his unorthodox southpaw style. He tried to keep taking the fight to Pacquiao, but by then his punches had lost their sting and his only real chance was to land a big punch from nowhere.

“He hit harder than we expected and he was a lot stronger than we expected,” Cotto’s trainer, Joe Santiago, said.

Cotto fought gamely, but in the later rounds he was just trying to survive as blood flowed down his face and Pacquiao came after him relentlessly. Santiago tried to stop the fight after the 11th round, but Cotto went back out to take even more punishment before a final flurry along the ropes prompted referee Kenny Bayless to end it.

Cotto’s wife and child, who were at ringside, left after the ninth round, unable to watch the beating any longer. They later accompanied him to a local hospital for a post-fight examination.

“My health comes first. I just want to make sure I’m fine, but I feel great. I’m swollen but that’s all,” Cotto said.

His face swollen, Cotto was bleeding from his nose and his cuts, and he simply couldn’t stop Pacquiao from bouncing inside and throwing both hands at will.

“Manny Pacquiao is one of the best boxers I ever fought,” Cotto said.

Pacquiao, coming off of spectacular wins over Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, added another one against Cotto, who had lost only once and held the WBO version of the welterweight title.

Pacquiao did it in his trademark way, throwing punches in flurries and from all angles until Cotto began to slow down. Then he pursued him nonstop until the end.

The fight likely will set up an even bigger one against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and many in crowd were already chanting, “We want Floyd! We want Floyd.”

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

Mayweather may have second thoughts after Pacquiao did what no fighter has done before—win a belt in a seventh weight class. More impressive, though, is how he has fought, dismantling opponents despite moving up consistently from 106 pounds to the 144 he weighed for the fight.

The welterweight ranks will be the last ones Pacquiao conquers, though.

“This is the last weight division for me,” Pacquiao said. “It’s history for me and more importantly a Filipino did it.”

He was so dominant in the later rounds that Cotto was fighting backward most of the way, simply trying to survive. Pacquiao was credited with landing almost twice as many punches—336-172—as Cotto.

“I knew when Cotto started backing up, the fight was over,” Roach said.

Pacquiao earned a minimum $13 million, while Cotto got $7 million.

Pacquiao was favored, largely off his last two performances in which he forced De La Hoya to quit on his stool and then knocked out Hatton with a huge left hook in the second round. Some in boxing, including Roach, thought Cotto had been slowed by his devastating loss last year to Antonio Margarito and would be further slowed by having to come in 2 pounds lower than his normal weight.

That wasn’t the case early in the fight, with Cotto winning the first round and fighting well. Once he was knocked down by a big left hand late in the fourth round, though, he slowed noticeably.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AuwUtBvdAtMeVK.vshQTjcedCIh4?slug=ap-pacquiao-cotto&prov=ap&type=lgns

It's a TKO win by Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

2009-11-14T21:41:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao 144 defeated Miguel Cotto 145 via TKO (Referee Stoppage) Round 12 for the WBO welterweight championship/WBC Diamond belt. Congratz to all Filipinos! Mabuhay!

Stay tuned for the photos and videos of the actual fight will be post here in awhile. Thanks and happy reading.

Manny Pacquiao's Greatest Hits

2009-11-14T05:55:00.000-08:00

Miguel Cotto's Greatest Hits

2009-11-14T05:52:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao hoping for Miguel Cotto KO to carve a place in boxing history

2009-11-14T05:49:00.000-08:00

By Gareth A Davies, Boxing Correspondent
Published: 7:00AM GMT 14 Nov 2009

Yet Pacquiao is the man with momentum and he could rewrite the history books by becoming the only prize fighter in history to claim seven world titles in seven weight divisions if he defeats Cotto.

Cotto, who has 34 wins (27 KOs) and just one defeat to his name, is beloved by the Puerto Rican nation and as much a symbol of machismo and humility as Pacquiao is in the Philippines.

He faces the man who is regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet in the wake of the Filipino's eight-round demolition of Oscar de la Hoya 11 months ago and the second-round flattening of Britain's Ricky Hatton in May.

Pacquiao, who has won 49 fights (37 KOs) and lost three, appears unstoppable. What has been startling is Pacquiao's ability to carry his power up the divisions. Both De La Hoya and Hatton were bigger men, yet De La Hoya at welterweight and Hatton at light-welterweight were dismantled by the speed of the tenacious southpaw.

Cotto is a slow starter, and if he cannot find a way to be the aggressor in a fight, he sits back and counter-punches. He also sets clever traps for opponents and although his handspeed and movement are slower than Pacquiao's, he will be dangerous in later rounds.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said: "Manny is moving up a weight class but I am very confident in my guy and we are 100 per cent ready for this fight. I feel that he is going to knock Cotto out."

Cotto is unperturbed. "What they say and what they do does not concern me," he said. "I'm going home with the belt."

Pacquiao said: "This is the most important fight of my career. If I win, it will be history for boxing and for the Philippines."

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/6563828/Manny-Pacquiao-hoping-for-Miguel-Cotto-KO-to-carve-a-place-in-boxing-history.html

Pacquiao, Cotto prepare for Saturday's showdown

2009-11-14T05:47:00.000-08:00

BY SANTOS A. PEREZ
sperez@MiamiHerald.com

Few would argue that the welterweight division has become boxing's most talented weight class. When experts analyze the sport's best ``pound-for-pound'' fighters, welterweights dominate most top 10 lists.

Manny Pacquiao is relatively new to the division but intends on adding more accomplishments in an already successful career. Recognized with established welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr. as one of boxing's top fighters, Pacquiao opted for a difficult foe in his bid for another world title Saturday night.

Pacquiao will take on Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto for his World Boxing Organization title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, in another highly-anticipated bout in the welterweight division.

``It's going to be a great fight between two great fighters,'' Pacquiao said at a press conferece Wednesday.

Like Mayweather, Cotto is another welterweight considered among the sport's top-10 fighters. Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) realizes the possible riches and additional prestige that could follow if he defeats Pacquiao in the second defense of his 147-pound title.

The winner of the bout should become the logical opponent against Mayweather in a mega-fight likely to occur next year.

``My career has to continue no matter who wants to fight or not to fight Miguel Cotto,'' Cotto said. ``I am here for the big names and ready for the hot opponents.

``That's what boxing needs -- for the guys at the top to fight other guys at the top, like it was 20 years ago. Make the fights that fans want to watch.''

Pacquiao, a native of the Philippines who won his first world title as a flyweight, has fought top fighters such as Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales while also capturing belts in the super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight classes. The 30-year-old Pacquiao will pursue his seventh title against Cotto.

``I feel stronger at this weight than I ever have,'' Pacquiao said. ``My punches are harder, my speed is intact. I keep getting warned about Cotto's body attack. Cotto should be worried about my body attack.''

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) has fought only one time above 140 pounds, when he gradually broke down Oscar De La Hoya and forced him to quit on his stool after the eighth round of their much-ballyhooed bout last December. Six months ago, Pacquiao returned to the junior-welterweight class and knocked out England's Ricky Hatton in two rounds.

``Miguel Cotto is a hard puncher and strong,'' Pacquiao said. ``He's the champion so there is a challenge.''

Cotto, 29, believes he has made the separation from his lone career loss against Antonio Margarito in July 2008.

Cotto overcame the brutal 11th-round technical knockout loss to Margarito with victories over Michael Jennings for the WBO belt in February and a hard-fought decision over Joshua Clottey five months ago.

``I know what I'm capable of doing, and there is no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this fight,'' Cotto said.

``I've prepared for the best Manny Pacquiao, the fastest Manny Pacquiao, and I will be ready for anything he brings in to the ring.''

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/other/story/1333002.html

Don't write off Cotto.. we're in for hell of a showdown

2009-11-14T05:45:00.000-08:00

By Barry Mcguigan 14/11/2009

Manny Pacquiao versus Miguel Cotto.

No disrespect to David Haye and last week's big clash with Nikolai Valuev, but this should be a fight to savour.

The experts are falling in behind Pacquiao. They see in him as a boxer at his peak or even getting better, a pound-forpound superstar. Cotto is seen as a fighter on the slide.

I'm not so sure. I respect the opinion of those closer to the action who claim Cotto is not the fighter he was, but I reserve judgment until after this test.

The question is this: how much did the Antonio Margarito bout take out of Cotto? He said it felt like being hit by bricks in that fight.

Margarito has since been engulfed in controversy after illegal padding was found in the wrapping of his hands for a subsequent bout.

We don't know if his fists were similarly enhanced against Cotto, but we know that the result placed the only loss on Cotto's record.

As good as Pacquiao undoubtedly is, we have not been able to fully evaluate his credentials at the heavier weight. This was made at 145lbs, two under the welterweight limit. This tells you that not only does he see an advantage in making Cotto shed more pounds but that he is not confident at the weight against a fully-fledged welter.

Juan Manuel Marquez was coming up from lightweight and was really a career super featherweight. Ricky Hatton was not the same man after Mayweather, and Oscar de la Hoya was a weight-drained carcass at 147lbs.

Pacquiao was impressive against all three but in circumstances that do not allow complete confidence in a prediction for this fight.

Much is being made of Cotto's close decision against Joshua Clottey. This ignores how tough an opponent Clottey is. There is no shame in being taken all the way by a Ghanaian warrior. I wake up at night in cold sweats thinking about his fellow countryman Azumah Nelson - and I never fought him!

The defeat to Margarito was brutal but he was winning the fight almost until the point the stoppage came.

Margarito had the style to trouble Cotto in a way that Zab Judah and Shane Mosley did not.

If we are looking for comparisons it is to the Judah and Mosley bouts that we should look. Cotto has handled speed before and power, and coped brilliantly.

If the experts close to the action are wrong about Cotto's perceived decline post-Margarito then Pacquiao is in for one hell of a fight. The speed and power that did for Hatton will not do for Cotto in the same way.

He is a brilliant fighter, excellent technically and with a terrific heart.

If this fight were made before the Margarito bout I would have had no hesitation in making him favourite.

As it stands I believe he is the only fighter capable of forcing a stoppage win in the early hours tomorrow.

I accept that Pacquiao is justifiably favourite and that a points win is a sound prediction.

But I'm not yet ready to write off Cotto, and if he is at his best this is going to be the fight of the year.

Don't be surprised to see the Puerto Rican the winner.

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/boxing/2009/11/14/don-t-write-off-cotto-we-re-in-for-hell-of-a-showdown-115875-21820649/

Pacquiao vs. Cotto prediction: Pacquiao via decision

2009-11-14T05:44:00.000-08:00

Pittsburgh Fight Sports Examiner | Scott Heritage

With the fight just hours away, its time for me to make a final prediction about Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto. This fight has a lot of different factors and angles to it, making an accurate prediction difficult, but here's how I see it going down:

First few rounds

As the pair square up in the middle of the ring, Cotto looks a hell of a lot bigger. This might look intimidating but it actually helps Pacquiao retain a bigger speed advantage by not trying to bulk up too much. At the start of the fight Pacquiao looks strong, but eventually starts to feel the bigger punches of Cotto.

For the first round or so he fires off everything at Cotto, who responds with heavy hooks and uses his jab well to keep Pacquiao at bay. As Pac-man lands more punches Cotto tests out the theory of Oscar De La Hoya who said Pac can't punch, and doesn't like the results. After perhaps the first couple of rounds Pacquiao will be forced to change his tactics and take less chances.

Cotto struggles to catch Pacquiao, but when he does he makes him pay for it. Meanwhile Pacquiao is forced to stick and move. At several points in each round Pacquiao's aggression takes over and he gets too close to Cotto, who proceeds to punish him to the body. Freddie Roach is going berserk at Manny in the corner after each reckless incident.

Middle rounds

As the fight wears on Cotto begins to tire of chasing Pacquiao and seems to be looking to trap him in a corner rather than catching him with single punches. As Cotto starts to slow, Pacquiao begins to catch him with more punches and get hit less himself on the way out, nicking the rounds on the scorecards. Both fighters have started to mark up a little, and Cotto has a couple of small cuts around the eyes. Nothing serious at first, but getting bigger as the rounds progress. Cotto seems hesitant to take a lot of punches to land a couple of his own, but is being forced to do so by Pacquiao's speed.

Later Rounds

Both fighters have slowed, but Cotto a lot more so than Pacquiao. Manny now tees off at will on the sluggish Cotto, who flails after him but by now can't land a glove on Manny. Cotto is cut badly and getting hit but he doesn't seem rocked and refuses to be finished. All the punches are one way traffic from Manny now as cotto looks aprehensive and tries to guard his cut for fear of a stoppage.

The fight ends with Pacquiao looking the stronger, but Cotto thinks he might have done enough early on to take it. Both fighters seem convinced that they have done enough, but Manny has clearly won more of the rounds than Miguel. The fight is called for Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. The announcement is made and Manny prepares to sing his victory song.

At some point the cameras inside the arena cut to several boxers sitting in the front row, who all want a piece of Pacquiao. Floyd Mayweather makes some noise as usual, but doesn't seem that interested really. As usual Freddie Roach has some interesting insight into the preperations he thinks MIguel Cotto has made:

"There's a Plan A and B," said Roach. Either [Cotto] is going to use his strength and come forward and show us he's the bigger or stronger guy, or he's going to try to be like Marquez and be a counterpuncher. A lot of people like to do that because it gave us trouble. But you can't become somebody else in eight weeks. Once he gets hit, he will revert back to what he does best.

"Cotto has got a great left hook, and when he gets you on the ropes he's very effective. Our job is not to be on the ropes at all in this fight. Obviously, Cotto will pressure us at times during this fight, but Manny's speed is too much. Foot-speed -- that's where the fight is won. And Manny excels in that department."

The counterpunching idea is a sound one, although I don't see Cotto having the speed or technique enough to make much out of it. Sooner or later he will have to chance gack to his old self, and lets not forget, while Marquez did give Pacquiao trouble, he was a natural counterpuncher, and he still didn't actually even win either fight. Cotto trying to fight like Marquez will never be as good as the real thing, and the real thing wasnt good enough either. Interestingly Marquez is still pushing for a third fight between the pair, but with much bigger pay days out there for Manny if he wins I don't see it happening.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-20066-Pittsburgh-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2009m11d13-Pacquiao-vs-Cotto-final-prediction

Video: Miguel Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao live 2009 biggest boxing fight of the year

2009-11-14T05:41:00.000-08:00

Salt Lake City Headlines Examiner | Marci Stone

The Miguel Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao fight is slated to be one of the best boxing fights of the year. At a press conference Wednesday night in Las Vegas, both Miguel Cotto, 29 and Manny Pacquiao, 29 weighed in and talked about the fight.

The Miguel Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao fight time is scheduled for 6 pm pacific time on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It can also be watched on PPV for $54.95 on HBO. See the link below for live stream information.

Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) vs Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) are two of biggest-money making stars in boxing today, and they have been compared to some of the boxing greats in the 1980s, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Tommy Hearns.

A few months ago, the Mayweather-Marquez fight drew more than 1,000,000 PPV customers, and HBO believes the Miguel Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao might do even better than that.

Cotto had a catch weight Wednesday night of 145 pounds, two pounds under the welterweight limit, and he is considered the underdog in this fight, but no one knows what might happen. Cotto brings the rich Puerto Rico boxing tradition with him and a lot of determination.

"He is coming from a lower weight division and if he thinks he's going to have the same power as Miguel Cotto, his thinking is very wrong,'' Cotto said at the press conference. "I am prepared for anything he can bring me that night. He has a lot of things besides speed. I have to be prepared for all that he can show me."

A native of the Phillipines, Pacquiao is the favorite in Saturday’s fight and could become the first boxer to win world titles in seven weight divisions.

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach said that he will win by a "spectacular knockout," but Pacquiao said that his objective is to do his best to uphold the pride of his country. "But if I knock him out, that will make me happy, too," he said Wednesday.

In an ESPN forum Friday, Tyler C. from Salt Lake City, Utah asked Pacquiao, “Manny, How are you going to account for Cotto's strong left hook?”

Pacquiao responded: “We've been training in the gym to overcome and counteract his strength. I think I'm the faster and quicker fighter so it all depends on who lands it fight. We have a good game plan to overcome Cotto.”

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-19632-Salt-Lake-City-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m11d13-Video-Miguel-Cotto-vs-Manny-Paquiao-live-2009-biggest-boxing-fight-of-the-year

Pacquiao-Cotto Will Determine the Direction of Boxing

2009-11-14T05:38:00.000-08:00

Posted Nov 13, 2009 8:02PM By Nancy Gay (RSS feed)
Filed Under: WBO, HBO

LAS VEGAS -- Boxing is alive and thriving, and you can see it in the nationalistic pride that enveloped Las Vegas on Friday. The Filipinos and Puerto Ricans descended on The Strip with their colorful flags and chants, and they queued in orderly groups -- Manny Pacquiao's publiko/bayan here, Miguel Cotto's publico/paisanos there -- for a raucous weigh-in Friday afternoon at the MGM Grand Garden.

So much excitement, for two 145-pound boxers standing on a scale. But Pacquiao-Cotto is the biggest thing to happen to boxing since Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya. Or Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton.

You get the idea.

The Pride of the Philippines (49-3-2, 37 KOs) squared off Friday against The Pride of Puerto Rico (34-1-0, 27 KOs) when they stood on stage in their skivvies, the crowd of about 6,500 -- Filipinos to the left, Puerto Ricans to the right -- roared its requisite country's approval.

Cotto's trainer Jose Santiago, who rarely speaks English, threw out a "145 pounds, a**hole!" to Pacquiao's trusted man, Freddie Roach, when Cotto stepped off the scale. Pacquiao, who is going for his unprecedented seventh world title in his seventh weight class, flexed his growing frame at 144 pounds, sending his fans into a cheering frenzy.

The drama continued. Antonio Margarito made an appearance on stage, infuriating the Puerto Ricans who revile him for destroying Cotto's face and perfect record in a controversial 11-round loss in July 2008. Then Margarito had the temerity to parade outside the Grand Garden Arena among the hundreds who were turned away from the packed weigh-in.

"Cheater!! He is a cheater!!" people screamed at a defiant Margarito, and security guards rushed over to prevent a melee from breaking out in the crush that swarmed the MGM Grand Studio Walk.

This is what makes the boxing so unique now, and helps separates it from the All-American MMA culture that has captured this country's imagination.

The pride, the pageantry, the intense rivalries, they all resonate with the pure boxing fan -- the person who will shell out $54.95 for Saturday's HBO pay-per-view show featuring the Pacquaio-Cotto 12-round welterweight main event. And the whole package goes to the hearts of the people of the Philippines and Puerto Rico, who are living vicariously through their countries' greatest athletes.

Las Vegas needs this energy. And many in boxing will grudgingly concede that the sport probably needs Pacquiao to prevail Saturday night. Because Las Vegas has become Manny's town, just as it once belonged to Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson and other actual current or former Vegas residents and boxing greats.

And ultimately, boxing needs -- and will demand -- that Pacquiao step into the ring against Mayweather.

Why would Cotto, a skilled, accomplished pure welterweight who is defending his WBO title, agree to take this fight against Pacquaio at 145 pounds, two pounds under the limit and his comfortable weight? Why would he agree to $2 million up front less than the challenger?

Bob Arum, the Top Rank promoter and mastermind who handles both fighters, has defended the honor of Cotto valiantly this week. But there is a simple truth to Cotto's presence in the ring Saturday night.

"In this fight," Arum said, "he is not the star of the show."

He is absolutely essential to the process, however.

Cotto is a brilliant fighter, and his legacy can't be tarnished by the brutal, bloody beating he sustained by the hands of Margarito 15 months ago. Who will say with certainty those hands weren't concealing illegal plaster inserts under their wraps? After all, Margarito and his trainer had their California boxing licenses revoked when inspectors found hardened plaster in his gloves before a welterweight title bout against Shane Mosley six months later.

But Cotto will need to go down Saturday night. He is a 3-to-1 underdog so that boxing can get Pacquaio-Mayweather.

HBO's PPV machine will rev up every ounce of its being for that dream mega-fight. Of course, Mayweather absolutely despises Arum, his former promoter, so there will be ample, calculated rhetoric between Top Rank, Inc. and Mayweather Promotions.
You have a perfect blending of style in this fight ... I see a very tough distance fight, and there is going to be blood.
-- Legendary Promoter Angelo Dundee
Arum has equal disdain for his former client, but even boxing's most prolific promoter has conceded this week that a Pacquaio-Mayweather event could easily surpass the record 2.44 million buys in 2007 for Mayweather-De La Hoya. So it will happen.

If Cotto wins -- and many in boxing are convinced he will beat Pacquiao by a late knockout or split decision -- Cotto-Mayweather would be an epic affair for boxing aficionados.

Then again, the world's most famous Filipino vs. the cocky, loud-talking boxing celebrity would be Dream Theater.

Where does this leave Pacquaio-Cotto, the matchup?

It will be worth every round, every minute.

Cotto, with his quiet dignity, has the edge in size and strength, and he will go to the body to punish his smaller opponent. By the time they step into the ring Saturday night, Cotto may weigh as many as 15 pounds heavier than his Filipino challenger.

Pacquiao, the smiling, generous people's champion, is renowned for his uncanny speed, a right hand that can now match his left hook, and his ring skills, all of which have been honed to precision by Roach. He is boxing's pound-for-pound champion, but Pacquiao is facing his greatest test.

"You have a perfect blending of style in this fight," legendary trainer Angelo Dundee told reporters this week. "If I ever had a fighter fighting Pacquaio, I would implement things that Cotto brings to the table.

"I see a very tough distance fight, and there is going to be blood."

Boxing will get the breath-stealing show it wants and needs, and the evolution of the sport will get a boost with what happens between Pacquiao-Cotto. Boxing is in an exciting place again. It's in the headlines, sound bites and every day conversation of sports fans.

Look to the ring Saturday night, and you will see where boxing goes from here.

Source: http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/pacquiao-cotto-will-determine-the-direction-of-boxing/

Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto is a bout that gets boxing off the ropes

2009-11-14T05:36:00.000-08:00

By BILL DWYRE

From Las Vegas

Seldom has there been better proof that there is no accounting for taste.

Starting at 5:30 a.m. Friday, hundreds of people began lining up in the hallways leading to the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Barack Obama was not scheduled to appear, nor was Bruce Springsteen. Nobody would be changing bread and wine into loaves and fishes.

They were there awaiting entrance to the weigh-in for Saturday night's boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Two nicely cut little guys, Pacquiao and Cotto, would strip to their underwear and stand on a scale, a man in a sport coat would nod that they each made the weight limit of 145 pounds and it would be over.

Oh, yes, that began at 3 p.m.

Lest we linger too long on thoughts of the current collective IQ of our populace, we must stretch for positives here.

That kind of fan outpouring signals the continuation of a sort of rebirth of boxing, which had seemed to be losing a generation of fans to the perceived thrill of muscular people rolling around with each other in cages. The younger generation calls it ultimate fighting. Graybeards call it ultimate stupidity.

Pacquiao and Cotto seem to have bridged both groups.

The men most influential in making this event happen, Ross Greenburg of HBO and Bob Arum of Top Rank Boxing, have been talking a lot about how many of those all-important web hits this fight is generating. Both also see the possibility that it will attract in excess of 1 million pay-per-view buys, which would put it in the rarefied air of only 25 other fights in history, most of them heavyweight matches.

The all-time record is 2.4 million buys for Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Oscar De La Hoya two years ago. Matter of fact, Mayweather and Juan Manual Marquez did a million buys two months ago, and that one turned out to be little more than a workout for Mayweather.

Now, with Pacquiao's massive Filipino following and Cotto's similar Puerto Rican following -- as well as a new buzz among the general sports fan -- boxing seems to be acquiring a new swagger. Even at the current $54.95 pay-per-view price.

Perhaps most interesting is that all this noise is being generated for what is, most likely, a semifinal. If Pacquiao continues his rise from 106 pounds to a seventh boxing title in a seventh weight division by beating Cotto, and if Arum is able to make a match with Mayweather, then Pacquiao-Cotto will have been merely foreplay.

Quality foreplay, certainly.

Pacquiao, 49-3-2, hasn't lost since 2005 and has been dazzling since he took big steps up in weight to go against David Diaz, De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. Deeply embedded in the memory of boxing fans is Pacquiao's spectacular left-hook knockout of Hatton in May. Hatton never felt the jolt of the canvas because he was out well before he got there.

Cotto, at 34-1-0, was among the most feared welterweights in history until he took a terrible beating from Antonio Margarito on July 26, 2008. That fight, of course, took on new meaning after Margarito was discovered with plaster of Paris in his gloves before a fight in January against Shane Mosley, who proceeded to win handily. Cotto has won twice since the Margarito fight and claims that people should pay more attention to that than to Margarito, whose presumed glove-doctoring Cotto is now calling "criminal."

Pacquiao is a 3-1 favorite. His trainer, Freddie Roach, says Pacquiao is "100% ready," and that his fighter's superior hand and foot speed and a strategy to avoid Cotto's lethal left hook means he will handle this fight easily.

Cotto's trainer, young Joe Santiago, says he is stunned that Pacquiao is a favorite and says that every boxer who has faced Cotto had a plan to stop the left hook. "And he just keeps landing them," Santiago says.

Some boxing experts think that Cotto, the natural welterweight, who has never fought below 137 pounds, will be too big for Pacquiao to handle. Roach, who had a say in this fight's catch-weight of 145, says Pacquiao has gotten better as he has gotten bigger because he is such a good athlete.

"He could have picked any sport and excelled," Roach says. "I'm glad he picked boxing."

Usually, in boxing, the war of words is better than the war in the ring. This time, the words may represent more than just a pay-per-view sales pitch.

That would also make it somewhat more understandable for people to spend an entire day in an arena lobby to witness a nonevent weigh-in.

On second thought, no it wouldn't.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre14-2009nov14,0,3089210.column

Pacquiao-Cotto weigh in before match for packed house

2009-11-14T05:34:00.000-08:00

By Greg Heakes (AFP) – 12 hours ago

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Trainer Freddie Roach says fighting as a welterweight might become a regular thing for Manny Pacquiao because he is happier than he has ever seen him before a fight.

"If he couldn't eat the day before the weigh in he was mad at the world," said Roach. "He would be on edge because couldn't eat. Now he can have breakfast and lunch before the weigh in and he is smiling and I have a happy fighter."

Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto both weighed in Friday for their welterweight fight for Cotto's World Boxing Organization world title at the MGM Grand hotel and casino.

The fight is being fought at the catch weight of 145 pounds which is exactly what Cotto tipped the scales at.

Challenger Pacquiao weighed in at 144 pounds.

The fight has been sold out for weeks and there was a standing room only crowd of about 6,500 for Friday's official weigh in at Grand Garden Arena where it will take place.

Both fighters spoke briefly to their fans but did not engage each other and for the most part did not get together on the podium. There were words exchanged between Roach and Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago who Roach has labelled inexperienced.

The two had to be separated by their respective camps.

The weigh in had all the drama of a fight night as the pro-Cotto and pro-Pacquiao supporters took turns shouting each other down. Hollywood actor Jeremy Piven introduced both fighters and joked with Pacquiao about his reputation for late night partying.

"This is like the Jimmy Kimmel show. Funny," said Pacquiao, who weighed in wearing his boxers and a pair of white socks. "When I start to train for the fight there is no more night time. Thank you Filipinos for coming."

Cotto also thanked his supporters as he took the scales in just his underwear.

"Thanks for coming," Cotto said. "I will put on a great show. It will be a great day for Puerto Rico and Latin America people."

Organizers turned away thousands of boxing fans who waited outside the arena behind a barrier. Those lucky enough to get into the weigh in included some who began lining up at 5:30 am.

Roach said he is so pleased with the way training camp has gone the past couple of weeks he will try to get Pacquiao to fight again at this weight.

"People kill themselves to make weight. It is over-rated," Roach said. "When I have a happy fighter he fights well.

"He will be smiling in the ring walk and he is enjoying every bit of this."

Pacquiao will be trying to win his seventh world title in as many divisions and what amazes boxing experts is he hasn't show any signs of losing power as he fights heavier opponents.

Pacquiao's six titles came in a half dozen weight classes ranging from 112 to 140 pounds. He weighed just 106 pounds in his pro debut in 1995 and captured his first title in the 112-pound flyweight division.

"As he gains weight his speed and power are both improving and it is hard to explain why," Roach said. "He is comfortable at it so we are going to stay there."

Some heavy hitters were also in attendance at the weigh in including Antonio Margarito who is the only man to have taken down Cotto when he beat him in a controversial decision last year.

Asked to predict a winner Saturday, Margarito, who is under suspension for using illegal gloves in another fight, just shook his head and said no.

Filipino boxing fan Brian Shelledy, of Los Angeles, isn't shy about giving his opinion.

"Manny Pacquiao represents all the good values of Filipino people," said the 37-year-old computer technician. "He comes from a poor background and he shows respect and is humble."

New York policeman Gabriel Dones and shipping clerk Mike Maldonado flew in Thursday night from New York to cheer the Puerto Rican champ on.

"(Cotto) is going to win because Pacquiao hasn't fought anybody with Cotto's power," said Maldonado.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iHXcNwmX2652mpPf_tcH3Ev-tBsw

Team Pacquiao Sold the Philipino Legend Out

2009-11-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

By Brent Matteo Alderson

I’m excited about the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight this Saturday and out of all the possible matchups to be made between Pacquiao, Mayweather, and Mosley, this one has the greatest potential to produce the magical fireworks of a legendary prize fight and will be well worth your pay-per-view dollars.

That being said, Team-Pacquiao made a big mistake and after all the verbal sparring between Arum and Pacquiao’s representatives and the countless meetings that took place across the world’s different time zones, Manny Pacquiao’s advisors failed him and came away with a contract that could very well negatively impact the final stages of his career.

Now the financial split has yet to be announced and even though finances are always the priority, a good manager knows that sometimes the logistics surrounding a fight can change a fighter’s career more pervasively than a purse split.
When Sugar Ray Leonard challenged Marvin Hagler in 1987, poor Marvin thought that his team had controlled the negotiations because the Marvelous one received the lion’s share of the purse split, but Leonard’s brain-trust didn’t care about the money and put more emphasis on the fight’s particulars, “Hagler gave us everything we wanted, he was just worried about the money, but we didn’t care about the money, we wanted to win the fight, so we gave him the money and he gave us everything else,” commented Leonard’s career advisor, the astute Mike Trainer.

And because Team Leonard made some financial concessions to Hagler, he got to decide on the size of the ring and the bout was sanctioned for twelve rounds instead of 15-rounds, which were still being sanctioned at the time, but were in the process of being phased out.

It’s pretty obvious that team Cotto followed a strategy similar to Mike Trainer’s and probably left some money on the table in order to put Miguel In a better position to win the fight.

So instead of haggling over an extra half-million or so, they conceded to Team Pacquiao’s financial terms and held steadfast in their demand that the bout take place at 145 pounds.

Now I know boxing fans are thinking, “What’s the big deal, it’s just a couple of pounds,” but that’s just not the case.
Most fans have never had to make weight for a sporting contest and don’t realize how difficult it is for a fighter to make weight. The whole process is a tolling and debilitating experience and in this instance, those two pounds are going to make a huge difference.

Cotto had a lot of trouble making the 140 pound limit and was visibly weakened throughout his entire campaign as the WBO 140 pound champion and regularly complained about the physical toll it took on his body and was dropped and almost stopped by Ricardo Torres and almost taken out by the ordinary DeMarcus Corley in front of his hometown fans.

Since moving up to 147 pounds in the fall of 2006 his ability to recuperate and absorb punishment has increased substantially.

Just look how his equilibrium withstood all those shots from Antonio Margarito, a huge welterweight who may have had cement in his gloves and compare that to how Cotto was shaken up by a couple of punches from the light hitting DeMarcus Corley and it’s obvious that making the junior-welterweight limit weakened Cotto.
It’s because the process of having to lose six to twelve pounds two or three days before a weigh-in is so debilitating.

Now you may think cutting weight is scientific in its methodology, but unfortunately the process of cutting weight is barbaric and has to do more with basic arithmetic than the scientific method.
Most of the weight is water-weight and fighters know all the little tricks of the weight-loss-trade.
For instance, fighters know that after a good night’s sleep you generally weigh in one pound less in the morning. They also know that you can shed two to three pounds of water weight during a hard work out.

Just for those of you who aren’t aware of the rigors of making weight let me go over a scenario that occurs regularly before almost every fight card in the world.
Let’s say a fighter has to weigh in at 140 pounds on Friday at noon and its Thursday morning and they weigh 146. They can work out at the gym and have a little bit of water. 144. Then they can go home, rest, hopefully use the bathroom, sleep, and wake up in the morning. 142 ½. Then Friday before the weigh in they can work out and maybe use the sauna and weigh 140 pounds for less than an hour and make the contracted weight.
Just try to fathom that experience for a moment and ponder the thought of having to complete two professional level workouts with very little water and hardly any food intake over a twenty-four hour period.

Now that scenario is something closer to what a mid to high level amateur experiences, some of the professionals have to make some insane sacrifices to make weight. Imagine having to go through that experience for three, four, or even five days before a fight.

The simple fact of the matter is that making weight is tough and besides getting hit, it may be the most difficult thing a fighter has to deal with.
Guys like Jake LaMotta and James Toney always had more problems with the scales than their opponents. Henry Ramirez, who had over fifty amateur fights and trains a stable of fighters which includes Chris Arreola, is well aware of the problems fighters encounter at the scales and commented, “Everybody’s body is different and everybody cuts weight differently, but it’s a trying experience.”

Now Cotto moved up 147 pound in the fall of 2006 and will probably never fight at 154 pounds, he’s just too short and probably doesn’t have the length necessary to compete at the elite level in the higher weight classes.
He’s a welterweight plain and simple and now he has to drop two extra pounds to fight the Pac-man.

Now if Cotto were really struggling to make 147 I would say those two pounds would make a difference and that losing those extra 32 ounces would negatively impact his overall strength, but he makes the welterweight limit relatively easily, I mean he’s not like Felix Trinidad at welterweight or James Toney at Middleweight, and the two pounds shouldn’t have a negative impact on his physical state and that’s a bad thing for Manny Pacquiao.

145 pounds is only two pounds below the welterweight limit. So those two pounds that were subtracted aren’t going to make much of the difference, but the four pounds had the bout been contracted at 143 pounds would have made huge difference because they would have sufficiently weakened Miguel, just like it did when he was fighting at 140 because even though it would have been three pounds north of the junior-welterweight limit, Cotto has been fighting at welterweight for the past three years and his body has matured and developed. As a result the drop to 143 pounds may have even been more debilitating than making 140 had been because he’s bigger now.
The thing is Manny Pacquiao is human. He’s only had three fights above 130 pounds and now he is facing an elite welterweight in his twenties and only received a two pound weight concession.

Oscar De La Hoya made more concessions than Cotto and he was the sport’s pre-Madonna and was in his thirties and still agreed to drop to a weight he hadn’t fought at since Bill Clinton was President.

If Pacquiao’s team of advisors had actually been capable managers, and not blow-smoke-up-your ass hanger-ons they would have demanded that Cotto reduced to 143 pounds. Those two extra-pounds would have meant at least an extra-day or two of drying out because the lower you go, the harder it gets to lose the water weight, which would have weakened him just little bit more and slowed him down just a tad bit which would have made him more susceptible to Pacquiao’s counters and power.
Besides what was Cotto going to do? Fight a rematch with Margarito or Clottey, two huge welterweights that already gave him hell and don’t bring the kind of recognition and financial compensation that a fight with Pacquiao brings.

Pacquiao’s advisors had all of the leverage and failed to make an agreement that would have leveled the playing field between Miguel and Manny. Even Freddie Roach is aware of the strength disparity between the two and that’s why throughout the early part of the negotiations he was unwavering in his desire for the bout to take place at 143 pounds.

People might think two pounds can’t make a difference, but those seven pounds Cotto added after moving up to welterweight sure did and unfortunately for Manny Pacquiao he’s the one that’s going to have to deal with the impropriety of the contract on Saturday.

Source: http://www.fightfannation.com/pacquiao111309.html

Cotto out to break Pacquiao

2009-11-14T05:28:00.000-08:00

Miguel Cotto is confident he will prove his doubters wrong when he defends his WBO welterweight title against pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao and is determined not become another scalp on the Filipino’s rise to boxing superstardom.

Puerto Rican Cotto, 34-1 (27 KOs), will have more than his title on the line when he faces Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday. Cotto faces the man widely considered the greatest fighter on the planet after such high profile demolitions of Oscar De la Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

Cotto insists he won’t be a bit player in the Manny Pacquiao success story, but this is exactly how Pac-Man’s coach Freddie Roach sees it.

"I don't know if it is his biggest challenge," Roach said of the Cotto threat. "We have fought some great fighters like [Erik] Morales, [Juan Manuel] Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya.

"He's a very good fighter and he is champion of the world. Manny is moving up a weight class but we fought Oscar at this weight.

"I am very confident in my guy and we are 100 per cent ready for the fight. Manny, with the power he is punching with right now at this weight, I feel that he is going to knock Cotto out.

"I look forward to the win," added Roach, who has bet $1000 each on Pacquiao to win by KO in the first, ninth and tenth rounds.

Despite holding the title and facing a challenger who is coming up in weight Cotto is the underdog going into the bout. Not only is this a result of the impeccable form Pacquiao is on at the moment, but also due in part to the debilitating defeat Cotto suffered at the hands of Antonio Margarito – the only defeat of his career. However, Margarito’s victory was thrown into disrepute after the Mexican was caught and banned following the discovery of a form of plaster on his wraps in his following bout with “Sugar” Shane Mosley.

Many believe Cotto has been left damaged goods after the beating and he has failed to shake the opinion with a routine victory over Michael Jennings and a bloody war and split decision victory over Joshua Clottey. Even the 29-year-old’s promoter failed to give him credit.

"Psychologically, in this fight, he is not the star,” said Bob Arum, the president of Top Rank , who promotes both fighters.

"He knows it and I know it but Miguel Cotto, as Miguel will attest, is the biggest obstacle in Manny's path."

The scepticism has failed to have an effect on a focussed and confident Cotto: “"What they say and what they do does not concern me.

"They know what they have in front of [Pacquiao]. He better be focused on what they will have in front of him in Miguel Cotto.

"Forget about Freddie Roach. He can only train Manny the best he can. He may say and think Manny will knock me out, but at the end of the day, it is just Manny and Miguel Cotto in the ring. It's really not important to me what the boxing world wants to see.

"Once I beat Manny Pacquiao they can continue their plans and do what they want but I am not going home without winning this fight."

Last updated: 14 November 2009, 00:09

Source: http://sport.stv.tv/boxing/137196-cotto-out-to-break-pacquiao/

The "Latin Snake" Predicts Pacquiao vs Cotto

2009-11-14T05:20:00.001-08:00

by Brad Cooney

8CountNews sat down with former Jr middleweight world champion, Sergio Mora and got his thoughts on the big Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto fight. Mora also gives us an update on his contractual negotiations with Golden Boy, Top Rank, and Goosen. Mora informed 8CN that he feels as if a deal will get done within a week or so, and looks forward to getting back into the ring. It's been another year of inactivity for the former world champion, so he's very eager to get back to doing what he does best, and that's to fight.

With the Pacquiao vs Cotto fight looming within 24 hours, Mora gives us his expert analysis of the fight. Sergio also talks about possible future fights between Pacquiao and Mayweather, Cotto and Mayweather, and Williams vs Mayweather. Don't miss what else "The Latin Snake" had to say in this exclusive 8CountNews Podcast.

Source: http://www.8countnews.com/news/129/ARTICLE/2058/2009-11-13.html

The "Latin Snake" Predicts Pacquiao vs Cotto

2009-11-14T05:20:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao Cotto 24/7 Episode 4

2009-11-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

Format: avi xvid
Size: 353mb
Duration: 28mins
Download at Megaupload
Source: http://www.pacquiaovideo.com

After watching the videos of the introduction of Pacquiao and Cotto in their HBO 24/7 Trailer Promo videos 4 weeks ago, the Pacquiao Cotto Episode 1 last October 24th, the Pacquiao Cotto Episode 2 videos 3 weeks ago and the Pacquiao Cotto Episode 3 just a week ago, here we are again waiting and expecting for the Pacquiao Cotto HBO 24/7 Episode 4 The Finale. It will be posted here as soon as it will be available online.

Of course, the main event night watch Pacquiao vs Cotto live in HBO PPV will be on November 14, 2009 9PM ET/6PM PT at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Firepower” Weigh-In Pics And Results, Manny Pacquiao 144, Miguel Cotto 145

2009-11-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

(Photos by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Nov. 13, both Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto made weight for their 145 lb catch-weight title fight.

WBO welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto who will be putting his strap on the line, came in at a trim 145 lbs

Manny Pacquiao who will be the challenging for the WBO title came in at 144 lbs, the heaviest weight of his career.

This will be Manny Pacquiao’s 7th title shot at a 7th different weight class, if he wins he could make history as the first fighter to win 7 titles in 7 different weight divisions.

The WBC diamond belt for catch-weights will also be on the line.

The boxing match will take place at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. HBO pay per view will broadcast the event live! The pay per view event starts at 6pm PT.

Source: http://www.nowboxing.com/archives/4273#more-4273

Opinion: Miguel Cotto Must Survive Round One to Stay Safe in the Game

2009-11-13T19:16:00.000-08:00

Published 4 hours ago by Leo Reyes

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will be relentless in his quest for his place in boxing history by knocking out his opponent in round one of his Firepower match with Miguel Cotto. The Puerto Rican boxer must survive round one to stay safe in the game.
Miguel Cotto must survive the first round of his 'Firepower' match with Manny Pacquiao to stay in the game. If the Puerto Rican boxer survives the initial assault of the pound-for-pound king, he will have a good fighting chance of prolonging the fight but he must find his mark in the succeeding rounds or Pacquiao will be relentless in his pursuit of his much-desired seventh win in different weight classes.

Round one is critical in the 'Firepower' match as it will dictate the tempo of the fight. Pacquiao needs a window to pursue his ambition to get rid of the Puerto Rican boxer in the first round as predicted by his trainer. Once he sees an opening, Pacquiao is expected to throw his punches in rapid succession while keeping his distance from Cotto.

If Pacquiao fails to finish Cotto in round one, as many boxing fans believe he won't, his trainer and coach, Freddie Roach will have to activate Plan B which calls for a sustained attack on Cotto while the pound-for-pound king maintains safe distance from the Puerto Rican hard puncher.

Pacquiao is expected to dance around Cotto but will be watchful for a rare opening while Cotto is busy with his defences from the lightning speed of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao's fight plan calls for him to stay in the middle of the ring and avoid being trapped in the rope and corners of the ring. Cotto is expected to throw his dynamite power punch once he sees his target at close range. His much talked about power will send Pacquiao rolling on the canvas once he is hit by Cotto.

Round one is critical because it can make or break Pacquiao's dream of being placed in history books as the first boxer to win seven times in seven different weghts.
Pacquiao's chance of winning the fight in later rounds is lesser than a win in the first round or at least in the first four rounds of the fight while Cotto's chances are greater in the middle or later rounds.

The popular Filipino boxer will collide Saturday with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas Nevada. Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions is promoting the fight which will be shown on worldwide television and is available on pay-per-view.

Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/282080

James Lawton: Pacquiao can take final step towards clinching the most thrilling fight of all time

2009-11-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

It's rarely a hardship watching Brazilians play, wherever they cast up in their relentless globe-trotting. However, there has to be the suspicion as the sun rises here this morning, that whatever the world's greatest football nation produces tonight against Fabio Capello's England in the Khalifa Stadium, one might just be in the wrong desert.

Manny Pacquiao, who meets Puerto Rico's favourite fighting son Miguel Cotto in Nevada, creates the doubt because in the brilliance of his fighting and the force of his spirit he has made a compelling argument he is not just the most mesmerising performer in boxing, but all of sport.

This might prove a financial reality soon enough if, as expected, the Pacman engulfs the splendid Cotto and sets up with maximum fanfare potentially the fight of next year and possibly many others against the superb, if not easy to like, ring craftsman Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

Meanwhile, promoter Bob Arum argues that tonight's drama in the MGM Garden Arena has an integrity and a potential all of its own. Yes of course, he would say this.

It is also true that notwithstanding his distinguished service on the late Robert Kennedy's anti-mob investigating committee, Arum is notorious even in the cynical old vineyard of pugilism for his admission that some of his words need to be weighed more carefully than others.

When he was once told that his latest statement was in direct contradiction to one he made the day before, he shrugged and said, "Yesterday I was lying." But then if Arum, like most of his trade, can be cavalier with the truth when the challenge is selling tickets and pay-per-view buys, he is nobody's fool – and certainly far too intelligent to expose himself to an avalanche of post-fight mockery.

It is in this light that we should receive his claim that Pacquiao-Cotto might just prove the most eviscerating collision since the one at Caesar's Palace between Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns 24 years ago. "Yes," said Arum, "this fight could turn out the same way. If Cotto is aggressive enough, it could be Hagler-Hearns all over again."

Talk about loading up expectation. Hagler-Hearns may not have been the greatest fight any of us have ever seen – the verdict here would be that as an all-round test of nerve and will and ability, Hearns-Sugar Ray Leonard, four years earlier, was superior – but as a sensation, a firestorm, a shooting star burning its way across the desert sky it was, surely, unsurpassable in one lifetime.

The sight of Hearns leaning back against the ropes and pounding the head of Hagler repeatedly, and then the awesome refusal of Hagler to stop for a second in his relentless pursuit, is unforgettable for anyone who ever saw it. The great screenwriter and boxing aficionado Budd – On the Waterfront – Schulberg was a ringside companion and memorable too was his reaction to this onslaught on the senses.

"I never expected to see anything so intense outside of war," said the man who wrote the scene that had Marlon Brando, as the failed fighter, telling his corrupt brother, played by Rod Steiger, "I coulda been a contender."

When Arum talks of Pacquiao and Cotto walking in the steps of Hagler and Hearns he goes to the heart of boxing's most thrilling but sometimes most troubling appeal, the prospect of men going to their absolute limits.

How far did the beaten Hearns go? This is him on the desperate impulse that carried him so ferociously into a fight that would, and perhaps only could, go just three rounds: "Man, that was a night. I knew I had to go to my limit. I had to gamble. But when I lost the gamble I didn't have any regrets. I made an honest decision about my best chance of winning – and winning well.

"Maybe I should have stayed away from him [Hagler] more, used my reach, tried to outbox him. But I knew how strong he was, how he would keep coming at me and I decided I would go for him. I would hang out there, on the edge.

"I'd worked so hard for the fight. When I got into the ring, I didn't believe I could go 12 rounds with a fighter as strong as Hagler. I felt I had to get him out of there. I don't blame Manny [trainer Steward] - we had our rows but they were never about how good he was at his job.

"Manny tried to rein me in. Unfortunately, you cannot get your time back. If I could have done, I would have fought Hagler differently. I would have trusted my legs a little more, tried to fight my way through that feeling of tiredness. I would box him, use my reach, attempt to drive him crazy with frustration. That was always going to be the strategy. I'd fought the fight a thousand times in my head. But then the bell rings and you are in reality.

"People still tell me that was the greatest fight they ever saw, even though it went less than three rounds, and that they will remember it when they forget my other fights against such men as Sugar Ray Leonard and Wilfred Benitez and Roberto Duran, all great fighters. Me, I just wish I could have it again."

Boxing, of course, can never get enough of such fights, and maybe the yearning has never been greater in an era when someone like Manny Pacquiao emerges part hero, part saviour.

Tonight, certainly, he pursues rather more than Cotto's WBO welterweight crown. He seeks to confirm himself as boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter, and one of the champions of the ages.

It means, surely, that it is no insult to the beautiful game of Brazil, or the ambitions of the new England, to suggest that one desert wind may well blow somewhat forcefully into another at some point in the next 24 hours.

Is football finally rising above the diving game?

David Ngog's dive last week was on the face of it more bleak evidence of football's cynical tendency. However, there is maybe at least a little encouragement for the belief that growing nausea in the face of such behaviour is beginning to have some effect.

Certainly Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, despite the growing extremity of his situation, implied strongly that the point saved against Birmingham had not exactly bestowed heroic status on the young player who had made it possible.

Jamie Carragher also suggested he might be having a word with the miscreant who had otherwise performed well under considerable pressure.

Such reaction goes against a tide which once seemed irresistible, a great weight of evidence that the imperative to win at all costs had become absolutely paramount. Also cause for optimism is reports that the football authorities have finally grasped that institutionalised cheating is something that can only be tolerated at long-term risk to the game's popularity, at least among those who remember that it is supposed to be about sport and not mass prejudice.

The Eduardo affair, which was resolved in so unsatisfactory a fashion in legal niceties, may have been something of a fiasco. But perhaps it did indeed trigger a little bit of thought and, who knows, a hint of conscience.

Relentless spectacles can ask too much of their showmen

The tragic end of German goalkeeper Robert Enke on a railway line near Hanover reminds us that if professional sport is often a circus, some of the performers are at least as vulnerable as any of the inhabitants of what we choose to call real life.

In fact, when you think about the heightened dramas, the sudden highs and lows, the casualty rate in Enke's profession must be said to be remarkably low.

This, however, does not include all the private fears and suffering and the contributing extra stress in cases of mental illness, that go into maintaining a place in what we are maybe sometimes excused in thinking is nothing so much as an opulent playpen.

It is, anyway, perhaps another reason to nod our agreement that if the glory and the rewards of professional sport have never been so pronounced, nor has the clamour been so great. Enke's tragedy, obviously, could have happened in any walk of life. However, the need to always present a strong and invulnerable front might not have been quite so great if he hadn't been required to be constantly on show. It is at least maybe something to reflect on the next time the howls of derision come rolling in from the terraces.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/james-lawton-pacquiao-can-take-final-step-towards-clinching-the-most-thrilling-fight-of-all-time-1820453.html

Weight Over: Cotto, Pacquiao Ready To Lock And Load

2009-11-13T19:13:00.000-08:00

By Jake Donovan

There was no need to pay by the pound, in the weigh-in to tomorrow night’s Vegas superfight between welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

Faced with the threat of having to pay a cool million for every pound over the 145 lb. catchweight limit, Cotto (34-1, 27KO) managed to keep his money in his pocket. The soft-spoken yet ferocious Puerto Rican weighed in at 145 on the nose, one pound heavier than Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37KO), who hit the scales at a career heaviest yet shredded 144 lb.

The bout tops tomorrow evening’s highly anticipated pay-per-view, which airs live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada (Saturday, HBO PPV, 9PM ET/6PM PT, $54.95).

Despite the compromised weight limit, the fight is still billed as a welterweight affair, with Cotto’s alphabet strap on the line. The bout will be the Puerto Rican’s first in Vegas since suffering the lone defeat of his career, an 11th round stoppage at the hands of Antonio Margarito in last summer’s thriller.

Cotto has since won two straight, including a 12-round gut check against Joshua Clottey at Madison Square Garden this past June. In that fight, Cotto suffered a potentially fight-ending gash over his eye, but fought bravely for more than nine rounds, closing strong to escape with a close and debated split decision victory.

There isn’t a fighter in the sport on a greater roll than Manny Pacquiao. Amidst his current 10-fight win streak have come title wins in three separate weight classes, including his two-round destruction of Ricky Hatton this past May. The win made the insanely popular Filipino the only fighter in boxing history to capture lineal world championships in four separate weight classes.

A win on Saturday allows Pacquiao to further add to the record books, as he will become the first fighter ever to capture a major title in seven weight classes.

Three televised preliminary bouts precede the pay-per-view main event. The only other major title bout of the evening will see two-time junior middleweight champ Daniel Santos defend against unbeaten Yuri Foreman.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. moves up in weight, but not in competition, as he appears in the co-feature bout against Troy Rowland in a middleweight bout scheduled for ten rounds.

The one preliminary bout met with considerable anticipation is an expected welterweight shootout between former Contender star Alfonso Gomez and fringe contender Jesus Soto Karass. A regional title is at stake in their scheduled 10-round affair, though Soto Karass will have to sweat off ½ pound in order to be eligible to vie for the vacant strap. Gomez comfortably made weight, coming in at a surprisingly chiseled 145 ½ lb.

Top Rank Inc. serves as the sole promoter for the year’s most anticipated event, which saw an enormous turnout at the weigh-in, with both fighters well represented.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.

Source: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23444

WEIGH-IN RESULTS FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA

2009-11-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Nov 2009

Las Vegas, NV:- Top Rank held the weigh in for the gladiators fighting tomorrow at the MGM Grand Garden Arena moments ago.

Miguel Cotto, the Boricua from Puerto Rico came in right on the nose:- 145lbs. Pacquiao, the challenger was a pound less at 144 lbs.

The rest of the weigh results are as follows:

Troy Rowland -- 159lbs vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. -- 160lbs

Yuri Foreman -- 154 lbs vs Daniel Santos -- 154 lbs

Jesus Soto-Karass -- 147.5lbs vs Alfonso Gomez -- 146.5lbs

Martin Vierra -- 152lbs vs Rodrigo Garcia -- 150lbs

Eilon Kedem -- 119.5lbs vs Eden Sonsona -- 121lbs

Mustafah Johnson -- 158lbs vs Matt Korobov -- 160.5

Ernie Marquez -- 112lbs vs Richi Mepranum -- 112lbs

Lupe Guzman -- 134.5lbs vs Abner Cotto -- 133lbs

The event could have been “uneventful’ if not for the sharp verbal exchanges between Freddie Roach and Joe Santiago, Santiago said something that did not sink in too well with Roach and the Wildcard Gym master charged towards Santiago. But, as they go in these events, cooler heads prevailed and the two trainers were separated.

At this writing, we are still looking for people who heard what was said and as soon as we get to the meat of that exchange, we will post it in this site.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-29618.html

Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto Weigh-in @ FightFan.com!

2009-11-13T19:06:00.001-08:00

PACQUIAO - 144 LBS, COTTO - 145 LBS

2009-11-13T16:39:00.000-08:00

PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Nov 2009

Six time world champion, pound-for-pound king and challenger Manny Pacquiao (L) of the Philippines came in at 144 lbs while reigning and defending WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (R) of Puerto stepped in at exactly 145 lbs, the stipulated weight he was supposed to came in, during the official weighin moments ago at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Pacquiao and Cotto will bring 'Firepower' tomorrow night (Sunday morning in Manila) for the most anticipated fight of the year WBO world championship welterweight showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-29607.html

Pacquiao's task is to concentrate on fight

2009-11-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

By TIM DAHLBERG (AP) – 2 hours ago

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao spent long, hard weeks getting ready for one of the biggest nights of his life. Hundreds of hours sparring in sweltering gyms, nearly as many on morning runs through deserted streets.

Not to mention all those nights rehearsing with the band.

Many in boxing think Miguel Cotto will be Pacquiao's toughest challenge when they meet Saturday night in a highly anticipated 145-pound fight. But after trading punches he has to please another kind of crowd when he takes the stage to sing with his band later that night down the Las Vegas Strip.

His trainer would rather he concentrate on the immediate task at hand. But Freddie Roach understands by now that Pacquiao can't keep still in the ring or out.

"I'm against the concert, of course," Roach said. "But he does a lot of stuff. He's multitasking all the time."

The stuff includes everything from helping victims of the recent typhoon in his native Philippines to starring in an action movie called "Wapakman." The father of four — who named one of his daughters Queen Elizabeth — has so many things going on all the time that even his ever expanding entourage has trouble keeping track.

None of it matters, though, if he doesn't take care of business Saturday night when he again carries the weight of a nation on his shoulders in the latest in a string of fights that have made him wildly popular far beyond his home country.

Pacquiao expects it to be his first knockout performance of the night.

"For me boxing is a kind of entertainment," Pacquiao said. "You have to entertain people. You have to earn their trust."

Pacquiao has done just that in his last two fights, giving Oscar De La Hoya such a beating that he retired and dropping Ricky Hatton with one huge punch. He's gone from being a top-tier fighter to being widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and beating Cotto would give him an unprecedented seventh title in as many weight classes.

It also would set up a bout with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. in one of the biggest fights in boxing history. That's assuming, of course, that Pacquiao can focus on his most important duty of the night.

"I set aside everything that can distract my mind," Pacquiao said. "This is the important fight of my life. To win seven titles means 20 or 30 years ago you won't forget my name. Manny Pacquiao will still be there."

Though the fight will be for a piece of the welterweight title, it is being held at 145 pounds at the insistence of Pacquiao's camp because Cotto is a natural 147-pounder and Pacquiao has fought only once above 140 pounds. The scheduled 12-rounder at sold-out MGM Grand arena will be shown on pay-per-view.

The fight has the potential to be one of the most entertaining of recent big bouts, if only because Pacquiao fights in a frenetic style and Cotto loves nothing better than to move forward while throwing a relentless swarm of punches. But there are still questions about Pacquiao's chin against a bigger fighter as well as how much Cotto has recovered from the beating he took last year at the hands of Antonio Margarito.

Oddsmakers make Pacquiao a 2 1/2-1 favorite partly because the betting public is going by his last two performances and partly because he seems to have accomplished the hardest task in boxing — bringing both his speed punch with him as he moved up in weight in a pro career that began at 105 pounds.

"We believe we have an advantage in speed and in power, too," Pacquiao said. "My speed is still there and if you have speed you can create power."

Hatton found that out when he was on the receiving end of Pacquiao's left hook, his best punch. But Roach has helped Pacquiao develop a decent right hand in the last few years, too, so opponents can no longer look for just one punch.

The fight plan is simple for Pacquiao: Take command early and don't give Cotto a chance to build his confidence.

"If we let him win the first few rounds he'll begin to think he can fight with Manny," Roach said. "My job is not to let that happen."

Cotto's left hook is his best weapon, too, and until Margarito — with the possible help of some suspect hand wraps — stopped him in the 11th round last year, Cotto was a rising star himself. Cotto struggled in his last fight to win a bloody split decision over Joshua Clottey and Roach, for one, believes he has slowed and is no longer the same fighter he once was.

Cotto will make just half of Pacquiao's $13 million guarantee for this fight. He will also have to deal with having a new and untested trainer in his corner and the possibility that his cut against Clottey will be reopened in this fight. The crowd also figures to be against him.

"It's just a fight," Cotto said. "I'm not mad that people want me to win this fight or not. If he thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent. If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsQm2mpH142W2bcUOmXWoSLEUj2gD9BUS9HO0

EARLY STOPPAGE IMPERATIVE FOR MANNY

2009-11-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

By Sid Bañez
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Nov 2009

Flashback (Pacquaio-Morales II): In a post-fight interview, winner Erik Morales gloated that he was simply too big and too powerful for Manny Pacquiao. The intensely proud Morales was belittling the fact that from the fifth round onwards, he was fighting essentially a one-eyed warrior,blood oozing from the gallant Filipino’s nasty cut above the eye. Amidst the euphoria, Morales was conveniently forgetting that his knees buckled in the twelfth, nearly causing him the fight.

On hindsight now, Morales was not too big nor too powerful for Pacquiao, who avenged his loss with two stunning knockouts.

Fast forward today: Natural welterweight Miguel Cotto and his supporters have been proclaiming the same theme: He’s bigger, stronger and younger. This time, the claim doesn’t sound like mere braggadocio. The Puerto Rican champion can hit incredibly hard. When he digs with his right to the rib cage one wonders if his right – and not his more dangerous left – is his real weapon of destruction.

Body shots are long term investments; you reap the dividends in the later rounds. The more a boxer invests in body shots the greater the rewards when most needed.

To be sure, Manny took a lot of body shots from Morales and probably gave as much. But Cotto’s body shots will more powerful and more precise, judging from the way he dished them out against Joshua Clottey and Shane Mosley. As to whether Cotto could land enough body shots to discourage and eventually hurt Pacquiao would be most interesting to observe, especially if the fight lasts the distance. In short, it’s a given that Cotto’s body shots are top quality but can he land them in sufficient quantity?

I don’t relish the idea of Cotto talking like Morales in a post-fight interview about how much more powerful he was.

Freddie Roach has said that the fight plan is for Manny not to get hit too much. By that he certainly meant not to get hit by body shots. It’s evident in Pacquiao’s training videos that his moves are designed to evade the rights to the body. Concern for Cotto’s power is mainly on the champion’s body shots, especially with the right.

Forget Morales. The way I see it, Cotto who makes quick and masterful adjustments in the ring can put up a Marquez type of fight. Like Marquez, Cotto can counterpuch effectively. But unlike Marquez he can also box beautifully and brawl dangerously with hand and foot speed to boot. Nevertheless, especially in the second fight, Marquez showed the world Pacquiao could not intimidate him as he continued to clinically press on, round after after round. If Cotto could show such courage against Pacquiao’s shock and awe artillery in the early and middle rounds, the outcome could be in the judges’ hands.

How early is early? Pacquiao should stop him earlier than de did Oscar dela Hoya, that is on or before the eighth round.Otherwise, when Cotto’s body shots start yielding dividends by slowing down the Filipino, it would be Cotto’s showtime. It has been pointed out that Manny did not stop dela Hoya and Pacman loyalists insist the Golden Boy would have been dropped had he not quit. Maybe. But it is a fact that despite the severe beating he got, Dela Hoya lasted until the beginning of he ninth round. If Cotto remains standing until the ninth round, it could spell trouble for Manny, judging from the results of the first fight with Morales and the second with Marquez, both of which lasted the distance.

Fighting Cotto will probably be the toughest in the Pacman’s career and the betting odds don’t give fans a realistic picture. But Manny has achieved many “unrealistic” feats. Another one may be achieved on November 14.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-29601.html

Pacquiao fights for place in history

2009-11-13T15:20:00.000-08:00

By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com

LAS VEGAS -- Manny Pacquiao was just 16 years old, a frail 106-pounder, when he turned pro in obscurity in the Philippines and won a long-forgotten four-round decision against Edmundo Enting Ignacio in 1995.

Who would have believed that 14 years later Pacquiao would have grown into a rock-solid man some 40 pounds heavier and become a worldwide star, the national icon of his beloved country and on the verge of one of the most historic accomplishments in boxing history?

That would be winning a record seven world titles in seven divisions from 112 pounds to 147 pounds, which he can do by defeating welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto on Saturday night (9 ET, HBO PPV, $54.95) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the year's biggest fight.

"This fight is about history," Pacquiao said. "It's exciting to think I can be the first person to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions. What makes it even more special is that it would be a Filipino to do it.

"If I do it, 30 years from now they won't forget my name. Manny Pacquiao will still be there."

In May, the pound-for-pound king scored a titanic second-round knockout of England's Ricky Hatton to capture the lineal junior welterweight championship. The victory made Pacquiao a six-division titleholder, tying the record set by Oscar De La Hoya, who won belts from 130 pounds to 160 pounds, but was pounded into retirement by Pacquiao in a December 2008 nontitle welterweight fight.

Now, Pacquiao seeks to break the tie by moving back up to welterweight (albeit at a contract weight of 145 pounds, two less than the division limit) to challenge Puerto Rico's Cotto at the MGM Grand, also the site of his wins against Hatton and De La Hoya.

"I don't necessarily count his belts, but his whole body of work as he has fought bigger and bigger guys is something truly outstanding," said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. "I really believe it's hard to assess things while they are happening. When something is happening in real time we tend to say it's good, but not necessarily legendary or great. But I can see 20 years from now people will look back at this and say what he is doing is legendary and great."

It would be a mind-boggling accomplishment for a man whose first title came in the 112-pound flyweight division to also win a welterweight title.

But that is what Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) stands on the brink of doing.

"First it is a very big honor for me and for the people in my country and I am honored to be fighting for another world championship," Pacquiao said. "That is why I am very hungry for doing this fight because it is the first time in the history of boxing to win a title in seven different weight divisions."

Cotto, who has won titles at welterweight and junior welterweight, has no intention of becoming No. 7 on Pacquiao's list of title victims.

"If he thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent," Cotto said sternly. "If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."

Arum, trying to walk the fine line of neutrality because he promotes Pacquiao and Cotto, understands the historic implications of Saturday's fight.

"I think that Manny has already established himself as a great, Hall of Fame fighter, but if he beats Cotto he becomes a legendary fighter the same way we regard Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali," Arum said. "He becomes part of that super, super elite group."

Granted, there was a time when boxing had only eight weight classes with one champion per division, and now the sport is bloated to 17 divisions with four sanctioning organizations doling out the most recognized belts.

However, if it was so easy to win seven titles in that many divisions wouldn't everybody be doing it? Wouldn't somebody have already done it?

"Fighting Miguel Cotto for a seventh world title is going to be unbelievable because Manny is a throwback. He is like a Henry Armstrong type," said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, referring to the Hall of Fame great who once simultaneously held titles in three weight divisions (when there were only eight total) more than 70 years ago. "You don't have fighters like that today that move up in weight like this to win championships in all of these different weight divisions.

"He is carrying his punch and his power with him along with his speed. He is just getting better and better in the ring. This is just one of the greatest achievements ever. He is passing people like Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns. He is in the level of the top five fighters of all time of any era."

Pacquiao's remarkable run began in 1998, when he traveled to Thailand and knocked out flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul in the eighth round to win his first major title, whose lineage can be traced directly back to Hall of Famer Miguel Canto.

Pacquiao, who suffered two knockout losses as a flyweight -- he claims he was weight drained going into both -- made one defense before losing his title on one of the knockouts. After that, he moved directly to the 122-pound junior featherweight division.

Given what Pacquiao has accomplished, it's not a stretch to think that had he gotten an opportunity to fight for titles at junior bantamweight (115 pounds) or bantamweight (118), we'd be talking about Pacquiao going for a title in his ninth division against Cotto.

But seven is impressive enough, said Roach, who hooked up with Pacquiao shortly before his American debut in 2001, when, as a late replacement, he upset Lehlo Ledwaba with a dominant sixth-round knockout to win a junior featherweight title, also at the MGM Grand, on a De La Hoya undercard.

"I'm very happy to be part of it," Roach said. "I was wondering where he would be or where I would be without each other. Who knows? Manny Pacquiao has been a great part of my life. It's unbelievable. He's like a throwback. He could compete in any era. He only comes along once in a lifetime. People always ask me who's the next Manny Pacquiao? I'm only going to see one of him in my life."

After four defenses, the stage was set for Pacquiao's true coming-out party in November 2003, a memorable performance in an 11th-round knockout of Marco Antonio Barrera to claim the lineal featherweight championship. Two and a half years earlier, Barrera had stunned the world with his own dominant performance against Naseem Hamed, who would have had a stranglehold on all four sanctioning organization titles if not for the politics that prevented him from holding them simultaneously. Nonetheless, Barrera was the man, who beat the man, who beat the man -- meaning the lineal champion.

Four of Pacquiao's championships -- a record -- include the lineal title: flyweight, featherweight, junior lightweight and junior welterweight.

After beating Barrera, Pacquiao eventually moved up to the 130-pound junior lightweight division, where he and Erik Morales engaged in a memorable nontitle trilogy before Pacquiao had a year for the ages in 2008.

He and Juan Manuel Marquez had fought to a controversial draw in a featherweight championship fight in 2004, in which Pacquiao entered as the lineal champion but Marquez held two alphabet belts. They met in a March 2008 rematch with Marquez's junior lightweight title at stake.

Pacquiao claimed a controversial split decision to give him title No. 5. Four months later, Pacquiao made a pit stop at lightweight and cherry-picked a 135-pound belt with a ninth-round decimation of David Diaz.

That performance gave Arum the confidence that Pacquiao could compete at even heavier weights, and Pacquiao followed with the beatdown of De La Hoya in an upset and the knockout of Hatton.

"I equate this guy with a legendary fighter like Henry Armstrong," Arum said. "I never saw Armstrong except on a couple of films, but from everything I read Armstrong was a similar kind of guy, a fast guy who could go up in weight without losing his ability. Pacquiao is somebody that I've never seen in my entire boxing career. I've never seen a fighter go up in weight the way he has and at the same time increase his punching power and get faster. Everything that conventional wisdom says you are supposed to lose as you move up in weight, he gets better.

"This son of a gun, his punch is stronger now and he is much, much faster than when he fought Erik Morales at a lighter weight."

Even Pacquiao is a bit surprised by his success navigating the various weight classes.

"Even myself, I can't believe I can fight in the 147-pound division," Pacquiao said. "I started at 106 pounds. I was 16 years old. But right now my speed is still the same, if not better, and if you have speed, you can have power."

So is there any chance that if Pacquiao beats Cotto, he would consider trying for an eighth title in the 154-pound junior middleweight division?

"No, no, no. That's it," a smiling Pacquiao said. "That's enough."

Said Roach, "I don't think so. For him to fight at 147 we have to feed him five times a day to keep the weight on him. I think this will be our final stop but you never know. If something comes at 154, maybe we'll go there."

Arum, ever the promoter, is also leaving the door open.

"If you would have told me two years ago that Pacquiao would be going in the ring with Cotto and be the favorite in the fight, I would have said you should have your head examined. If you told me three years ago that we would someday do a fight between Manny and Oscar De La Hoya, I would tell you it is absolutely absurd. So who knows?

"Maybe the Klitschkos [the heavyweight champion brothers, Wladimir and Vitali] should watch out."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=4649630

Manny Pacquiao – Miguel Cotto: The Ultimate Guide

2009-11-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

by Tim Starks on November 13, 2009

So concludes our marathon pre-fight coverage of one of the biggest fights of 2009, Manny Pacquiao against Miguel Cotto. Don’t forget to join us for a live blog of the bout Saturday! We’ll do round-by-round coverage of all the evening’s fights, and the more people join in with their thoughts, the better it gets.

Here it is: Your links to everything you need for Saturday’s mega-fight, whether you’re a hardcore or casual boxing fan.

I want to highlight, in particular, this link to a piece from The Wall Street Journal, because it’s a major statement for a mainstream news outlet to be making, and one I think is absolutely correct — the kind of thing I keep saying over and over again: “Saturday’s bout between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas should dispel the notion that boxing’s great days are over.” FINALLY: SOMEBODY GETS IT.

Yes, yes, I always start with my own writing. Did you know, by the way, I was “indispensable,” according to the aforementioned Wall Street Journal? Shucks. I explained why Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto was so important to boxing. I asked, and kinda answered, the two top questions for each boxer going into this fight. After that, I gave you a two-part breakdown of each fighter’s physical and mental/tactical capabilities. I reluctantly broke down the crappy undercard. I offered my final preview and prediction.

The fight will cost you $54.95 via one of your pay-per-view channels, but there’s a way to get a $25 discount: Buy some Tecate beer, which, I have to say, isn’t a bad beer. It’s like the Mexican Budweiser, but better. Here’s how to cash in.

As always, the best way to get introduced to what kind of fighters Pacquiao and Cotto are is to watch the eight-minute highlight clips HBO has put together for each of them. If you’re anything like me, it’ll also make you pretty eager to watch this fight.

On the other hand, there are plenty of other ways to get to know the fighters, too. HBO’s YouTube page has a bunch of short clips, and HBO’s home page for the fight has biographies, segments from the acclaimed “Pacquiao/Cotto 24/7″ television series and more. You can watch the weigh-in at 6 p.m. here. It’ll be interesting to see if Cotto is drained trying to make the 145-pound limit — there are some questions whether he can — and whether Pacquiao is all the way up to 145 or comes in a tad less.

If you want to go beyond the career highlights, here is the complete record of Cotto, and here is the complete record of Pacquiao. Wikipedia also offers plenty of information about each man.

The odds started off closer, but a lot of money had come in on Pacquiao to make him a 3-1 favorite, and now things seem to have tightened up a bit more, with Pacquiao at -275. A ton of boxers have made predictions about who they think will win.

ESPN’s Fight Credential, as usual, is a real font of information about the fight, with a running “blog” and tons of features, like the video game Fight Night Round 4’s simulation of Pacquiao-Cotto. Also, Paclanders are a little goofy sometimes (like the one who called me biased against Pacquiao in the same entry I picked him to win), but Pacland itself is a truly tremendous aggregator of news about all things Pacquiao-related, which means tons and tons of articles about this fight in particular.

The MSM is loving this fight. I mentioned The New York Times’ rare coverage of boxing for this fight (and undercard, even). Numerous people have sent me the articles, which shows how much influence the Times has, plus they’re very good articles, which shows that the Times can bring something to the table nobody else can, opposite one of the Times’ explanations of why they don’t cover boxing. Now if only The Washington Post would cover boxing every now and then. USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times, the other three biggest papers in the country, are always good about covering boxing, and there’s no exception this time around. The Journal’s piece really hits the freaking spot; the quote above is how it’s described in the summary linked through Google, rather than an actual statement from the article, but the rest of the piece is really good and makes that point, too. (Of course, the Journal has been digging on boxing for a long time compared to its MSM peers, so they’ve “got” it for a while now.)

The guessing game about how many pay-per-view buys a mega-fight will do is always fun. There’s talk that this fight is tracking in the 1.4 million range, which would make it good for the second-biggest selling fight ever. I’m typically conservative about such estimates, but boxing this year has persistently exceeded my expectations, and if Pacquiao-Cotto does 1 million buys, it’ll be the first year two fights (the other was Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez in September) have crossed that mark since 1999. Boxing is so dead! Anyway, my original thinking was the fight would do about 1 million, but if early estimates of how it’s doing put it at 1.4, I’m going to upgrade to 1.2.

Leave your guess for the PPV buys in the comments section, and I’ll leave you with this clip of Pacquiao singing “Sometimes When We Touch” on “The Jimmy Kimmel Show,” which is always good for amusement. (After the fight, Pacquiao’s booked for his traditional singing performance.)

Source: http://queensberry-rules.com/2009/11/13/manny-pacquiao-miguel-cotto-the-ultimate-guide.html/comment-page-1

Cotto’s Trainer Learned Trade Outside the Ring

2009-11-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

By GREG BISHOP
Published: November 13, 2009

LAS VEGAS — Joe Santiago is 32 years old. He has never boxed, not once, never built a champion, never trained a fighter for a bout of the magnitude that awaits him Saturday.

Santiago speaks softly, in Spanish, his baseball cap turned backward, his baby face revealed. He is not a trainer cut from the Rocky cloth. He lacks the facial scars, the advice delivered in gruff tones and colorful language, the ever-present stogie.

Santiago earned two degrees, a bachelor’s in physical education and a master’s in athletic training. But for those who doubt he can help Miguel Cotto defeat Manny Pacquiao in their World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight, Santiago pointed to his most important schooling, 18 years in boxing gyms in Puerto Rico, where he earned an unofficial doctorate in the sport.

“I’ve followed boxing all my life,” he said through a translator.

The gym opened a half-mile from his home in Caguas when Santiago was 14. This was not a gym in the typical sense. It was an old building that fit no more than 30 people. The ring sat in the backyard. Fighters jumped rope on the sidewalk out front.

Locals nicknamed it the Garage, and during off-hours they parked cars next to punching bags, removing them each morning to resume training.

Santiago loved every aspect of that gym — the sounds, the smells, the intoxicating daily rhythm. Only one problem remained: his parents refused to let him fight. His father, Jose Luis, a longtime firefighter, knew all about a profession with danger inherent in its job description.

They compromised. As long as Santiago fulfilled his school obligations he could spend as much time at the gym as he wanted. But he would not box.

Even then, he dreamed of fights like Saturday’s — in Las Vegas, sold out, millions watching, critiquing, wondering, who is that young man in Cotto’s corner?

“This is my dream,” Santiago said. “To be in this kind of fight, the magnitude of it, the stakes.”

Santiago explained that the rich tradition of Puerto Rican boxing resulted from the plethora of gyms situated in the south. The best fighters train all over, fight all over, and in 1993, seven years before Cotto made his name in the Olympics, he stumbled into Santiago in a chance meeting.

Cotto introduced Santiago to his uncle and trainer at the time, Evangelista, who invited Santiago to his gym. In 2002, Cotto added Santiago to his payroll, as a physical trainer and nutritionist, two jobs tailored to Santiago’s schooling.

Cotto and Santiago bonded instantly. Close in age (Cotto is three years younger), they had similar temperaments, similar tastes in music and a singular obsession — boxing. They became like brothers.

Evangelista build his nephew into a champion. They won their first 32 fights and world titles in two divisions, their only loss coming under a cloud of suspicion to a boxer, Antonio Margarito, later caught with doctored gloves.

But a dispute flared last April. Cotto wanted to move his training camp to Tampa, Fla. Evangelista, who worked with other fighters, demanded that they remain in Puerto Rico.

A local newspaper, Primera Hora, reported the details: the uncle and his nephew, together for 18 years, exchanging blows; the fight continuing at Cotto’s home; the uncle lobbing a brick at his nephew; the brick shattering the window of the nephew’s Jaguar; the uncle getting fired.

Boxers routinely change trainers, and those close to Cotto had seen the dispute coming. His promoter, Bob Arum, the chairman of Top Rank Boxing, said that he had sensed tension earlier and that Santiago had become Cotto’s main confidant long before Evangelista’s dismissal.

Arum labeled the change necessary, but not everyone agrees.

“It was painful,” said Miguel Cotto Sr., whose relationship with his brother has been severed. “But my son is the athlete, and he had to make decisions and go forward.”

They decided not to seek an outside trainer, believing they already had the right one in Santiago. Since the switch, Team Cotto said, unity has increased markedly.

“There are other trainers, big-name trainers, but maybe they don’t have the relationship with their fighter that I have,” Santiago said. “All I have to do is look at his face and I know if he’s doing what he’s supposed to do or not.”

This fight is Santiago’s second as lead trainer. Should Cotto win, Santiago is likely to receive sparse praise, but he will shoulder heavy blame if Cotto loses.

Freddie Roach knows the feeling. He is Pacquiao’s trainer, and at 49 he is the only man to win trainer of the year three times. He was Santiago 20 years ago.

Roach was 27 when he worked his first championship fight for Virgil Hill. Roach even acknowledged making a rookie mistake, accidentally setting Hill up for a fierce blow on the final day of sparring. A deep cut opened atop Hill’s left eyebrow, but they covered it with makeup and everything worked out.

When Hill triumphed, Roach pronounced it the happiest day of his young life. But even now, 23 champions later, he still gets nervous.

Roach has spent the past few weeks needling Santiago, trying to climb inside the young trainer’s head. He said that Cotto runs the show. He pointed to Santiago’s inexperience. He predicted a Pacquiao knockout.

Santiago said he paid Roach no attention, believing his deep, longstanding bond with Cotto will overcome his inexperience.

“People make that critique,” Cotto Sr. said. “But if you don’t give the quote-unquote inexperienced person the opportunity, they will remain so. Joe is not inexperienced in boxing whatsoever.”

On Wednesday, at the final news conference for this fight, the little-known Santiago stepped behind the lectern. He looked younger than his 32 years. He wished Pacquiao good luck, before adding, “You’re going to need it.”

In a fight marked by an atypical lack of trash talk, Santiago had fired the salvo like a veteran.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/sports/14santiago.html?_r=1

Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto tale of the tape and more

2009-11-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

The tale of the tape for Saturday's anticipated welterweight title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto is missing just one category, which will be settled after 3 p.m. today when the six-time world champion Pacquiao and welterweight belt-holder Cotto step on the scales inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The weigh-in is open to the public, with doors opening at 1 p.m. At 5:30 a.m., the first person started the line, said an MGM security official.

For those waiting for the weight numbers to be finalized for the bout that contractually demands each man to weigh in at 145 pounds, here's the other key numbers to chew on:

Age: Pacquiao 30, Cotto 29; Record: Pacquiao 49-3-2, 37 KOs, Cotto 34-1, 27 KOs; Height: Pacquiao 5-6 1/2, Cotto 5-8; Reach: Pacquiao 67", Cotto 69"; Chest normal: Pacquiao 38", Cotto 39", Chest expanded: Pacquiao 41", Cotto 41"; Biceps: Pacquiao 13", Cotto 13", Forearm: Pacquiao 12", Cotto 11 1/2"; Waist: Pacquiao 28", Cotto 32"; Thigh: Pacquiao 20", Cotto 22 1/2"; Calf: Pacquiao 15", Cotto 12"; Neck: Pacquiao 16", Cotto 16"; Wrist: Pacquiao 8", Cotto 7 1/2"; Fist: Pacquiao 10", Cotto 11".

-- An unofficial poll of writers has been finalized, with 16 selecting Pacquiao and eight picking Cotto. HBO did a tour of the media center Thursday interviewing writers across the country, including me, about the outcome. Check it out here.

Last night, I talked to veteran matchmaker Bruce Trampler, who told me Pacquiao spent two and a half hours inside a Vegas gym, getting in a workout in which he looked intense and sharp. Trampler, who works for the promoter of both fighters, Top Rank, wouldn't go as far as guaranteeing a Pacquiao victory.

He said what so many others are saying about the fight: it has all the makings of a classic.

--Lance Pugmire

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/11/manny-pacquiao-miguel-cotto-boxing-2.html

Lord, make Manny Pacquiao the perfect storm

2009-11-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

By Recah Trinidad
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:11:00 11/14/2009

TO DEAR MANNY PACQUIAO, our country’s hope and pride, please pause for a few seconds before you take on the biggest mission of your life as a warrior.

Please listen to this request from all of us who are all behind you in your most important fight.

Please keep a firm grip of yourself.

Don’t snap, don’t scream like a wounded tiger when things get out of hand.

Hold on tight.

Don’t growl, bare your fangs.

Don’t glower and clap your gloves.

Don’t play the blind, burning bullet with no sure target.

* * *

Also, please don’t consider this as a tip or advice.

Freddie Roach, for sure, has amply brought this up with you a lot of times.

This is an urgent request and we make it with fears you could be pushed, taunted, slurred, or even fouled, inside the ring.

We beg that you stay focused when you get hit or hurt.

Don’t lose patience and drop your guard.

Stay your old, speedy, skillful self.

* * *

Going by how you’ve trained and prepared, this should be of no use by now.

Mr. Roach has in fact said he expects nothing less than a perfect fight from you.

Not that we don’t trust your greatness and dedication.

We have full faith in you.

We pray and are confident you will succeed in winning a seventh world crown.

We trust you will be able to plant the Philippine flag on a boxing summit never before reached by man.

* * *

But we’ve to come up with this plea in order to make sure you don’t fall into a dirty old trap.

We pray that you don’t repeat the old mistakes you did when you kept charging blindly, often defenseless, in that bloody first fight against Erik Morales which you lost.

Of course, against Ricky Hatton the last time, you did bang your gloves and jump in when he grabbed, grazed and bullied you against the ropes.

The result was that classic stoppage in the second round.

But we’re making this request because of one thing.

Miguel Cotto doesn’t promise to be another Hatton.

* * *

Hope our fears are unfounded.

But, at the same time, please don’t get us wrong.

We’re not stopping you from fighting like that feared Pacific Storm that crossed the ocean to make a sweeping conquest of Mexican boxing greats.

The conquest is now ready to extend to as far as Puerto Rico, which also boasts legendary prizefighters.

We are solidly behind you in this incredible mission.

May you stick to the battle plan and not deviate from the win-win path.

May your stormy gifts result in a dancing dominance of your foe.

May the Good Lord turn you into a rhythmic perfect storm in your biggest fight.

Thank you for all past conquests.

God bless you.

God bless us all.

God bless the Philippines.

Source: http://sports.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20091114-236137/Lord-make-Manny-Pacquiao-the-perfect-storm

Pacquiao-Cotto could be Hagler-Hearns repeat

2009-11-13T15:11:00.000-08:00

By Jun Medina Special Correspondent

LAS VEGAS: Can boxing superstars Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Angel Cotto duplicate the three rounds of boxing mayhem the way Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns did in 1985?

That classic Hagler-Hearns shoot-out on April 15, 1985 at Caesar’s Palace here is regarded by many as the most thrilling eight minutes in fight history, with Hagler winning by a technical knockout in the third round.
Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum thinks Saturday night’s fight can recreate that Hagler-Hearns ring war because of the aggressive, attacking styles of both Pacquiao and Cotto.

“Manny and Miguel are warriors who love to fight and trade punches, and I won’t be surprised if we are treated to a ring war akin to Hagler-Hearns all over again,” said Arum, who helped promote that fight that was dubbed “The War” and voted Fight of the Year.

Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, surmised that when Pacquiao and Cotto begin trading punches, there might be no stopping them because of the attacking styles.

“Manny is the kind of fighter who always takes the fight to his opponents. And conventional wisdom says that Miguel is at his best when on the attack,” said Arum.

“So the fans can expect a classic clash with a lot of intense action, that’s for sure.”

HBO veteran ring commentator Larry Merchant thinks the fight could start as a “tactical battle,” with each one feeling the other out.

However, Merchant said it’s hard to predict how the fight will evolve once the proud protagonists start hitting each other.

When Hagler and Hearns met in 1985, for the undisputed middleweight title, Hagler was 30, and had lost only twice, much earlier in his career. Hearns was 26 and had been beaten just once then, stopped in the 14th round by Sugar Ray Leonard.

Hagler and Hearns took the fight personally. Weeks before the fight, Hagler even insulted Hearns by saying that Hearns should have just cut off his injured finger if he is really brave enough to enter the square ring the soonest.

Hearns injured one of his fingers during training which delayed the classic fight.

Tactical fight

Former two-time world heavyweight champion Goerge Foreman thinks Cotto will adopt a defensive strategy because of the severe beatings the Puerto Rican went through against Joshua Clottey in his most recent fight and earlier versus Mexican Antonio Margarito.

Foreman said that Cotto is smart enough not to engage a speed monster like Pacquiao in a brawl because the quicker Filipino icon can dish out punches from different angles at blinding speed.

Boxing trainer and ESPN ring commentator Teddy Atlas said that since Cotto could not match speed with Pacquiao, the Puerto Rican banger would likely time his spots, fight a tactical battle, and try to wear the Filipino out with body shots.

Atlas said he is going for Pacquiao because of his speed and confidence coming off knockout wins against bigger opponents like Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, who is predicting his client’s knockout win “within five rounds” said the Filipino is a “go get them type of fighter” who usually initiates the action in fights.”

Ariza also said quick-handed and explosive fighters like Pacquiao thrive on pressure, as the Filipino star demonstrated in dealing with a relentless attacker like Hatton. He was referring to Pacquiao’s second-round demolition of the British slugger who took the fight to Pacquiao from the opening bell.

Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/5939-pacquiao-cotto-could-be-hagler-hearns-repeat

Manny in fine shape; Cotto still struggling?

2009-11-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 14, 2009 12:00 AM

LAS VEGAS – After a light workout and a hearty meal, Manny Pacquiao tipped the scales at 146 lb, and should have no problem, none at all, for Friday afternoon’s official weigh-in at the Grand Garden Arena of the MGM.

A group of scribes from Manila bumped into Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, just outside The Noodle Shop of Mandalay Bay Thursday evening, and his big, round eyes gave away all the excitement in him.

“Perfect. Everything is perfect,” he said.

He was asked how much Pacquiao weighed on the eve of the Friday-the-13th weigh-in, and he responded by saying the reigning pound-for-pound champion was at 146 lb “after a meal” inside his $15,000-a-night suite.

Earlier, at the IBA Gym, where he trains when he’s in Vegas, Pacquiao said the weighing scale that he has inside his suite is as “accurate” as it can get. How much he weighs in there, is how much he’ll weigh at the MGM.

It only meant one thing: that Pacquiao is in perfect shape for the 145 lb contest, and that everything’s going on as planned, in that he can weigh in Friday at 145, or even a shade under, and climb the ring at 149 the next day.

Ariza said he doesn’t want Pacquiao to go over 150 for the fight because it could slow him down a bit.

Ariza said Pacquiao will go out for a brisk run in the morning, can have some fruits and a couple of hard-boiled eggs, and make it to the official weigh-in at 3 p.m. safe and sound, smiling as he’d done all camp long.

There were unconfirmed reports reaching Team Pacquiao Thursday that Miguel Cotto may be struggling with his weight, and that there were efforts to keep the temperature high inside the Top Rank Gym when he trains.

“It’s a hundred degrees (37 degrees Celcius) inside the gym when he trains,” said a Pacquiao assistant.

But in Wednesday’s final press conference, the 29-year-old Cotto assured everyone that his weight is in check, contrary to insinuations he’s starving himself to death just to make weight.

Members of Team Pacquiao, however, have their own thoughts, and as Pacquiao wrapped up his last day at the gym Thursday, there was some discussion regarding the schedule of the official weigh-in.

Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, and Ariza were overheard discussing the 3 p.m. weigh-in, when in the past, the fighters for the main event are weighed an hour earlier than that.

This should give the boxers a longer period to recuperate and replenish. But in this case, it seemed that the time was pushed an hour late to give Cotto extra time to reduce.

“Baka nahihirapan kunin ang timbang (Maybe he’s having difficulty making weight),” said Fernandez, adding that they don’t really mind tipping the scales at 3 p.m.

“Kahit alas-sinko pa kung gusto nila (If they want, we can do it at 5 p.m.),” he added.

If Cotto makes it, he has 24 hours to replenish, and based on previous reports, the WBO champion from Puerto Rico is planning to climb the ring at around 160 lb for the fight.

“Maganda yun sa kanya (That’s good for him),” said Fernandez.

“Tingnan natin (Let’s see).”

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=523240&publicationSubCategoryId=69

Roach lays out plan for Pacquiao

2009-11-13T15:07:00.000-08:00

By Chris Mannix

As strategists go, they don't get much better than Freddie Roach. The mastermind behind 24 world champions, Roach devises winning game plans the way Adrian Peterson scores touchdowns or Ray Allen buries jump shots. And no one has benefited more from Roach's skills than Manny Pacquiao. In just the past two years, Pacquiao has defeated a skilled counterpuncher (Juan Manuel Marquez), knocked off a physically superior hook artist (Oscar De La Hoya) and routed a bulldogging slugger (Ricky Hatton). Each victory propelled Pacquiao to a new level. Each came under Roach's watchful eye.

Still, the cliche "the next-opponent-is-the-best-opponent" may ring true for Pacquiao and Roach. Miguel Cotto, whom Pacquiao will face at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday (HBO PPV, 9 p.m.), is a chameleon. With a hard left hook and a devastating body attack, Cotto can brawl. His knockout victories over Ricardo Torres, Zab Judah and Michael Jennings -- all title fights -- attest to that.

And more so in recent years, Cotto has proven he can be an effective boxer. In 2007, he scored a career-defining victory over Shane Mosley. In a fight dominated by stinging jabs, Cotto was the more precise puncher, winning by at least two points on each of the judge's scorecards.

"He's so adaptable," said Hall of Fame trainer Emmanuel Steward. "He makes adjustments in the ring as well as anyone I've seen in a while."

Adapting to an adapter like Cotto will be Pacquiao's biggest challenge to date. But rest assured, Roach has a strategy.

"There's a Plan A and B," said Roach. Either [Cotto] is going to use his strength and come forward and show us he's the bigger or stronger guy, or he's going to try to be like Marquez and be a counterpuncher. A lot of people like to do that because it gave us trouble. But you can't become somebody else in eight weeks. Once he gets hit, he will revert back to what he does best.

"Cotto has got a great left hook, and when he gets you on the ropes he's very effective. Our job is not to be on the ropes at all in this fight. Obviously, Cotto will pressure us at times during this fight, but Manny's speed is too much. Foot-speed -- that's where the fight is won. And Manny excels in that department."

Roach says the game plan calls for Pacquiao to be aggressive early and keep Cotto out of his comfort zone.

"In the first round of this fight, I'm going to have Pacquiao make a statement," said Roach. "We're not going to give [Cotto] momentum, because if you give him momentum, he's going to get stronger. We're going to start quick. We're going to show him our power in the first round. We're going to hit him. We're not going to go in and just start swinging on him. We're going to do it smart. Pacquiao knows exactly what to do. We'll walk Cotto into a fight, because he follows. And when he follows, we're going to take advantage of that."

Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_mannix/11/13/cotto.pacquiao.preview/

‘Firepower’ clash of game plans

2009-11-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

By Francis Thimsel J. Ochoa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:42:00 11/14/2009

LAS VEGAS— Bettors are busy trying to figure out exactly what round Manny Pacquiao will finish off Miguel Cotto on Saturday (Sunday morning in the Philippines) at the MGM Grand, where the global ring superstar tries to become the first Filipino to win world titles in seven different weight divisions.

Over at Cotto’s camp, members say it is their man who will land the killer punch and end the night early.

The thing that everybody seems to overlook? The fact that “Firepower” may end up as a battle of game plans rather than a battle of punching power.

Much-maligned Cotto trainer Joe Santiago said Thursday they will try to control the pace of the fight in an effort to neutralize Pacquiao’s advantage in speed, a strategy that runs directly against Freddie Roach’s plan to press the attack early.

“You have to decide what’s going to take place in the ring from the beginning,” Santiago told reporters. “We’re going to dictate the pace.”

Roach, on the other hand, had earlier said that Pacquiao will go after Cotto early. The Puerto Rican, who will stake his WBO welterweight crown on Saturday, has been known to both start slow and end slower.

“We’re going to show him our power in the first round,” Roach revealed. “We’re not going to give (Cotto) momentum, because if you give him that, he’ll get stronger.”

And then there’s the defensive game plan.

“Miguel has a great left hook,” said Roach. “Once he gets you on the ropes, he’s very effective. Our job is to stay away from the ropes and keep the fight in the middle of the ring.”

That, Santiago believes, is easier said than done.

“That’s what everyone says about Miguel,” Santiago told Reuters. “They all say: ‘We have to stay away from that hook and prevent it from landing.’ And he [Cotto] ends up landing it every time. It’ll land.”

Santiago also said they will try to capitalize on a Pacquiao flaw spotted while reviewing a tape of the Pacman’s fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.

But for Cotto to pounce on that flaw, pundits say, he will have to transform into a counterpuncher like the Mexican star.

And Roach doesn’t believe in fighters using an eight-week camp to unlearn what they’re comfortable with.

“You can’t change your style in eight weeks,” said Roach.

Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez also viewed the Marquez fight and knows exactly what flaw Team Cotto was talking about.

The portly trainer would make his own contributions to the game plan every now and then, chipping in reminders about how Pacquiao should tackle Cotto during sparring.

“They said they found a weakness,” Fernandez said. “We know what that weakness is and we have developed a counter for it.”

Source: http://sports.inquirer.net/professional/professional/view/20091114-236128/Firepower-clash-of-game-plans

Manny Wants To Rock And Roll All Night

2009-11-13T15:02:00.000-08:00

Posted by Ryan Bates on 11.13.2009

No rest for the weary -- Pacquiao intends to hold a concert immediately after the Cotto fight.

How confident is Team Pacquiao that the pound-for-pound champion will rock on Saturday? So confident that on Saturday night, Manny plans to rock... and roll.

Team Pacquiao has announced that immediately after the fight, Manny Pacquiao (along with the "MP Band") will be holding a concert the night of the fight, Saturday, November 14, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Pacquiao showcased his singing style with a rendition of "Sometimes When We Touch" last week on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and intends to woo audiences after wowing them in the ring.

For those who want to hear the Filipino demigod, tickets can be purchased at any Mandalay Bay box office for $40. The concert will begin at 10pm Pacific.

Source: http://www.411mania.com/boxing/news/121933/Manny-Wants-To-Rock-And-Roll-All-Night.htm

Cotto insisting he's not damaged goods

2009-11-13T14:59:00.000-08:00

By George Willis

LAS VEGAS -- The last time Miguel Cotto fought in Las Vegas, he left the MGM Grand Garden Arena in an ambulance headed for a Las Vegas hospital. He had endured a beating from the fists of Antonio Margarito, a fight stopped in the 11th round when a bloodied and battered Cotto couldn't take any more punishment.

It was Cotto's first defeat, but the brutality of it prompted questions whether the Puerto Rican superstar would ever be the same fighter, questions that still linger heading into tomorrow's pay-per-view showdown with Manny Pacquiao.

Cotto insists he is not damaged goods; the blood that drained from his mouth, his eyes and his ears is a distant memory. He says he is physically and mentally recovered from that defeat 16 months ago, a loss tinged in controversy after Margarito was caught six months later using a hardened substance in his hand wraps just before entering the ring against Shane Mosley. Did Margarito doctor his wraps against Cotto? We'll likely never know, but we do know some fighters are never the same after losing in such a brutal fashion.

Jeff Lacey has never been the same since being beaten by Joe Calzaghe and was Mike Tyson really ever as menacing after being stopped by Buster Douglas?

Cotto, 29, insists he's the same warrior he always was and points to subsequent wins over Michael Jennings of England and Joshua Clottey at the Garden as proof. Though Jennings didn't offer much competition en route to claiming the WBO welterweight crown, Cotto survived a tough 12-round brawl with Clottey last June to capture a split decision. Cotto fought much of the bout with a nasty cut over his left eye and took enough punches to look more like the loser than the winner, but the victory has earned him a shot at Pacquiao.

"Something like (the Margarito loss) is not an easy thing to deal with," said Phil Landman, Cotto's strength coach. "It was pretty tough. But it all comes back to the ability to refocus on the future and what's coming ahead. I think he's done a good job of that."

Cotto doesn't dwell on his loss to Margarito or whether the Mexican beat him to a pulp with loaded gloves. "I'm pretty recovered from the Margarito defeat," he said. "I showed the world with my last two victories and I don't have anything else to say about that."

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, is among those not totally convinced Cotto is all the way back. "Getting knocked out for the first time takes your confidence away," Roach said. "He looked better in the Clottey fight. It was a good one for him and it gave him a little more confidence, but our job is to take that away from him right away."

Source: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/boxing/cotto_insisting_he_not_damaged_goods_F3MTe6aXU53BV5wFIRWzcM

Odds still favor Pacquiao, Cotto gaining ground

2009-11-13T14:58:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao remains a solid 3-1 favorite over Miguel Cotto, although stakes for the reigning welterweight champion is beginning to gain grounds with the title fight just two days away.

The boxing champion from the Philippines is now -320, with a bet of $320 winning only just $100.

Cotto meanwhile, is at +240, meaning a bet of a $100 would win $240.

Upon arriving here Monday, Pacquiao was -350 and Cotto +270.

Likewise, bets on the fight not going 10 full rounds increased from -210 (from -155), while the proposition it will go 10 full rounds is at +160 (from +125). – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/176919/odds-still-favor-pacquiao-cotto-gaining-ground

Cotto aims to KO Pacquaio's dream

2009-11-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

Miguel Cotto will step into the ring on Saturday determined not to become another footnote in Manny Pacquiao's rise to boxing superstardom.

The WBO welterweight champion from Puerto Rico will have more than his title on the line when he faces Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) faces a man regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet following his eight-round demolition of Oscar de la Hoya 11 months ago and last May's brutal second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton.

Both De la Hoya and Hatton were bigger men than Pacquiao and backed to make the little man regret venturing way above his normal domain at 130lbs. However, De La Hoya at welterweight and Hatton at light-welterweight were stunned by a tenacious southpaw who belied his super-featherweight frame and Cotto has no intention of becoming the third big name to be offered a bit part in the Pacquiao success story.

That is certainly the way Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach sees the fight playing out.

"I don't know if it is his biggest challenge," Roach said of the Cotto threat. "We have fought some great fighters like (Erik) Morales, (Juan Manuel) Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya.

"He's a very good fighter and he is champion of the world. Manny is moving up a weight class but we fought Oscar at this weight.

"I am very confident in my guy and we are 100% ready for the fight. Manny, with the power he is punching with right now at this weight, I feel that he is going to knock Cotto out.

"I look forward to the win."

The scepticism about 29-year-old Cotto's ability to beat Pacquiao stems from a debilitating defeat, the only one of his professional career, to Antonio Margarito in the summer of 2008.

Cotto, then WBA champion, took a battering before being stopped in the 11th round, although the validity of Margarito's victory has since been thrown into doubt after the Mexican was caught and subsequently banned following the discovery of illegal wraps around his hands prior to his fight with Shane Mosley in January.

However, Cotto has failed to shake off the perception in some quarters that the Margarito beating has left him past his sell-by date and a routine victory over Britain's Michael Jennings in February and a bloody war with Joshua Clottey in June have done nothing to dissuade his detractors.

On Wednesday, Cotto even heard his promoter Bob Arum, the president of Top Rank, claim: "Psychologically, in this fight, he is not the star.

"He knows it and I know it but Miguel Cotto, as Miguel will attest, is the biggest obstacle in Manny's path."

Cotto is unruffled.

"What they say and what they do does not concern me," he said. "They know what they have in front of him (Pacquiao).

"He better be focused on what they will have in front of him in Miguel Cotto.

"Forget about Freddie Roach. He can only train Manny the best he can. He may say and think Manny will knock me out, but at the end of the day, it is just Manny and Miguel Cotto in the ring. It's really not important to me what the boxing world wants to see.

"Once I beat Manny Pacquiao they can continue their plans and do what they want but I am not going home without winning this fight."

Pacquiao, of course, has other ideas as he tries to become a recognised world champion in a sixth different weight division.

His victory over Hatton in the same ring six and a half months ago added the Ring light-welterweight crown to titles previously won at flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight.

"This is the most important fight of my career," Pacquiao said. "(Cotto) believes he's stronger and bigger than me. And of course I believe in myself.

"If I win this fight, it will be history for boxing and for the Philippines."

Source: http://www.espnstar.com/other-sports/news/detail/item352651/Cotto-aims-to-KO-Pacquaio%27s-dream/

Puerto Rico nervous over Cotto fight

2009-11-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

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

Stay tuned for Pacquiao vs Cotto Official Weigh In

2009-11-13T09:04:00.000-08:00

To All Boxing Fun:

One of the biggest fights of the year is hours away... Be updated! I will be posting relevant materials of the Official Weigh In from time to time. So don’t miss out on anything...

POUND-FOR-POUND SHOWDOWN: Megafight on deck?

2009-11-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

By STEVE CARP

It's the fight virtually all boxing fans want to see, a fight the sport desperately needs to help re-ignite its mainstream appeal.

But will Floyd Mayweather Jr. ever get into the ring against Manny Pacquiao?

Pacquiao is convinced it will never come to pass. His promoter, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, isn't so sure.

"I don't think it's going to happen," said Pacquiao, the sport's current pound-for-pound king, who faces welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden. "I'm sure (Mayweather) doesn't want to fight.

"Boxing for him is like a business. He doesn't care about the people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring, as long as the fight is finished and he gets his money.

"I want people to be happy when I fight. You have a big responsibility as a boxer."

Arum doesn't view Mayweather-Pacquiao as an impossibility.

"I don't know," he said. "Nobody is going to sit around and wait for Mayweather and take his abuse. If Mayweather wants to fight Pacquiao if Manny wins and (Mayweather) is sensible about it, why not?"

Mayweather hasn't sounded off on the issue since he beat Juan Manuel Marquez in his comeback Sept. 19. Prior to his return from a 21-month ring absence, Mayweather was complimentary of Pacquiao's skills but still considered himself boxing's pound-for-pound champ.

Many variables would have to be addressed for the megafight to happen, starting with Pacquiao beating Cotto, the WBO champ. Should Pacquiao lose, all bets are probably off for a 2010 fight against Mayweather.

But if Pacquiao wins, the stage would be set for negotiations with Mayweather that have the potential to become prickly and drawn out.

Arum doesn't hide his disdain for Mayweather's co-managers, Al Haymon and Leonard Ellerbe. On the surface, having to go face to face with Team Mayweather would be an automatic deal-breaker for Arum.

Ellerbe could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The potential wild card to making a deal is Richard Schaefer, chief executive officer of Golden Boy Promotions. Golden Boy worked with Mayweather in his comeback fight against Marquez that generated more than 1 million pay-per-view buys.

Arum said he would have no problems working with Schaefer as a third party in putting together Mayweather-Pacquiao.

"I have tremendous respect for Richard," Arum said. "We give each other our word, and we can make a deal or we could not make a deal in two hours."

Schaefer said he has not talked to Haymon or Ellerbe about being involved in any potential negotiations with Pacquiao.

"First of all, let's see who wins Saturday," Schaefer said Thursday. "It's not a given that (Pacquiao) will beat Cotto. But assuming Pacquiao wins, I'll talk to Al and Leonard on Monday and see if they're interested and how they want to proceed. I can't see why they wouldn't want to have me involved.

"Bob and I have worked well together in the past, and we know how to get the big fights done. This is certainly in that category. There's a lot of demand from the public for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao."

Schaefer said all the normal issues -- purse, weight limit, date and venue -- would have to be negotiated.

"Obviously, the purse is the big thing -- how do you divvy up the money?" he explained. "But if you look at the track record we have in working with Bob over the years, we've always been able to reach a fair deal for both fighters.

"Let me put it this way: There's going to be plenty (of money) out there for everyone involved to do very well."

Even if Arum and Schaefer were to cut a deal, Pacquiao's Filipino interests will want to weigh in. They nearly sabotaged his May 2 fight against Ricky Hatton, and it took some last-minute negotiating to keep that deal from falling through.

But Arum said he can handle that side of it by dealing directly with Pacquiao.

But the question remains: Will Mayweather ultimately be willing to get in the ring with Pacquiao and decide who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world?

During the run-up to his fight against Marquez, Mayweather praised Pacquiao, saying he was a good fighter. But Mayweather was also quick to insist he is the better fighter.

Arum said nobody has seen or heard from Mayweather since his win over Marquez in September.

"It's like he has disappeared," Arum said.

• NOTES -- Today's 3 p.m. weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden is open to the public, and admission is free. ... The nonpay-per-view portion of Saturday's card will be televised free on On Demand (Cable 1) beginning at 4 p.m. ... Top Rank will promote a card starting at 6 p.m. today at the House of Blues, featuring Alberto Rosas (30-5, 25 knockouts) vs. Federico Catubay (25-15-3, 14 KOs) in a 12-round IBF super flyweight elimination bout. The card also will have Filipino welterweight Mark Melligen (16-1, 12 KOs) facing Michel Rosales (24-3, 21 KOs) in a 10-round co-feature. The televised portion of the card on TV Azteca America (Cable 63) begins at 7 p.m.

Source: http://www.lvrj.com/sports/megafight-on-deck-69950112.html

Miguel Cotto is the penultimate piece in Manny Pacquiao's remarkable jigsaw

2009-11-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

How Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao have grown apart – literally and figuratively – since they collided so dramatically in a Las Vegas ring six months ago.

Tomorrow night in the same space at the MGM Grand in which he demolished the Mancunian whirlwind inside two rounds in May, Pacquiao entertains the Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in what the little Filippino marvel describes as "a once-in-a-lifetime fight".

If he wins this, his 55th bout in 14 years since fleeing his impoverished childhood in Santos City, he will be a fight closer to boxing immortality, a win away from being indisputably regarded as the most versatile and exciting boxer of his era, in any division. Victory – hardly a given – would deliver him his seventh title at different weights. It is the most moving fight story of our times.

And the final, defining win of his career, of course, would have to be over Floyd Mayweather Jr, the only man who could challenge Pacquiao for honour of pound-for-pound supreme boxer in the world. There would be nothing left to do, nowhere else to go, if he could pull that one off.

First, he has to get past Cotto, once touted as an opponent for Hatton. Cotto, beaten only once, by Antonio Margarito, whose denial his gloves were loaded has left many unconvinced, is a great all-round fighter in his own right. He is a natural welterweight, and he will see this WBO belt as his already against the smaller man. Cotto does not lack for confidence.

Mayweather, meanwhile, looks on with mannered indifference, keen not to give too much away. He will be hellishly difficult to negotiate with, whoever wins.

If we are looking for suspiciously neat comparisons, Mayweather's comeback bout, his first since knocking out Hatton in that MGM bearpit in December of 2008, was a stroll against Juan Manuel Márquez there last September, a points victory so comprehensive it bordered on embarrassing, whatever the disparity in their weights.

Márquez, of course, twice nearly beat Pacquiao – and, if the rumours hold true, will next year be in the opposite corner when Hatton makes an ill-advised comeback.

This is the circus of the fight game, an enthralling, interconnected puzzle.

Tomorrow night in Las Vegas, I expect Pacquiao to slot the second-last piece of his game into place, and wait for Mayweather to phone him and complete the picture.

Hatton the wrestler

We all know boxing is an illusion of sorts. Apart from rare instances, it is not really two men fighting in the accepted sense of a bar-room brawl, bruisingly to the end until one ends up in the horse trough and the other guy gets the girl.

But there is boxing and there is kidding yourself.

In the weird world that is the television sell, two extraordinary clips this week reminded us of the gap between Hatton and Pacquiao, in real fighting terms.

Hatton, waddling like a bloated duck, was paraded in snapshots of his WWE performance putting his choreographed finisher on a fellow wrestling thespian and clambering on to the turnbuckle to accept the cheers of the crowd somewhere in sports fantasyland.

If he's happy doing that gig, fair enough. It's only entertainment, and Ricky always was an entertainer. But Pacquiao's interpretation of the connection between showbiz and violence remains more rooted in fact.

Within moments of Hatton's wrestling cameo on Sky, Pacquiao, menacingly hard, was shown knocking out the slim version of Hatton with brutal finality in what ought to have been the Hitman's farewell fight. The juxtaposition (probably accidental) could not have been more vivid.

In the context of what remains of his boxing career, the footage of Hatton descending into painful sleep sent the clear message that the stories of his making a comeback against Márquez are surely the stuff of delusion – especially when set against his subsequent alarming weight gain.

The trade on Pacquiao-Cotto

Hoovering up opinions this week, fanhouse.com revealed support for both men among some of the most respected voices in the industry.Joe Calzaghe thinks Manny will be too quick; Cotto's fellow Puerto Rican, Hector Camacho, tips against the Pacman because he "has fought better guys"; the unbeaten light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson says Pacquiao; Shane Mosley thinks Cotto's size will be too much; compatriot Felix Trinidad goes for Cotto in "the most dangerous fight of Pacquiao's career"; Winky Wright, the former light-middleweight champion, believes "with all of my heart" that Cotto will win.

The quirkiest but most interesting take came, unsurprisingly, from Bernard Hopkins, who observed, "[Pacquiao's] basketball and martial arts background give him that speed and agility. You can't tell where his shots are coming from. Unlike Rocky, Bruce Lee was a real dude and so is Manny."

I find that argument compelling. This fight is about movement, in a scaled down version of Haye-Valuev (actually, as in every fight), and the extravagance of Paquiao's in-and-out style will set Cotto a series of three-minute riddles he will struggle with.

Pacquiao beat Hatton so conclusively because Ricky's chin was gone. The only doubts about Cotto's punch resistance are based on Margarito's wicked finishing of him in 2008 – although the Mexican's subsequent dismissal from the sport for loading his gloves against Mosley (who beat him up, nonetheless) provide mitigating evidence.

Chorley's Michael Jennings, who challenged Cotto at Madison Square Garden in February, says the welterweight champion's uncanny ability to make him miss by mere fractions of an inch ultimately led to his own defeat. Jennings, a fine boxer, could not lay a glove on Cotto and was frustrated and stopped. Jennings goes for Cotto, as does Kell Brook, our young boxer of the year.

Cotto is a terrific ring technician, aware of where he is in relation to his opponent as if hard-wired to some computer. But I've always thought he was a fraction slow – not ponderous, but, against a quicksilver puncher such as Pacquiao, slow enough to suffer. His best chance is to knock Pacquiao out, because the Pacman will make his life hell if he opens up a big lead.

I see Pacquiao bamboozling Cotto like Haye confounded Valuev – but with maybe a thousand more punches.

Haye: the real thing?

After a week to reflect, there is still much to admire about Haye's win over the Russian. He surprised all of us by sticking to a difficult strategy for every second of the 12 rounds. It was an amazing feat of concentration. He won't fight that way against John Ruiz (that will be a tear-up) or the Klitschkos, whom he will have to draw on to the punch, because they are most comfortable boxing off the back foot.

I think Haye stops Ruiz, outpoints or stops Wladimir and loses to Vitali on a late stoppage – unless he takes Vitali in two years time when he will be closer to 40. Then he has a much better chance.

Not sure if this is good or bad news for Haye: Ruiz is now a free agent, so there will be no Don King in the negotiations – or bigging up the fight. King's whirlwind gob is good for at least 100,000 pay-per-view hits.

Yet rumours, the grist of the boxing mill, persist that King will be in there somewhere in the talks, perhaps trying to muscle in on his one-time client Ruiz, maybe getting Valuev a rematch in Germany before Haye gets his hands on the Klitschkos.

Interesting times ahead.

Ring siblings

It is a hundred years since the Americans Monte and Abe Attell became the first brothers to simultaneously hold world boxing titles, and there haven't been many since.

Usually, one sibling has outshone the other by some wattage: Jake over Joey LaMotta, Aaron over Stephan Pryor, Muhammad Ali over Rahman, and Meldrick over Myron and Eldrick Taylor, for instance. Others have vied equally for the spotlight: Leon and Michael Spinks, and Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko.

In the UK in recent years we have had Clinton, Duke and Lee McKenzie.

Matthew Hatton, though, has always trailed some way behind Ricky, the most popular fighter from these islands since Frank Bruno and Nigel Benn.

If the younger Hatton beats the IBO welterweight champion Lovemore N'Dou at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke tonight he will have at least added a version of the championship to go with those of his brother, in whose shadow he has boxed all his career.

Ricky is still mulling over a comeback but the likelihood of his being champion again alongside Matthew must be marginal. N'Dou, a seasoned South African campaigner based in Australia, is a tricky opponent with a decent if unspectacular record.

Hatton is on four-fight winning streak and has looked sound beating quality opponents such as Ben Tackie (who lost to Ricky six years ago) and Ted Bami, in an eliminator for this title shot.

"I'm a firm believer that fights are won in the gym," Hatton said on his brother's online TV channel. "I've given myself a 10-week training camp for this fight. Everyone will be shocked how comfortably I will deal with Lovemore."

N'Dou has won 47 of 59 fights in 16 years and was unlucky to lose to Ricky Hatton victim Paul Malignaggi last year when he challenged him for the IBF version of the light-welterweight title.

"I know his boxing," he told Hatton TV, "but I believe it's not enough. I'm in a different class. I'm the champion here. My title is going back to Australia, back to South Africa."

N'Dou is smaller, but Hatton is not a big hitter. It could be close, with the challenger, 10 years younger than the 38-year-old N'Dou, fresh enough to outlast him and join an elite club.

British boxing is awash with good fighting brothers at the moment – the Mitchells, Smiths, Walshes and Murrays spring immediately to mind. The Attells could soon have company in the record books.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/nov/13/manny-pacquiao-miguel-cotto

Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto: Clash of Class!

2009-11-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

Published on November 13, 2009 by Reylan Loberternos in Boxing

Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol – When two of the finest, most explosive, and most exciting fighters share the squared circle, one thing is almost certain – it’s going to be a blast! Filipino pride and the world’s best fighter pound for pound Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) aims to add another marquee name in his already imposing list of victims on the way to his 50th professional career win and a record 7th championship in as many weight divisions. “Boricuan Bomber” Miguel Angel Cotto (34-1-0, 27 KOs) of Puerto Rico stands in his way, with nothing less in mind than to bring to a halt Pacquiao’s seemingly unstoppable pugilistic success.

Fight predictions have been cast by boxing scribes and fans alike, as I have also cast mine in one of my previous articles (Pacquiao-Cotto: Let’s Keep It Real!). I went out on the limb predicting Pacquiao to stop Cotto in eight. With all but hours left before the day of reckoning, this writer still considers a Pacquiao victory inevitable. This, however, is not to underestimate Cotto’s abilities. Make no mistake about it. The “Boricuan Bomber” possesses the vast experience and skill set that could otherwise prove me and many others, wrong.

Yes Cotto is younger, bigger, and maybe stronger than Pacquiao. Furthermore, he also has above average defense and possesses destructive power on both fists, probably unseen in most, if not all, of Pacquiao’s previous victims. Unfortunately for Cotto, he’s up against someone who has the extraordinary combination of lightning speed, cat-quick reflexes, all around skill, granite chin, heavy hands, and unparalleled stamina so rare in the sport of boxing. He will have trouble finding his mark, especially with Pacquiao’s constant bobbing and weaving, darting in and out attack that would, more often than not, befuddle him throughout the course of the fight. Pacquiao, on the other hand, with increasing frequency, will connect his stinging jabs, jaw-breaking hooks, and bone-crushing straight lefts from all angles with relative ease.

Unless Cotto succeeds in negating Pacquiao’s overwhelming advantage in speed early on, this encounter will just be Manny Pacquiao – David Diaz all over again in terms of the outcome. Take note that I’m by no means saying that Diaz compares to Cotto at all. I guess everybody will agree with me that the Puerto Rican fighter is so much better than the Mexican bull. But then again, the Pacquiao that Cotto will be facing on November 14th is certainly several upgrades better than the version who annihilated Diaz.

November 14th will be a clash like no other. Pacquiao and Cotto, classy fighters who have always been advocates of fair play, are expected to go to war and definitely have no intentions, whatsoever, of taking prisoners. This is history in the making… so you’d better be around to witness it!

Comments are highly appreciated. You can write them below or send them to reylanloberternos@yahoo.com.ph

Source: http://sportales.com/boxing/manny-pacquiao-vs-miguel-cotto-clash-of-class/

The Pressure of being Pacquiao

2009-11-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

I don’t think it’s by accident that on the week of Manny Pacquiao’s rendezvous with Miguel Cotto, I find myself reading superlative articles on Muhammad Ali from the collection “The Best American Sports Writing of the Century". I’ve spent weeks attempting to finish 700 plus pages of sports masterworks. I’ve reached the last six articles, all about Ali, all included in the subset “The One and Only". This is proof that the book’s editor, the late great David Halberstam was a genius. He not only saved the best for last. He saved “The Greatest" for last. As I read every line, verse, paragraph about Ali, I wonder if Pacquiao has become our very own Cassius Clay.

Although Pacquiao doesn’t have the political-cultural convictions of Ali, since Pacquiao leans in favor of the establishment while Ali slams head-first against it, Pacquiao, like Ali, transcends pugilism. Pacquiao isn’t just a well-sculpted figure in the ring. He stands for something more than a talented fighter in a blood-thirsty sport. Big-time bouts are said to be the culmination of backroom deals, busted noses and brokered dreams. Yet, Pacquiao is no longer identified with seedy currents that take dreamers into dreamland. He’s already a symbol of nearly everything for everyone. He is champion, icon, hero, idol, savior, Time Magazine cover, phenomenon, hope.

The pressure, therefore, on Pacquiao come Sunday stems from something more poignant than just beating Miguel Cotto. Cotto is part of the drama. But he is by no means a co-star in the script. Cotto is not the villain. He isn’t the Crispa to Toyota, Yankees to the Red Sox, Athens to Sparta. If Pacquiao wins on Sunday, the nation celebrates not because Pacquiao was better than Cotto. If Pacquiao loses, the nation mourns not because Cotto was better than Pacquiao. By this stage of Manny’s career, he already has a standard all his own. Pacman knows. Cotto knows. Floyd Jr. knows. Even Aling Dionisia knows. Similar to how Tiger Woods competes in the Masters. It’s never Tiger against everyone else. It’s always Tiger against Tiger. As such, on Sunday, Pacman faces Pacman in an attempt to justify his stature as best pound-for-pound fighter in the universe.

Forgive me for spewing superlatives in this piece. J.R. Moehringer once wrote that boxing seduces writers with its powerful undertow of testosterone. Moehringer added that the same band of writers eventually drown in their own hyperbole. Guilty as charged. What can I do? We live in a country of extremes. In many aspects of our lives, there is no middle ground. Public servants are either crooks or saints. Corruption is either grotesque or non-existent. Typhoons are either devastating or harmless. Pacquiao lives in a superlative realm, much like Ali. Manny is pressured to win because his best traits are expected to purge our worst qualities. Manny is pressured to be his best on Sunday because this country has been through the worst. A nation doesn’t demand such from freeloaders. It’s what people expect from “the greatest". – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/176894/the-pressure-of-being-pacquiao

BREAKDOWN: PACQUIAO VS. COTTO

2009-11-13T08:13:00.000-08:00

By Joe DeMaria | November 13, 2009

Don't miss all the action when WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto puts his title on the line against pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao this Saturday, November 14th, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View. What's at stake? How will the fight play out? Check out the FightHype Breakdown to see why you do not want to miss the event of the year to find out the outcome.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN...

The fight of the year is upon us. Not only is this a huge event, but it is also a great matchup between two guys who don't know how to be part of a boring fight.

How do we know it's a huge event? Well, people who don't even watch boxing are talking about it…people who probably do not even care for the sport have come up to me to ask my opinion…water cooler talk…random sports fans at the local bar…waiters in your favorite restaurant…they are all talking about it.

How do we know it's a great matchup? Simple! Those who pay close attention to the sport are mostly split on how this one is going to play out. Forget the odds on this fight for a minute; that's just based upon how the oddsmakers anticipate people will bet. The aficionados are going back and forth trying to convince the other side to why they are backing the wrong horse. Case in point, for years now, fellow prognosticator John Chavez from The Boxing Truth and I have been going back and forth on fights, exchanging phone calls, e-mails and the clockwork like fight night texts. With the exception of one fight, we have always found a common ground, even on that once in a blue moon occasion that we disagreed upon the likely outcome. That one fight? Jermain Taylor versus Winky Wright, when I backed Winky and he was sold on a JT win. It seems only fitting for it to have ended in a draw, doesn't it? Now here we are, three and a half years later, with no common ground to speak of once again.

Firepower certainly seems like a fitting title for this promotion. Power, class and strength pitted against speed, precision and explosiveness…firepower indeed. One fighter has made his home at welterweight, handling all but a single opponent while consistently fighting the absolute best the division has to offer. The other has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the weight classes while taking on anyone who would fight him, seeming to get better as he has gotten bigger. On Saturday, he will be fighting for a historic seventh title in a seventh weight class.

For the most part, both men are looking at the same options going forward with a couple small exceptions. Whether it's Floyd Mayweather or Shane Mosley, should he handle Andre Berto this January, those are the two biggest fights for either man. But there is also the Antonio Margarito rematch for Cotto, assuming Margarito is reinstated as expected. I know…Cotto has said he will never share a ring with Margarito again, but money talks and win or lose, that is an extremely sellable fight and an opportunity to exact some revenge on the Tijuana native. Sure, a Cotto win would likely move him into a matchup with Mosley or Mayweather, but Margarito will be an option, especially if he is unable to come away with the win against Pacman. For Pacquiao, that other option is a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Rumors are already swirling that in March, the new Cowboys Stadium will play host to a big fight and Jerry Jones loves the idea of Pacquiao–Marquez III landing there. Again, if Pacman is able to defeat Cotto, there are bigger fights out there, but they may not be so makeable. So while a loss would all but guarantee a third fight with Marquez, a win could net fight fans the same result.

WHEN THE BELL RINGS...

Alright, so we have gotten through the ring walks, the National anthems, and all the pageantry that is associated with a big boxing event like this. Every single person in the MGM Grand Garden Arena is on their feet and you can literally feel the energy through your television.

Now, the real question is how fast this one gets started. You know Pacquiao is ready and willing to set a blazing pace, but will Cotto allow him to? I think we can safely assume that uptempo from the opening bell is not the approach Cotto is looking to take. The Puerto Rican star wants to slow this one down and lull Pacquiao into a false sense of security. Let Pacman think he is dictating the pace and controlling the action, when in actuality, Cotto is laying back and biding his time until he feels like he has Pac's timing and movements down. But will Pacquiao let him do that? If it's one thing we know about Pacquiao's style, it's that he no longer has a set and predictable approach. Where his offensive attacks are coming from are varied and when you think you have him figured out, he feints and attacks from a different angle once his opponent bites.

The most important punch for Cotto in this fight is his jab. It is stiff, accurate, and consistent; without it, he will be a target. Every time he senses that Pac is within punching range, he must let it go, but forget the head, just shoot for the chest. Even if he is unable to time Pac early, give him something to deal with when he is going to launch into one of his offensive spurts.

For Pacquiao, I expect a newer weapon to be very important and that is the uppercut. It's not a punch Pacman has used all that much in the past, but Cotto can be hit with it. You know the Filipino icon is going to make use of that long straight left behind his jab, but when Cotto hunches over to keep a tight D and his chin out of the straight left's scope, expect to see a shortened uppercut as Pac steps to his left. He won't lead with it, that would be a gift to Cotto, but he will shoot it like Zab did when Cotto is planted…it won't be as long or explosive, but it will be more accurate.

As we make our way through the first round, don't expect a ridiculously fast pace right away, but do expect an incredible amount of intensity in there. Cotto does not want to get marked up right away, though he would like to give Manny an idea of what welterweight power is really like. For Pac, it's the same story; get the offense rolling, get your opponent wondering what's going on and make a statement. It seems to me like in almost every first round of a Pacquiao fight, something happens. There is at least a decent chance we see something like that on Saturday night as well, whether it be a cut or Cotto getting buckled on something he does not see coming. Don't be surprised. It doesn't take a fast pace to make a statement.

After getting a slight taste of what he has in front of him, expect Cotto to settle in a little bit and try to slow the pace even more. By the middle of the second or third round, you will know full well how this one is going to go…either Cotto will begin showing signs of comfort in there and an ability to blunt the speed or he will have that look on his face we have seen so many of Pacman's opponents default to. Fight fans know the look all too well.

The key for Cotto is to get Pacquiao to become apprehensive and aware. The only way to do that is to find a way to keep the pace slower and whenever Pac gets to the inside, grab him, push him around and maybe even fire a well-placed shot below the belt line. Get inside his head and get him out of his game plan because trying to fight fire with fire will not be the answer.

The third and fourth rounds should prove to be better for Cotto, but still, Pacquiao will be getting his shots in. It is completely possible and likely that Pac gets caught with something he sees coming. In fact, I expect it, but on the flipside, I know Cotto will taste plenty of shots he does not see coming. Emulating what Marquez did will be a big part of the plan. The problem I see with that is the simple fact that Cotto is not as fast as Marquez was nor is he quite as good of a counter-puncher and his straight right is nowhere near as good as Marquez's. Cotto's best shot is the left hook. I won't call him a one-handed fighter, but he clearly does not possess the type of right hand that will undo a guy like Pac. It goes back to that jab. The other part to all of that is the version of Pacquiao that Cotto will have in front of him. I see a different fighter than the one Marquez faced. This Pacquiao avoids shots, uses a right, is more explosive and more accurate. No, Pac is not a defensive wizard in the Bernard Hopkins or Floyd Mayweather mold, but his offense combined with his legs make him difficult to get to. Pacman may have the fastest feet in the sport and when he shoots the left after a jab from one side and quickly slides to the other and then gets out, he is extremely difficult to hit. He is rarely in the same spot for a long period of time and he no longer pulls straight back. Everything he does, whether it is offensive or defensive, involves angles and they are consistently varying. Further, Miguel Cotto has heavy feet and he needs to plant before getting off. Antonio Margarito was getting to Cotto early and while he was able to do so by walking through everything thrown at him, he also did so by using one direction from one angle. That will not be the case with Manny Pacquiao.

By the time the fifth round starts, a little more of a fight will be on. Cotto will be trying to bang the smaller man out of there and Pacquiao will be trying to shred Cotto with his combos just before getting out of dodge. "Don't wait for the change" is what Freddy Roach will be preaching and Pac will be putting those instructions to work as Cotto tries to get to him.

The real story now is how the script for the middle rounds leading into the late rounds reads. Will it be brute force bludgeoning the rambunctious dynamo or will it be an exhibition in frenetic offensive explosions, followed by quick escape routes used to stay at a safe distance?

THE CALL...

Miguel Cotto has seen speed before. He saw it against Zab Judah, but that speed was one punch at a time and easily distracted. He saw it against Shane Mosley, but that speed came from a conventional stance and was squared up for the most part. This is a different kind of speed and a different kind of fighter…not to mention, that was a different Miguel Cotto. I do not see the same pre-Margarito version of Cotto. I see a guy who is a little reluctant to take that extra shot in order to land his and whose reflexes look a little slower. Would I take the Mosley version of Cotto over the second Marquez version of Pacquiao? You bet. But neither of those guys will be in the ring this Saturday night. In fact, I question how much stronger Cotto will really be. We all know Pacquiao will be faster, both with his hands and feet, and it seems like we all have been conditioned to just accept that Cotto will be much stronger in there. Don't buy it!

On top of all that, there was the story of Gato Figueroa being dismissed as Cotto's chief sparring partner. Why? This is the guy who got Cotto ready for Judah, they worked together before and Gato is a veteran, not some kid looking to make a name for himself by showing up fighters as their sparring partner. Stories like this are only newsworthy when the guy brought in as a sparring partner looks like the guy getting ready for the championship fight. My guess is that he was driving Cotto nuts in there and Cotto did not want to deal with it. Cotto has already talked of retirement plans, he has made millions and he has another $12 million on the way for this fight. While I expect him to show up in shape and maybe even a little drained from training too long and making weight too early, I am not sure he did all the right things in camp. Meanwhile, Pacquiao sparred with guys like Jose Luis Castillo and young undefeated middleweight puncher Shawn Porter, who were not only told to try and drop Pacman, they were offered money to do so.

So, in short, I am not expecting to see this one enter the late rounds. I expect a good, intense, occasionally explosive, somewhat bloody boxing match that becomes a little more of a fight when Cotto is beginning to grow weary and succumb to Pacquiao's speed and activity. My only reservation here is what round the ref stops this one in. Will it be the sixth, seventh or eighth?

Give me Pacquiao by sixth round TKO in a fight that delivers as promised.

The next step will be seeing if "Firepower" is able to do as well on the pay-per-view circuit as Mayweather vs. Marquez…and since we're making predictions, I will call it a cool 1.2 million buys.

Enjoy!

Source: http://fighthype.com/pages/content6202.html

Pricing out wagers on Pacquiao-Cotto

2009-11-13T08:10:00.000-08:00

By Jeff Haney
Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 | 2 a.m.

I would not go so far as to call the betting line mispriced in Saturday’s fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand, particularly as it continues to drift higher in favor of Pacquiao.

Still, I am comfortable making a case for Pacquiao in the welterweight title bout at the Grand Garden Arena.

First, a look at a selection of betting prices around town:

After opening as a minus 250 favorite, Pacquiao has been bet up to as high as minus 330 (risk $3.30 to net $1), the line Thursday afternoon at the MGM, the fight’s host hotel, and all related properties. Cotto was a plus 250 underdog (risk $1 to net $2.50).

Pacquiao was still minus 285 at all Lucky’s sports books in Nevada, with Cotto at plus 245.

The South Point, Palms and related sports books had the line minus 300/plus 250 in favor of Pacquiao.

Several books — including Leroy’s, the Golden Nugget and all Harrah’s properties — had the line minus 300/plus 220. The Boyd books had it minus 300/plus 240.

Note that the lines at Lucky’s books and South Point are more bettor-friendly than elsewhere. At Lucky’s, for example, gamblers can find a better price on the fight than the one offered at Leroy’s, the Nugget, Harrah’s or Boyd — regardless of which boxer they like to win the bout. This underscores the importance of shopping around before placing a bet.

The over/under on the fight stands at 9 1/2 rounds at most spots in Las Vegas, with a premium on the “under,” or “won’t go 9 1/2,” as it is sometimes phrased. At Lucky’s, for instance, the “won’t go” is listed at minus 145, with the “will go” at plus 125.

The MGM joints have the will go/won’t go at 10 full rounds (the fight is scheduled for 12), minus 145 on the under, or “won’t go.”

In pick-the-result proposition betting, the Harrah’s books had Pacquiao to win by knockout at even money, a more attractive price than the minus 120 to minus 145 elsewhere.

The odds on Pacquiao by decision ranged from 9-5 (MGM) to 3-1 (Cal Neva properties).

The odds on Cotto by knockout didn’t vary much, ranging from 13-5 to 3-1.

The odds on Cotto by decision ranged from 4-1 (Harrah’s) to 9-1 (Cal Neva).

The price on a draw was as low as 14-1 (MGM) and as high as 25-1 (Cal Neva).

As always, odds are subject to change.

By way of comparison, Pacquiao was favored in his victory against Ricky Hatton by anywhere from minus 200 to minus 270. Pacquiao beat Oscar De La Hoya as an underdog of about 2-1.

Cotto was a minus 340 favorite in his split-decision victory against Joshua Clottey. Before his controversial loss to Antonio Margarito, Cotto had been bet up from a minus 170 favorite to a minus 270 favorite.

Now, the handicap:

I come down on the side of Pacquiao in most of the fundamentals. Pacquiao has an edge in hand speed and foot speed and packs more than enough power to do some damage to Cotto when he catches him. Pacquiao’s defense has improved substantially in recent years. He figures to be quick and agile enough to prevent Cotto from landing at will.

With Freddie Roach running his corner, I give Pacquiao an edge in the areas of training and developing a game plan.

Many of those factors are likely built into the betting line, of course.

A couple of intangibles could also favor Pacquiao, though. Cotto, with his naturally larger frame, could be a bit drained as he works his way down to the 145-pound catch weight for the fight. And Cotto could have trouble with cuts and the resultant flow of blood, especially in the area of his left eye, if Pacquiao gets through with some hard right hooks in the early to middle rounds.

I’m on record predicting Pacquiao to win by decision, but for betting purposes a straight win wager on Pacquiao is the way to play it.

Source: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/13/pricing-out-wagers-pacquiao-cotto/

Pacman Stimulus Boosts Rp and Vegas Economies

2009-11-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Published on November 13, 2009 by Ariel Avenasa in Boxing

With barely two days left before the much-awaited fight of the year unfolds at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas unfolds on Saturday night, Pacmania is reaching fever pitch in the Philippines as well as in Las Vegas.

After being ravaged by three consecutive super typhoons recently, businesses in the Philippines are enjoying a sudden break in the clouds as they experience a welcome spike in sales in connection with the upcoming ‘Firepower’ pay-per-view bout of Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao against Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

LCD Projector rental businesses all over the Philippines are enjoying brisk sales as they continue to receive requests for additional units to be set-up for group viewing at major hotel lobbies, conference rooms, restaurants, convention centers, and coffee shops
. Most projectors are rented out at a rate of Php 20,000 to Php 100,000 (about $425 to $120 USD).

Major cinemas nationwide will also be streaming the fight live at Php 400 to Php 550 a pop (about $8.50 to $11.70 USD). Seats have already been reserved in advance for the much-anticipated fight happening on Sunday morning (Manila time).

Meanwhile, back in Las Vegas where both protagonists made their grand arrivals earlier this week, it was not only the eager fans and media that welcomed the Filipino boxing superstar with open arms into the ‘Fight Capital’ of the world but also the city’s officials and business community.

Las Vegas City Mayor Oscar Goodman presented the keys to the city to both protagonists today. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) on the other hand, said that they expect more than 15,000 spectators and millions of dollars in earnings from their hotel and gambling businesses as a result of this weekend’s fight. They noted that the city earned 10.7 million $ last May due to Pacquiao’s fight with Ricky Hatton.

Fans in Las Vegas are also purchasing souvenir items such as T-shirts, boxing gloves, and “Firepower” posters in droves as fight night nears.

Restaurants and closed-circuit venues in Las Vegas which will be showing the fight live have also become willing recipients of the spill-over business from the fight.”The closed-circuit locations are doing tremendously”, says Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “We had the quickest sellout of tickets in years. We base how the pay-per-view is going to do on those indicators. It should do absolutely great.”

Source: http://sportales.com/boxing/pacman-stimulus-boosts-rp-and-vegas-economies/

PACQUIAO VS. COTTO: WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

2009-11-13T08:06:00.000-08:00

By Oliver Suarez | November 13, 2009

Like most fans, I can't wait for Saturday to come to see the most anticipated fight of the year. In a couple of hours, I will be on my way to Vegas to join the festivities. But as I was getting my stuff ready, I couldn't stop thinking of the fact that nobody would have taken this matchup seriously a couple of years ago. Most boxing analysts would have probably scoffed at the idea and proclaim to be a mismatch in favor of Cotto. It was a fight only thought to be possible on a video game.

Now, the fight is actually about to happen, but this time, Pacquiao is heavily favored. It's a testament to how unpredictable life can be. Manny is now considered by many as the pound-for-pound king in boxing, while Cotto is suddenly thought of as a damaged fighter who is on the downside of his career. Don't count out Cotto just yet though. As quick as luck can change for the worse, it can quickly change for the better just as fast. Manny was on the same boat as Cotto a few years ago. After emerging with only a draw, despite knocking down Marquez three times in the first round, and losing to Morales in their first fight, some thought his days as an elite fighter were over.

But Pacquiao was able to put his career back on track by refocusing and becoming a more well-rounded fighter. While watching the 24/7 episodes, it is apparent that Cotto is focused and is on a mission to regain his status as the best in the division. He's taken out all negativity and possible distractions to make sure that his camp stays on track. He replaced his uncle with Joe Santiago and decided to train in Tampa.

The importance of the fight for both fighters cannot be underestimated. Manny Pacquiao can become the only 7-time divisional champion in history and secure his place along the all-time greats. Miguel Cotto, on the other hand, must win this fight or face the thought of being completely written off and becoming irrelevant in the division.

With so much at stake, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao will both definitely come at their best and considering their styles, the fight should be one for the ages. No matter who wins the fight, the real winners will be the sport and the fans.

Source: http://fighthype.com/pages/content6205.html

COTTO AIMS TO PROVE DOUBTERS WRONG

2009-11-13T08:05:00.001-08:00

Miguel Cotto will step into the ring on Saturday night determined not to become another footnote in Manny Pacquiao's rise to boxing superstardom.

The WBO welterweight champion from Puerto Rico will have more than his title on the line when he faces Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) faces a man regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet following his eight-round demolition of Oscar de la Hoya 11 months ago and last May's brutal second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton.

Both De la Hoya and Hatton were bigger men than Pacquiao and backed to make the little man regret venturing way above his normal domain at 130lbs. However, De La Hoya at welterweight and Hatton at light-welterweight were stunned by a tenacious southpaw who belied his super-featherweight frame and Cotto has no intention of becoming the third big name to be offered a bit part in the Pacquiao success story.

That is certainly the way Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach sees the fight playing out.

"I don't know if it is his biggest challenge," Roach said of the Cotto threat. "We have fought some great fighters like (Erik) Morales, (Juan Manuel) Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya.

"He's a very good fighter and he is champion of the world. Manny is moving up a weight class but we fought Oscar at this weight.

"I am very confident in my guy and we are 100% ready for the fight. Manny, with the power he is punching with right now at this weight, I feel that he is going to knock Cotto out.

"I look forward to the win."

The scepticism about 29-year-old Cotto's ability to beat Pacquiao stems from a debilitating defeat, the only one of his professional career, to Antonio Margarito in the summer of 2008.

Cotto, then WBA champion, took a battering before being stopped in the 11th round, although the validity of Margarito's victory has since been thrown into doubt after the Mexican was caught and subsequently banned following the discovery of illegal wraps around his hands prior to his fight with Shane Mosley in January.

However, Cotto has failed to shake off the perception in some quarters that the Margarito beating has left him past his sell-by date and a routine victory over Britain's Michael Jennings in February and a bloody war with Joshua Clottey in June have done nothing to dissuade his detractors.

On Wednesday, Cotto even heard his promoter Bob Arum, the president of Top Rank, claim: "Psychologically, in this fight, he is not the star.

"He knows it and I know it but Miguel Cotto, as Miguel will attest, is the biggest obstacle in Manny's path."

Cotto is unruffled.

"What they say and what they do does not concern me," he said. "They know what they have in front of him (Pacquiao).

"He better be focused on what they will have in front of him in Miguel Cotto.

"Forget about Freddie Roach. He can only train Manny the best he can. He may say and think Manny will knock me out, but at the end of the day, it is just Manny and Miguel Cotto in the ring. It's really not important to me what the boxing world wants to see.

"Once I beat Manny Pacquiao they can continue their plans and do what they want but I am not going home without winning this fight."

Pacquiao, of course, has other ideas as he tries to become a recognised world champion in a sixth different weight division.

His victory over Hatton in the same ring six and a half months ago added the Ring light-welterweight crown to titles previously won at flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight.

"This is the most important fight of my career," Pacquiao said. "(Cotto) believes he's stronger and bigger than me. And of course I believe in myself.

"If I win this fight, it will be history for boxing and for the Philippines."

Source: http://www.sportinglife.com/boxing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=boxing/09/11/13/BOXING_Las_Vegas_Nightlead.html

Real History: How Serious is Pacquiao’s Quest for Seven?

2009-11-13T01:44:00.000-08:00

By Cliff Rold

It doesn’t take much to be amazed by reigning World Jr. Welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KO). Much has been written about the accomplishments of Pacquiao, particularly in the last year, as they reached unprecedented levels.

When a left hook for the ages left then-140 lb. champion Ricky Hatton stiff in the center of the ring on May 2 of this year, Pacquiao did something no fighter in the history of boxing had ever done. He added a fourth lineal World title to his trophy case while also tying Oscar De La Hoya’s record of title claims in six weight divisions.

This weekend, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and broadcast on pay-per-view, the world gets the most anticipated fight of the year, a contest which can literally not get here fast enough. Pacquiao goes for a title claim in his seventh weight division, Welterweight, or 147 lbs., challenging Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KO) for the WBO belt. It is Pacquiao’s second fight in the Welterweight division, a span of ten from his pro debut and nine since he won his first title.

Okay, well, almost Welterweight.

After all, this fight, on the scale if not in the ring, is not fully a Welterweight fight.

Weights are a sensitive issue in boxing. Fighters struggle to squeeze their bodies into established lines, monitoring their diets, sometimes skipping meals, all while toiling and sweating in the gym for weeks to hone their bodies to perfection. Losing an extra pound or two than usually necessary might not seem like much for the average person, but for athletes with nary an ounce of fat on their frames, every pound counts. Losing too much weight, even a couple pounds too much, can mean diminished stamina, lost snap, and less punch resistance in the ring.

As part of the negotiations to make the fight, Team Pacquiao asked for and, given the sizable paycheck and visibility which comes with facing Pacquiao, received a catchweight stipulation for Saturday night. Miguel Cotto is contracted to weigh in at no more than 145 lbs., a full two pounds below the division limit. After some initial argument, which included a threat to vacate his belt because of the catchweight, Cotto has also agreed to defend his Welterweight title claim.

It probably won’t be an issue in the ring on Saturday. It should never have been an issue at all. It is, and because it is the question arises:

If Pacquiao defeats Cotto, should the rest of the world concede full credit for the title accomplishment?

Before exploring the implications of the catchweight, and their impact on Pacquiao’s attempt at more history this weekend, other factors in the lead to the fight must be addressed.

The proportions of what the Hatton victory meant have been elusive in some corners of the press. Pacquiao, in the Western world, exploded on the scene in June 2001 when he eviscerated IBF Jr. Featherweight titlist Lehlo Ledwaba. Discussion of his accomplishments over the last decade often start there, or give only brief mention of what came before.

But there was a before.

Since beginning his comeback from retirement, Pacquiao’s leading ‘pound for pound’ rival Floyd Mayweather has made statements along the lines of ‘where was Manny Pacquiao when I was winning world titles in 1998?’

The answer: winning world titles in 1998.

Before he ever made an impression outside of Asia, just weeks shy of his 20th birthday (noted because some dismiss Pacquiao’s flyweight years as having happened in his mid-teens where he began competing below the Jr. Flyweight, or 108 lb., limit), Pacquiao came from behind on the cards to stop reigning WBC and lineal World Flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul in the eighth round in Thailand. He’d hold the title less than a year, rapidly growing out of the division and being stopped in only his second title defense on an awkward body shot which took advantage of drain from dramatic weight loss.

American audiences rarely follow the smallest weight divisions, and certainly weren’t paying much attention en masse to what was going on in the Thai boxing scene. But it did happen, even if an argument can be made it was an accomplishment aided by an era where weigh-ins are allowed the day before fights.

Manny Pacquiao was the Flyweight, or 112 lb., Champion of the World.

He’s also been the lineal World champion at Featherweight (126), Jr. Lightweight (130) to go with his current title at 140. In between the latter two, he also scored a belt at Lightweight, or 135 lbs. He skipped the modern Jr. Bantamweight (115 lb.) and classic Bantamweight (118 lbs.) classes altogether.

To be clear, regardless of how one feels about the stipulations against Cotto, a win will not add a fifth lineal crown to Pacquiao’s collection.

Announcing his brief retirement in 2008, Mayweather vacated the lineal crown he captured in November 2006 with a win over Carlos Baldomir. Mayweather hadn’t been much of a Welterweight champion, and still doesn’t seem much interested in facing the best Welterweights, but the historical claim was his.

Parity has ruled since with Paul Williams, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, and Cotto all capturing some belt or another. Williams has moved on to higher divisions. Cotto defeated Mosley prior to Mayweather’s retirement and has since lost and won to Margarito and Clottey, winning the WBO belt in between against an overmatched Michael Jennings.

Mosley has fought once in the division since the loss to Cotto in November 2007. He made the most of it in January of this year, winning the WBA belt by stopping a Margarito who entered under the cloud of what would eventually result in a disgraceful suspension; his trainer was caught trying to load his gloves prior to the fight.

Mosley (46-5, 39 KO) is largely regarded as the leading Welterweight in the world right now because of the Margarito win. He is rated in the top slot by Ring Magazine, ESPN, and BoxingScene. Mayweather can dispute the claim by saying he gave up, rather than physically lost, the lineal crown and has yet to lose at Welterweight. Cotto can dispute the claim with a win over Mosley and a deeper Welterweight resume since moving into the division in December 2006.

Based on results against Welterweights, if Mosley is number one, then Cotto is at worst 1A.

No former Flyweight champion has ever so much as challenged for a piece of the Welterweight crown. It’s a hell of a challenge and, at least principally, the scope of the challenge is unfortunately mitigated via the catchweight.

It is not the first time weight stipulations have come into play in a Pacquiao fight, with great previous success. Last December, while still campaigning as a Lightweight, Pacquiao agreed to face an Oscar De La Hoya, who had competed at Jr. Middleweight’s 154 lbs. for much of the decade, at 147 lbs.

The catchweight was a minor subplot to a promotion cynical in nature from the start. De La Hoya went looking for a big name elite win, something he’d lacked for years, and went three divisions below him in a vain gamble that his size advantage coupled with skill would be too much even in a class he’d not competed in since 2001.

Team Pacquiao gambled on the possibility to cash in on that vanity and turn it into a sucker bet.

It was a fight whose build was less about legitimate competition and more about whether De La Hoya was regressed enough to lose to a man Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach conceded he wouldn’t have let Pacquiao fight if he were in his late-90’s Welterweight prime. De La Hoya’s attempt at what could be called cherry picking received its comeuppance. Pacquiao went from star to megastar, a great fighter in his prime thrashing a “Golden Boy” who was well past his over nine rounds and sending him to retirement.

Cotto is no De La Hoya. While questions about whether he was damaged against Margarito last year are fair, the close, split decision win over Clottey in July should allay most worries. It was one hell of a fight. Cotto had some rough moments, but nothing less than the best has ever beaten Clottey. Clottey was ahead on the cards when disqualified late against Carlos Baldomir in 1999; he gave Margarito hefty trouble in 2006. It was a significant victory for a world class Welterweight still near, if not in, his absolute prime.

A significant Welterweight, in their prime, is uncharted territory for Pacquiao.

The danger is magnified by day before weigh-ins. Cotto might weigh 145 lbs. on the scale Friday, but in the ring he is almost certain to weigh somewhere around the Jr. Middleweight limit if not more. Pacquiao, based on the weights for De La Hoya both on the scale and in the ring, could come in well below 147 at the weigh-in and within a pound of it by fight time.

They are arguments in favor of Team Pacquiao’s asking for the catchweight. In practical terms, they can say they aren’t avoiding a full bodied Welterweight as much as checking the amount of weight Cotto is likely to gain by the opening bell. Pacquiao supporters can argue that it is only fair for Pacquiao to ask for concessions from the larger man; that the real risk is still to the Filipino icon.

Further arguments can be made that catchweights are nothing new, even in title fights. Sometimes they favor the larger man. Sometimes they don’t.

Jack Britton abused Ted Lewis with a catchweight well below the Welterweight limit in August 1915, then refused to make the limit as defending champion. Lewis avenged the chicanery by taking the Welterweight crown anyways.

During the late 1980s, Sugar Ray Leonard loved catchweights. He forced reigning WBC Light Heavyweight, or 175 lb., titlist Donny Lalonde to come all the way down to 168 lbs. Ostensibly, it was so he could also win the inaugural WBC Super Middleweight belt at that limit. Coming off the floor to score a ninth round knockout, the impact of Leonard’s stipulation on the legs of Lalonde also came into play. In his following bout, a long awaited rematch of their Welterweight classic, Leonard demanded a catch below 168 pounds and got it only to be sent to the floor twice anyways. While it ended in a highly disputed draw, Hearns-Leonard II is largely regarded as a win for the Hit Man.

Pernell Whitaker agreed to come down the scale to 145 to defend the Welterweight crown against Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993 and Bernard Hopkins agreed to officially weigh no more than 157 in defending his Middleweight crown against Oscar De La Hoya 2004. Whitaker dominated Chavez on the way to a controversial draw. Hopkins stopped De La Hoya with body shot.

The Cotto catchweight isn’t as abusive as the sort found in Leonard-Lalonde. 145 is only one pound less than Cotto weighed for the Clottey bout. As Ring’s Doug Fischer recently noted, Team Cotto went to camp earlier than usual and the weight is likely to be a non-issue competitively.

Still, in a career which increasingly demands it be defined more by the broad strokes of history than the standards of contemporary measure, none of these arguments or examples should have been necessary. That there is even a chance Cotto would enter the ring in some way diminished takes away from the full potential of accomplishment should Pacquiao win.

Prior to the signing of the bout, in June, this scribe opined that Pacquiao’s Choice Should be a Real “Welterweight” Fight. As written then:

It has become fashionable…to find comparisons between what Pacquiao is doing and what men of the past like Henry Armstrong and Tony Canzoneri did in their day. What must be noted is that Armstrong and Canzoneri did it straight up.

When he defeated Ross for the Welterweight title in 1938, the then-reigning Featherweight champion Armstrong weighed 133 ½ while Ross weighed 142. Armstrong ran him over. In defense of the title in 1938, and later challenging for the Middleweight title in 1940, against the excellent Ceferino Garcia, Armstrong gave up 12 ½ and 11 ½ pounds respectively. Disputed draw or not in the latter bout, Armstrong dominated on both nights.

Canzoneri, shorter and with less reach than Pacquiao and between winning world titles in three weight classes, went from unsuccessfully challenging for the Bantamweight (118 lb.) title in 1927 to splitting a pair of brawls with former Welterweight champion Jimmy McLarnin in 1936. He gave up 6 ½ and 8 pounds in those bouts latter bouts…the greatest of them all, Ray Robinson, gave up 15 ½ to challenge Joey Maxim for the Light Heavyweight crown in 1952. Barring a freakish in-ring temperature, he would have left with the throne.

It can be assumed any 2009 arena Pacquiao will fight in comes fully equipped with central air.

Even with overnight rehydration in today’s game, it would be unlikely for the weight difference Pacquiao would face to be any larger than what Robinson faced with Maxim. Let’s not even get into the great Sam Langford; standing a stocky 5’6 ½, he regularly gave up twenty pounds and more to talented Hall of Fame Heavyweights like Harry Wills, Joe Jeanette and Sam McVea and found ways to win.

Pacquiao may not have asked for the comparisons with the immortals but they are there. He has the opportunity to be one of the rare modern fighters to hang his name, if not right alongside, within the area code of the immortals mentioned. To make it stick, then when he decides to take a risk it cannot come with caveats. The immortals didn’t quibble about weight. They just made sure they weighed enough to win.

It’s too bad that, heading into this weekend, there must be any even remote question about whether Cotto has been forced to weigh just enough to lose.

No matter the result, the action in the ring this weekend, and there will be action, is almost certain to rate amongst the best of the calendar year. This is the most anticipated fight of 2009 for a reason.

If Pacquiao wins this weekend, and that is still no foregone conclusion, he will have won a title claim in a seventh weight division. It will be a matter of historical record and, if winning titles in so many classes were even a little bit easy, someone else would have tried in the modern seventeen weight class era. Pacquiao is the first to do so.

Should Pacquiao go on to greater success against other Welterweights like Mosley and Mayweather, at a full 147 lbs., he will emerge as the undisputable Welterweight champion of the World and further establish the bar for greatness in terms of winning titles across the scale.

He will deserve full credit for it then.

If the fight on Saturday turns out to be as good as expected, maybe even better, Pacquiao is likely to extend his stature whether he wins or loses.

But measured against the immortals with whom he has earned comparisons, the principle of even asking for a catchweight deserves an asterisk from history before round one, no matter the realities which unfold in the ring.

The Weekly Ledger

But wait, there’s more…

Haye-Valuev Coverage: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23321
24/7 Pt. 3 Reviewed: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23333
Dawson/Haye Report Cards: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23342
Ratings Update: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23345
Top 10 Light Heavies All Time: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23364
Top 24 Welters Pt. 1: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23408
Picks of the Week: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23363

Cliff’s Notes…

The Pre-Fight Report Card, and pick, for Cotto-Pacquiao will be available Friday night…nothing much else to add beyond enjoy the fight.

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com

Source: http://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=23421

Burden of proof resting on Cotto's shoulders

2009-11-13T01:42:00.000-08:00

By Robert Morales Staff Writer
Updated: 11/12/2009 10:55:20 PM PST

Miguel Cotto is in a difficult position. He will be defending his welterweight world title against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas at an agreed-upon 145 pounds, two below the limit.

That's good for the smaller Pacquiao, not so good for Cotto because he hasn't weighed below 146 for 31/2 years.

Further burdening Cotto are the prophets of doom who wonder if he might not have recovered entirely from the beating he took from Tijuana's Antonio Margarito during an 11th-round technical knockout loss in July 2008.

Then there is Cotto's native Puerto Rico. Losing to Margarito could not have endeared Cotto to his fans there because of the boxing rivalry with Mexico. If Cotto loses to Pacquiao in yet another high-profile fight, his standing could further dwindle.

The cherry on top of this mess is, according to his promoter, Bob Arum, Cotto won't get applauded the way he should by experts should he emerge victorious.

"If Miguel beats Manny, which is a real possibility, then you'll have all the naysayers saying that he beat a much smaller man," said Arum, who also promotes Pacquiao. "Right now the bettors are looking at this fight with Cotto as a decided underdog. I would give him all the credit in the world if he beat Manny Pacquiao.

"But I know how the world is and they'll always attempt to take away his credit. They will. Why that is, I don't know. Funny enough, even though Manny is the big favorite, Manny will get much more credit for beating Cotto than Cotto would get for beating Manny."

Interestingly, Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) speaks in borderline indifferent tones about some of this, especially as it pertains to the overall perception of him in Puerto Rico.

"I never pay too much attention to the commentators in Puerto Rico," said Cotto, who has won world titles in two weight classes and is 14-1 in championship fights. "But I know some people are happy with my accomplishments in boxing.

"Some others do not believe in me, but I have to do my work whether the people believe in me or not. I am here for me, my family and the people that want to follow Miguel Cotto. For those who want to follow me, they are more than welcome."

Cotto didn't even flinch when asked how vital it is for him to get the kudos he deserves for his achievements.

"If I am happy with my work and my family is proud of me, they are the real people that stay beside me," he said. "The people will disband when things go bad. The real people that are taking care of me, I am here listening to what they say about me."

Regarding the weight issue, Cotto's strength and conditioning coach, Phil Landman, said having Cotto come in at 145 is no big deal.

"One forty-seven is Miguel's natural weight so Miguel has no trouble getting to that weight," Landman said. "I was never with him at 140, but the stories I have heard I think it will just take a little more training for him to get to the weight. He has come in twice at 146, so we have no concern with that."

Cotto has twice fought at 146 since moving up to the 147-pound welterweight limit in 2006. But he moved from 140 to 147 because he was having difficulty making 140. He might be able to make 145, but that one extra pound can mean a world of difference to a fighter's energy level once the fight begins.

As for his loss to Margarito, Cotto is tired of hearing he isn't the same fighter he was prior to that brutal defeat. He points out he has gone 2-0 since then.

One victory was a fifth-round technical knockout of unheralded Michael Jennings. The other was a narrow split-decision over a much tougher Joshua Clottey, a fight in which Cotto fought with a severe cut from the third round on.

"That is the problem here in sports," said Cotto, 29. "Wherever you stand, there are 10 or 20 people that know about boxing. I am not going to go to a doctor and tell him how to do his work. He knows how to do his work, and I know how to do my work.

"I am pretty recovered from the Margarito defeat. I showed the world with my last two victories and I don't have anything else to say about that."

Well, not too much, anyway.

"If you ever saw somebody who fought with a huge cut over his eye and had to deal with the cut and an opponent in front of him and win the fight - it is all the things I had to deal with," he said. "I had a huge cut over my eye, a strong opponent in front of me and I was the winner of the fight."

Fellow Puerto Rican and future Hall of Famer Felix Trinidad Jr. has Cotto's back.

"Manny is a big puncher and a good boxer, but he has never faced a natural welterweight like Miguel," Trinidad said. "Cotto is the most dangerous fight of Pacquiao's career. On the night of the fight, Pacquiao will still not be a full welterweight. And Cotto is very strong.

"As the fight plays out, around rounds 7, 8, 9, that's when Cotto starts taking over. I think Cotto will win by decision, but he might even get a knockout. With all of my heart, I think Miguel Cotto will win."

But will he get any credit?

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_13776909

Pacquiao, Cotto prime to hit proving grounds

2009-11-13T01:41:00.000-08:00

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
2 hours, 29 minutes ago

LAS VEGAS – David Diaz was supposed to be too big, too strong and a little too much for a guy who began his boxing career as a 106-pounder to handle. After eight-plus rounds, Diaz was crawling around the canvas on all fours, trying to regain his senses, after being overwhelmed by Manny Pacquiao.

Oscar De La Hoya was an even more formidable threat, a one-time middleweight champion. After just eight rounds with Pacquiao, though, De La Hoya looked as if he’d been beaten about the face with a night stick, barely able to rise from his stool under his own power after acknowledging his surrender.

And Ricky Hatton was in his prime, fearless and powerful, but he wound up flat on his back, out cold in less than two vicious rounds.

Those victories, in particular, are the ones that vaulted Pacquiao into boxing’s most hallowed position as its mythical pound-for-pound champion and helped him to become today’s most iconic boxing figure.

Miguel Cotto, though, shrugs his shoulders at such talk. All the fame, the glory and the hoopla that have surrounded Pacquiao since his attention-grabbing victories hasn’t shaken the Puerto Rican’s belief that he is the better man.

They meet Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in arguably the biggest and most significant bout of the year, nominally for Cotto’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title but really for public acceptance as the game’s premier performer.

The winner will likely be in line for a mega payday next year against welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other boxer with a claim to the top spot.

The popular opinion clearly favors Pacquiao, but Cotto is undaunted.

“What Pacquiao did in the past and who he’s beaten doesn’t matter to me,” Cotto said. “He’s not fighting De La Hoya or Hatton. He’s fighting Miguel Cotto. This is different.”

Cotto has an argument of his own to make, though few have advanced it. He’s defeated Zab Judah, Shane Mosley and Joshua Clottey and on paper, those wins look better than victories over the slow and plodding Diaz, an aging and dehydrated De La Hoya and a vastly overrated Hatton.

Cotto’s trainer, Joe Santiago, looks at those fights and the way the boxers match and he can’t understand why the odds are creeping toward 3-1 in Pacquiao’s favor.

“Me personally, I can’t understand why Pacquiao would be favored, especially with the guys we’ve fought and the guys he’s fought,” Santiago said. “He fought a couple of guys who obviously weren’t as good as they were at one time. I don’t get why Pacquiao would be favored.”

Pacquiao is blindingly fast and, working with boxing’s Mr. Wizard, Freddie Roach, seems to get 25 percent better each time out. A little more than four years ago, he was beaten by Erik Morales, as tough a fighter who has ever laced on the gloves but clearly not one of the game’s most skilled.

Pacquiao put his complete trust in Roach, who rebuilt his game and developed him into a one-man wrecking machine. By the time he faced Morales for the third time, just three years ago, Pacquiao had added a right hand to his arsenal.

He’s learned how to take away his opponent’s best weapon and how to maneuver the fight in the ring to suit him. He credits Roach, whom he calls “the Master,” with helping him to achieve his potential.

“I believe a boxer should always try to improve and to learn new things so he can give a better performance for the people,” Pacquiao said. “I like to learn and I have Freddie who can teach me so many things.”

One of the things Roach has imparted over the last two months is to avoid the ropes and stay out of the corners. Cotto is a vicious body puncher with a pulverizing left hook, but he can’t come close to matching Pacquiao’s speed.

If Pacquiao allows Cotto to corner him or pin him on the ropes, he’s voluntarily giving away perhaps his most significant advantage in the fight. And though no one would deem Pacquiao a slugger, his speed accounts for much of his power and the 37 knockouts he has among his 49 wins.

“It’s not a secret that we don’t want to see Manny laying against the ropes,” Roach said. “He needs to keep the fight in the center of the ring.”

If Pacquiao manages to keep it in the center of the ring, the onus will shift to Cotto to find a way to combat Pacquiao’s advantages in speed and quickness. The one way to neutralize speed is with a consistent jab. If Cotto can repeatedly keep his jab in Pacquiao’s face, he’ll slow the Filipino and be able to cut off the ring and then keep the fight in a more confined space. At that point, Cotto’s abilities as an inside fighter and a body puncher would dictate the bout.

Both Judah and Mosley were far quicker than Cotto, but Cotto managed to counteract that and win both fights impressively.

“A lot of people didn’t think he was capable of that kind of a fight [that he put on against Judah and Mosley], but we knew he was capable of doing it,” Santiago said. “We fought as a defensive fighter when we needed to be defensive. We matched speed for speed and traded jab for jab with them. We knew he could do that.”

Doing it against Pacquiao, though, is another thing entirely. Pacquiao not only has won each of his last three fights against men who were bigger and supposedly stronger, he hasn’t lost a round.

He’s been dominant to the point of being ridiculous.

“Every single person in our camp respects Cotto and knows he’s a quality fighter,” Roach said. “But Manny’s not just one of your run-of-the-mill stars. He’s special and he’s capable of doing things that other guys, even top-of-the-line, elite guys, can’t do.

“When I first saw Manny, he was already a very good fighter and I knew he had a chance to improve a lot. But what he’s done is just so amazing. What we’re seeing is a guy who has developed into a very special, unique fighter. There aren’t many like him.”

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-cottopacquiao111309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Miguel Cotto Ready to Put Out his Fire Power...

2009-11-13T01:40:00.000-08:00

By Francisco Guzman

This Saturday, Nov. 14, Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2 with 37 KOs) will be facing his toughest test to date, WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (43-1 with 27 KOs). Judging from all the talk one would come to the conclusion that Miguel is facing his toughest test to this date, being that he is actually the underdog in this situation. Hard to believe, considering Cotto has passed every single test he has faced, against fighters like Zab Judah, Shane Mosley and Joshua Clottey just to name a few.

His only discrepancy was against Antonio Margarito, in a fight where he was dealt a brutal beating causing his uncle Evangelista Cotto to throw in the towel. Margarito looked like Godzilla, beating an undefeated tough warrior in Miguel Cotto, making him quit, something that no one had done previously. In Margarito's next fight he faced Shane Mosley, an opponent that Cotto had a win over. It was learned in that fight that Margarito's trainer had tried to spike his gloves with a substance called "Plaster of Paris," a cement-like material that hardens when wet. Margarito went on to win the fight by a stunning knockout and then him and his trainer Capetillo had their license revoked for 2 years.

The truth had been exposed and Margarito no longer looked like the monster that had beaten Cotto.

Going back to the Cotto fight one can't see how something like that could have actually taken place. Cotto's face looked like it had been hit by a truck. It was reminiscent of Louie Resto vs Billy Collins, a fight in which padding was taken out of Resto's gloves prior to the bout. What's ironic is that like Cotto, Billy Collins was also undefeated.

Since then Cotto has been going through a healing process. First against Michael Jennings (5th round KO) and then against the always tough Joshua Clottey. In the Clottey fight after scoring a first round knockdown he again was faced with adversity, suffering a huge cut in the third round. Despite his inability to see out of his left eye, Cotto fought on to score a split decision win. Not too many people appreciated how bravely Cotto fought on despite his vulnerability. Many fighters would have quit or tried to have the fight go to the score cards and try to win a decision that way.

Manny Pacquiao, a southpaw who is fast on his hands and feet and throws punches from all angles, is believed by most experts too good for his opponent Miguel Cotto. After having a tough fight with Juan Manuel Marquez at 130 lbs, Manny has gone up in weight with much success, knocking out all three opponents David Diaz (135 lbs.), Oscar de la Hoya (147 lbs.), Ricky Hatton (140 lbs.) in spectacular fashion, and with those wins he has gained a huge following. Manny looks unbeatable, even though he has suffered two knockout losses early in his career, and a third and last loss to "El Terrible" Erik Morales in their first fight. Pacquiao went on to avenge the loss with two knockout victories over Morales. Pacquiao's two fights with Marquez, which ended up a draw and a split decision win over Marquez, were his toughest bouts to date. Some felt that Manny actually lost that fight. If you took away the knockdowns in both fights Marquez would have definitely won both fights.

Cotto pointed that out in their recent New York press conference, adding that he is not Oscar de la Hoya, or Ricky Hatton and he is right. Cotto may not possess Pacquiao's hand speed but he brings a lot more to the table. Cotto is still in his prime, a very durable opponent with the ability to adjust when faced with adversity. Freddie Roach and the rest of the Pacquiao team are banking that the Margarito fiasco took something out of Cotto, but in his fight against Clottey he showed the desire and will to win. Miguel has experienced victories against bigger and tougher opponents. The converted southpaw leads with his strong arm, with a powerful left jab that put Clottey and Alfonso Gomez down. Cotto's ability to box and brawl was also on display when he faced Sugar Shane Mosley.

There is a reason why there is a 145 lbs. catch weight. Roach knows that his pupil is probably too small to face some of the bigger welterweights at the elite level. They would rather try to give Manny the advantage point by fighting at a weight that's comfortable for Manny, while making his opponent sacrifice weight in exchange. If Roach were truly confident, he would not have taken this fight at a catch weight, they would have challenged Miguel at the welterweight limit. Pacquiao is also given the chance to fight for the WBO welterweight title despite the catch weight issue. If he wins, he would be considered the WBO welterweight champ and would have broken the record with 7 world titles, without touching the welterweight division. That would be like David Haye, who scored a victory against Nikolai Valuev this past Saturday night, winning the heavyweight championship of the world and fighting at a catch weight 198 lbs., which is under the heavyweight limit. Should he be considered a heavyweight champion?

I believe that the choice to train in the Philippines, against his trainer's decision, may hurt Manny. Roach's original choice of training in Mexico was scrapped, a choice that may hurt Manny due to all of the distractions of training in the Philippines with all the rain from the typhoons and politicians stopping by to talk to the Filipino superstar. (I've also noticed a lot of guest appearances). Another factor is Miguel's early start which may have contributed to making weight and shows how serious he is about this fight.

Miguel not being viewed as a viable opponent is a disrespect. Arum has blatantly expressed who he wants to win in this fight. There have also been talks of Manny versus Floyd sometime in 2010. Roach has expressed knockout either in the first or in the later rounds. Itâ€™s a bold prediction because Cotto may have tasted the canvas at 140 lbs. but since moving to the welterweight division he has not been dropped, Except for quitting under the pressure from the beating at the hands of Margarito, Miguel has had to accept certain things swayed to appease Pacquiao and Freddie Roach. Winning is probably the only thing on Cotto's mind, ready to silence the critics and prove why he should never be counted out despite a loss.

Source: http://www.braggingrightscorner.com/guzmancotto111309.html

Firepower It Is: Manny Pacquiao – Miguel Cotto Preview And Prediction

2009-11-13T01:38:00.000-08:00

by Tim Starks on November 13, 2009

So continues our marathon coverage of one of the biggest fights of 2009, Manny Pacquiao against Miguel Cotto, culminating in a live blog of the bout Saturday. Previously — the importance of Pacquiao-Cotto; the two top questions for each man; keys to the fight, parts I and II; and a look at the undercard. Tomorrow — a round-up of all the Pacquiao-Cotto links you’ll ever need.

I couldn’t dream it any better, I really couldn’t. For the first time since I can remember, a mega-fight is a mega-fight on the merits, and I don’t have to make any excuses, things like “Dear non-boxing fans, please know that if you watch this fight and it sucks it’s not representative of the sport as a whole.” No, Nov. 14’s 145-pound bout between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto is the best of both worlds. Purists love it, but at the same time, The New York Times is giving boxing some rare coverage and even the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is making predictions about the winner. Usually, there’s this divide. For the biggest events, maybe it’s an old Mike Tyson you have to apologize for, but hell, Tyson is who people knew, old or not. Maybe it’s a mismatch between Floyd Mayweather, the guy everyone saw on “Dancing With The Stars” and so they know him now, but he’s fighting a guy in Juan Manuel Marquez who was at his best 20 pounds lighter and it’s a complete mismatch. Meanwhile, classics like Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez III, a fight everyone “in the know” knew would be dynamite and was, get a tenth of the same attention.

What we have right here in Pacquiao-Cotto is a fight that has meaning, and will be exciting one way or another, and has heat with the mainstream. Really? Hillary Clinton? Fantastic. The winner is the Fighter of the Year. Jesus, the winner might be the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, since Pacquiao’s been nominated should he win. That’s Michael Jordan territory.

I’ve spent a few days breaking down how each fighter stacks up. It’s that time, the time where I have to cast my lot with one fighter or another, to envision how Pacquiao-Cotto will play out. Other than “It’ll be awesome!”

Let’s stack up some of the key factors. First, and most importantly, I don’t think Pacquiao is too small for Cotto and I don’t think Cotto is too much damaged goods for Pacquiao. For all the angry Pacquiao fans out there who think, like me, Cotto isn’t over the hill from his knockout loss to Antonio Margarito, I direct you to Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, who says he thinks Cotto IS damaged goods. I suppose he’s just making “excuses” for his man. Oh, you zealous Pacquiao fans you. Anyway, Roach could be right. So, too, could the people who think Pacquiao has leaped one weight class too far. But I don’t think they are.

From there, I think the major advantage for Pacquiao is his speed. He has it. Cotto doesn’t have much of it. Even though I don’t think Pacquiao is “too small” for Cotto, I still think size is Cotto’s primary advantage in this fight. Cotto is going to outweigh Pacquiao by about 15 pounds once they rehydrate on Saturday from the 145 pound limit, and Cotto is going to be the bigger man, pure and simple. There are X factors. For instance, on the Pacquiao side, Roach being such a great trainer helps Pacquiao; Cotto looking weight-drained in the eyes of many observers hurts him.

Even though I picked Oscar De La Hoya to beat Pacquiao, I believe Cotto is the best fighter Pacquiao has fought since the Juan Manuel Marquez rematch in early 2008. This version of Cotto beats that version of De La Hoya with ease, and Cotto wrecks Ricky Hatton just as easily as Pacquiao did. Don’t even mention David Diaz. I say this with no intent to diminish those Pacquiao opponents. They were all top-notch to elite opponents. It’s just that Cotto’s better than them. He’s stronger than them all, he’s in better form now than they all were and he’s one of the five best active fighters roaming our planet. You don’t beat fighters like Joshua Clottey — especially with a horrible cut worthy of the doctor stopping the fight — unless you’re way, way up there. Even a narrow win means something against a guy like Clottey, and that’s not even the best guy Cotto’s beaten. Diaz, Hatton and De La Hoya wouldn’t stand a chance against the version of Shane Mosley that Cotto beat. (Yeah, De La Hoya almost beat Mosley in 2003, but it was at a weight Mosley was no good at and De La Hoya in 2003 was a better fighter than the 2007 model where we might have got De La Hoya-Mosley III, where I would have picked Mosley to win easily.)

On the other hand, Pacquiao has the air of a fighter who is once-in-a-lifetime. I said after his destruction of Hatton that I wouldn’t pick against him versus anyone near his weight until he showed signs of decline, because he’s taken on that aura that the truly special fighters have. You can badmouth Hatton as a fighter if you want, even though I wouldn’t. But the reason Pacquiao made Hatton look like a chump is because Pacquiao’s up here, and everyone else is down here. Even if you thought Hatton was overrated (which I do not), nobody had come close to doing to Hatton what Pacquiao did. Even if you thought De La Hoya was old and weight-drained (which he was) nobody had done to him what Pacquiao did. Even if Diaz was limited (and he was) nobody had done to him what Pacquiao did. I don’t think any of this is an illusion or a coincidence. Yes, these opponents made Pacquiao look good, in their own ways, but the improvement Pacquiao showed after the second Marquez fight translates against any fighter — better defense, fewer mistakes, more diversified offense. It’s harder against better fighters, true, but it’s not imaginary.

It’s why, ultimately, I think Pacquiao is going to beat Cotto. I give Cotto a better chance, much better chance, than Hatton. I thought Hatton would land some on Pacquiao, and he didn’t. Cotto is better still, so he might land some on Pacquiao. If he does, Pacquiao might get in trouble. But I don’t think Cotto will land enough on Pacquiao to win. Cotto needs to connect a lot to wear down his opponents, and I just don’t see him having the speed to do so. I expect he’ll start off in counterpunching mode, just like Roach expects, so as to mimic the trouble Marquez gave him with that style. But like I said, I wouldn’t give Marquez much of a chance of beating this version of Pacquiao. And Marquez at lightweight is a better fighter than Cotto at welterweight. Now, as previously discussed, if Pacquiao is too small for Cotto, it’s over. If Pacquiao can’t handle the punches Cotto lands, he won’t win. But again, I don’t think Pacquiao’s too small. He might get buzzed by a single Cotto punch, but I don’t think he’ll get knocked out by one. It’s going to take Cotto landing a lot, or Pacquiao not being able to handle Cotto’s size, for Cotto to win.

The pathway is easier, I think, for Pacquiao. With his fast hands, and with Cotto’s poor defense, I think he can chop up Cotto at will, especially with his uppercut. With his fast feet, I think he’ll be able to get in and out of danger against Cotto. To counter Pacquaio, you have to be an extraordinarily smart fighter, a savant like Marquez, and even then this version of Pacquiao is far more unpredictable and mistake-free than ever.

So that leaves us here: Pacquiao by decision, or Pacquiao by knockout. I’m going to go Pacquiao by knockout. And I want to get more specific than I usually do — I think Cotto, who’s prone to cuts, will suffer severe damage that way to force the fight to be halted or his corner will throw in the towel. Cotto’s going to take a lot of shots, but probably nothing big enough to actually knock him out. Somebody’s going to have to save Cotto. Pacquiao will fight intelligently early, but put on more and more punishment the easier he finds it to get his damage done. Nobody in boxing finds his punching range as quickly as Pacquiao, but Pacquiao will need to be smart and wary against Cotto. I don’t think the knockout will come early, but I didn’t think Pacquiao would knock out Hatton early, either. Still, Cotto’s a bigger man, so I expect it’ll take a while to beat him. I’ll say the ninth round.

I think it’ll be an excellent performance by Pacquiao and therefore an exciting fight, but if I’m wrong and Cotto gives Pacquiao some static, watch out. We could be heading for classic territory.

If I’m wrong about who wins, there’ll be a major shakeup in the sport. Everyone is focusing their attention in this fight on Pacquiao, because he’s the #1 man, he’s the guy who’s beat the mainstream names, he’s the one who’s “known.” Cotto beating Pacquiao doesn’t diminish Pacquiao much, but it certainly takes some steam out of the biggest possible fight in the sport, a Pacquiao bout with Floyd Mayweather. It puts Cotto, potentially, on that big-time level, or at least near it. If it happens, good for him. Cotto is as admirable a boxer as there is in the sport, right up there with good guys like, well, Pacquiao.

If I’m right, the Pacquiao legend grows. We’re talking about a fighter who’s one of the 25 best who ever laced ‘em up, and beating Cotto moves him up yet more still. Pacquiao gets better in every fight, and there’s a chance he’ll be better Saturday than ever. That Pacquiao is as good as he is now — that good – is why I think he’ll win Saturday night.

Source: http://queensberry-rules.com/2009/11/13/firepower-it-is-manny-pacquiao-miguel-cotto-preview-and-prediction.html

The case for Pacquiao over Cotto

2009-11-13T01:36:00.002-08:00

Pittsburgh Fight Sports Examiner | Scott Heritage

Manny Pacquiao comes into the fight on Saturday with the odds stacked in his favor, and most people picking him to win.

Make no mistake though, Cotto is the most difficult fight he could have picked in the welterweight division, with the possible exception of Floyd Mayweather, although the latter is never likely to want the fight anyway. If Pacquiao can get past Cotto, then he will transcend the ranks of merely great fighters and assure his place in the history books.

Speed

Pacquiao has both the fastest hands and feet in boxing today, and he needs to make it count against Cotto. Quickly the pattern of the fight will tell everyone whether Cotto can neutralize the speed of Pacquiao or whether Manny is just too fast for him to catch.

Pacquiao needs to remember his constant movement and not let himself get caught by Cotto's body punching. Keeping Cotto guessing with his lighting hand speed and movement, Pacquiao can pick off the champ and eventually get the stoppage. Cotto isn't easy to put away by any means, but taking Manny's power punches all night is enough to put anyone away eventually, even if it's late on.

Conditioning

Pacquiao is one of the best conditioned athletes in the world, and can set a blistering pace for the entire fight. Cotto tends to get tired as his fights wear on, and sooner or later Pacquiao can tire him out if he pushes the pace. A tired Cotto is a clumsy Cotto, and Pacquiao just needs to wait it out until he begins to slow down in the later rounds.

Without much energy left Cotto will find it increasingly difficult to chase Pacquiao down and to cut off the ring, and the decision will be Pacquiao's. Not necessarily the way he would want to win it, but a win never the less.

The tactician

The other big advantage that Pacquiao has over Cotto is the fact that he has Freddie Roach behind him, and Roach is the master of strategies. Roach and his team made can make the difference between a potentially dangerous opponent in Ricky Hatton and a two round knockout. Similarly they will have come up with the best game plan for Pacquiao to overcome Cotto as well. The difficult part is generally sticking to the plan once inside the ring, but Manny a consumate srudent of the game in that respect, and has executed prefect game plans in his last few fights.

Miguel Cotto by contrast fired his long time trainer during the preperations for his last fight, and instead now has Joe Santiago as his trainer. This gives me the impression that Miguel himsefl is probably running things inside his training camp, rather than having his trainers working on the details for him. Often when a boxer takes command themselves they tend to either cut corners, which Cotto doesn't seem to have, or to make mistakes in their preperation and game planning. Whether Cotto has a sound game plan will have to remain to be seen on Saturday, but while he may or may not, Pacquiao is sure to have a sound one.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-20066-Pittsburgh-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2009m11d12-The-case-for-Pacquiao-over-Cotto

Pacquiao vs Cotto let the punches fly

2009-11-13T01:36:00.001-08:00

Mississippi Fight Sports Examiner | Brad Cooney

So here we go again. Once again the crime in Manila will come to a halt, as it always does on the day of Manny Pacquiao's fight. The entire nation of the Philippines will be dialed in to see if their hero can once again bring victory back home for them. He's done it before on several occasions. This time he is up against a full fledged welterweight champion who throws a cannon ball hook, that's tough as nails, and has no reverse gear. Don't think for a minute that Cotto isn't dangerous, because he is.

Pacquiao has had a training camp laced with distractions, yet still seemed to have pulled through it all. The second leg of the camp was at Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, and it's there were things seemed to have settled into place. With extremely good sparring out of Jr Middleweight Shawn Porter, Pacquiao looks to be ready to go against a bigger and stronger guy. That bigger and stronger guy of course is welterweight world champion, Miguel Cotto.

Cotto, on the contrary, has had a quiet and very focused training camp. But will that be enough to get by the speed and power of the pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao? Oscar De La Hoya had one of the best training camps of his life when he prepared for Pacquiao. It didn't help him much as he was eating all of that leather in the ring that night though. Pacquiao is a very difficult fighter to prepare for. He's a guy that throws a ton of punches, at different angles, and he's tough to hit. The sweet science, hit and don't get hit.

A possible problem for Pacquiao is this, he does get hit sometimes. If he gets hit by Miguel Cotto, it will be interesting to see how he takes it. Cotto can bang with that hook of his, so it will be curious to see how effective he will be at landing it. Throwing that hook at Pacquiao is one thing, but landing it effectively is another.

A possible, more likely problem for Cotto is this, he cuts easily. Pacquiao will be throwing lasers and he will be throwing plenty of them. He hits harder than someone his size should be able to hit, so if he is able to cut Cotto it will have an impact on the fight.

Once again Pacquiao is in a fight that matches up his speed against his opponents power. So far speed has prevailed, and power has failed against Pacquiao. More people are predicting a Pacquiao victory over Cotto. This writer happens to be one of them. My official prediction is that Manny Pacquiao will win this fight. He more than likely will win a unanimous decision rather easily. I am banking that Pacquiao will stick to the game-plan, and won't stray into Cotto's wheelhouse too frequently. Cotto should be too strong and resilient to get knocked out, so this fight will more than likely go to the cards.

There will be some punishment dished out on Saturday night. The fists will be flying and someone is going to walk out of the ring victorious. Cotto's power vs Pacquiao's speed. You make the call!

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-23590-Mississippi-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2009m11d12-Pacquiao-vs-Cotto-let-the-punches-fly

Powers That Be Want Manny WinCotto Doesn't Care

2009-11-13T01:35:00.001-08:00

By Ron Borges

LAS VEGAS – In boxing people often talk as if everything is written in stone even though most things are, at best, written in dust. The latest example of this is Saturday night’s WBO welterweight championship fight between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao.

Although Cotto is a champion who is 14-1 in world title fights with 11 knockouts and 34-1 overall with 27 stoppages, he is being given little chance to hold off Pacquiao, who is widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Pacquiao has made a habit lately of beating up men bigger than himself, which is frankly most everybody in boxing, because of his unique combination of speed, punching power and skill... so Cotto’s status as a two-time welterweight champion means little to the oddsmakers who have made him a better than 2-1 underdog.

Although he will fight Cotto at 145 pounds at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Pacquiao retains the look of the far smaller man he’s been most of his career, but so what? When he first turned professional Pacquiao fought at 106 pounds and until a year ago had never ventured above 130 yet since that time he has added titles at 135, 140 and is now trying to win at 147.

This has set the stage for what boxing is looking upon as a coronation. Win Saturday night and Pacquiao will not only have become the welterweight champion of the world but he will also have won a far more important title. He will have officially become The Next Big Thing.

Although Cotto is someone who should at least be respected, there is already talk of what Pacquiao will do next, as if this fight is simply a formality. There are hopes for a mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather sometime next year or, failing that, perhaps a fourth fight (what the WBC would call a super rubber match if they could get a sanctioning fee out of it) with his long-time nemesis, Juan Manuel Marquez.

If neither materializes the sense is the hottest star in pay-per-view boxing will do something else significant in the ring because as long as he’s in it what does it matter who the opponent may be? This is a position of disrespect not lost on Cotto.

“Psychologically, in this fight, he is not the star,’’ said the promoter of both fighters, Bob Arum, of the WBO title holder he has promoted since he first turned professional nearly nine years ago. “He knows it and I know it. But Miguel Cotto, as Miguel will attest, is the biggest obstacle in Manny’s path.’’

Cotto sat silently staring straight ahead as Arum said this but his face spoke for him. It was an angry sea of shock and disgust, the face of a man not quite as ready to accept this new position as his promoter seemed to be.

In the champion’s opinion, he is still far more than just an obstacle for Manny Pacquiao to overcome. He is not merely some steppingstone toward brighter days and bigger pay checks for Pacquiao or anyone else. Nor is he a launching pad into boxing immortality for Pacquiao, even though that is what is likely to happen if the odds makers, and Arum, are right, for it will be the seventh different weight class in which Pacquiao has won some form of a title belt.

In this day and age that hardly means what it might once have but it is still a measuring stick for Pacquiao and another selling point for the people who are marketing him around the world as an athlete who has transcended his sport and become what Cotto is not – a personality sponsors as well as fans want to be associated with.

Cotto is just a boxer and one seen now as damaged goods by some. The whisper is that he has never fully recovered from the beating he took from Antonio Margarito a year ago, despite his protestations to the contrary, and that is why he is being looked upon like someone headed to the gallows.

If the skeptics are right, Pacquiao will be further uplifted Saturday night, having now beaten Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Cotto in succession, men who had ruled in the 154 pound, 140 pound and 147 pound divisions on the night they got in with a former flyweight champion.

If Cotto pulls off an upset he will not receive the same boost to his reputation. It will be said that Pacquiao finally faced someone too big for him. It will be said Cotto wasn’t as shot as people thought. Many things will be said but none of them will be that Miguel Cotto is someone ready to be taken onto the world stage presently occupied by Pacquiao.

There is no Puerto Rican edition of TIME magazine so he will not become its cover boy, as Pacquiao was this week on the Asian edition. There will be no story about his economic power like ones in The Wall Street Journal and Sports Illustrated about Pacquiao, and there will be no Sunday front page story on him in the New York Times, which penned one last week that made Pacquiao sound like the savior of a nation, the typhoon and poverty infested Philippines of his birth.

But Miguel Cotto will surely have become one thing Bob Arum and HBO doesn’t want or expects. He will have become a spoiler who derailed the new economic engine of boxing…not that he cares.

“What they say and what they do does not concern me,’’ Cotto said. “They know what they have in front of him. He better be focused on what they will have in front of him in Miguel Cotto.

“It doesn’t matter if the people want me to win or not. It is just a fight and I have worked to win it so we will see. Forget about Freddie Roach. He can only train Manny the best he can. He may say and think Manny will knock me out but at the end of the day, it is just Manny and Miguel Cotto in the ring.

“It's really not important to me what the boxing world wants to see. Once I beat Manny Pacquiao they can continue their plans and do what they want but I am not going home without winning this fight.’’

If he’s right they won’t be able to continue with their plans or do what they want, which is to use Manny Pacquiao to create a new day for boxing. For all his earnest intentions, brave heart and boxing skills, even if he wins Miguel Cotto cannot do that.

Source: http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/7410/powers-want-manny-win-cotto-doesn-care/

Predictions on Pacquiao vs Cotto mixed

2009-11-13T01:31:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS - Boxing experts are mixed on who will win the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto mega-fight saying the outcome will be decided not only by the fighters in the ring but the role both corners play.

Nazim Richardson, trainer for Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins, likes the way Pacquiao destroys bigger and stronger opponents and says the Filipino also knows how to impress the judges.

"I think Manny Pacquiao is going to steal the fight," Richardson said. "He is good at letting his size fool people and when they see him darting around the ring looking scrappy, boxing and moving it translates into a round for him.

"Calling Pacquiao little in his weight class is like calling Mike Tyson a little heavyweight. He knows how to make the round look like the little guy is dominating a big man."

Buddy McGirt, trainer for Antonio Tarver and Arturo Gatti, says Pacquiao has more experience in his corner with trainer Freddie Roach than Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago.

"Pacquiao might have the psychological edge as he totally trusts Freddie and is very comfortable with him," McGirt said. "It is a big stage for someone (Joe) who has never been there before."

Muhammud Ali's former trainer Angelo Dundee predicts Cotto's savage power will take the fight into the later rounds.

"I have seen Cotto train twice now and he's a stone-cold professional fighter," said Dundee, who also trained Sugar Ray Leonard and George Forman. "He was oblivious to the outside world when I saw him and he's very focused.

"You have a perfect blend of style in this fight. If I had a fighter fighting Pacquiao I would implement the things Cotto brings to the table. Certain ingredients that spell Cotto will give Pacquiao trouble.

"Cotto is a pressure fighter and he is going to be on Pacquiao from the get go."

Ronnie Shields, who trained Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, also likes Cotto's chances.

"Pacquiao has a lot of speed but I just feel Cotto is going to walk through him," Shields said.

"There is no way that Pacquiao is going to be albe to wear Cotto down. Cotto is going to get much stronger. Pacquiao cannot take Cotto's punches throughout the 12 rounds."

Source: LAS VEGAS - Boxing experts are mixed on who will win the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto mega-fight saying the outcome will be decided not only by the fighters in the ring but the role both corners play.

Nazim Richardson, trainer for Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins, likes the way Pacquiao destroys bigger and stronger opponents and says the Filipino also knows how to impress the judges.

"I think Manny Pacquiao is going to steal the fight," Richardson said. "He is good at letting his size fool people and when they see him darting around the ring looking scrappy, boxing and moving it translates into a round for him.

"Calling Pacquiao little in his weight class is like calling Mike Tyson a little heavyweight. He knows how to make the round look like the little guy is dominating a big man."

Buddy McGirt, trainer for Antonio Tarver and Arturo Gatti, says Pacquiao has more experience in his corner with trainer Freddie Roach than Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago.

"Pacquiao might have the psychological edge as he totally trusts Freddie and is very comfortable with him," McGirt said. "It is a big stage for someone (Joe) who has never been there before."

Muhammud Ali's former trainer Angelo Dundee predicts Cotto's savage power will take the fight into the later rounds.

"I have seen Cotto train twice now and he's a stone-cold professional fighter," said Dundee, who also trained Sugar Ray Leonard and George Forman. "He was oblivious to the outside world when I saw him and he's very focused.

"You have a perfect blend of style in this fight. If I had a fighter fighting Pacquiao I would implement the things Cotto brings to the table. Certain ingredients that spell Cotto will give Pacquiao trouble.

"Cotto is a pressure fighter and he is going to be on Pacquiao from the get go."

Ronnie Shields, who trained Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, also likes Cotto's chances.

"Pacquiao has a lot of speed but I just feel Cotto is going to walk through him," Shields said.

"There is no way that Pacquiao is going to be albe to wear Cotto down. Cotto is going to get much stronger. Pacquiao cannot take Cotto's punches throughout the 12 rounds."

Gentlemen Boxers, PPV's Achilles Heel

2009-11-13T01:30:00.000-08:00

By Greg R. Penilla, M.D.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Nov 2009

Las Vegas, NV - In the old days, the success of a great boxing match depends on how well the fighters engage in the brutal world of controlled violence. The more blood and gore that are spilled the better. Nonstop action and the warrior mentality of the two gladiators on the ring create the excitement and adrenalin rush that fixate the crowd to the ongoing ballet of explosive confrontation. It could be unfolding on a rickety and dilapidated arena watched by a mere handful of fans but as long as the lust for great entertainment can be satisfied by the protagonists, battling for physical; and mental supremacy, the venue does not really matter.

Fast forward to the modern era of boxing when the success of a boxing match is measured in box office receipts and the sacred PPV buys.

When hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake, it is but expected that promoters would make sure that no stone is unturned to ensure the success of mega fights. International and multi city press tours and television series like the award winning 24/7 series of HBO are now regular staples of pre fight hype.

It seemed not too long ago when the business of boxing used to be dominated by street smart and scrappy hardened men making handshake deals in smoke filled rooms. It is no longer unusual to see Armani clad Wall Street bankers and Madison Avenue publicists running the show business that boxing has become.
How often do we see boxing matches being made in corporate boardroom and not by grizzled veteran matchmakers? How many times do we see dull and boring mismatches that send the fans to sleep but end up financially successful? Unfortunately, as long as the money is coming in, we will continue to be force fed with such money making but unworthy boxing bouts.

This weekend however, boxing fans have nothing to be concerned about. The much anticipated Pacquiao-Cotto Firepower match is every boxing fans dream. A fight made in boxing heaven. These two warriors will give the boxing fans what they have been asking for. Blood and guts on the canvas.

The incredible responses from boxing fans and unprecedented international multi media attention have not been seen before. There is palpable excitement. Boxing is very much alive.
Manny Pacquaio has proven that his following has gone beyond the borders of the Philippines and is a phenomenal worldwide boxing icon. Miguel Cotto may not have the rabid following Pacquaio commands but he is definitely highly respected by a throng of boxing experts and of course by his countrymen. Two warriors ready to rumble to the very end.

There is no doubt that the MGM Grand Arena will be filled to the brim with the boisterous crowd mingling with the expected parade of sports and Hollywood celebrities, There is no doubt that this fight has the potential for the "Fight of the Year" award.
But will the excitement that Firepower has generated translate into a PPV bonanza?

Conventional wisdom would suggest that, it is a no brainer. Of course, Pacquao and Cotto will shatter the existing PPV record of 2.4 million buys.

Or will it?

If there is an Achilles heel for this fight, it is the persona outside the ring of these two great fighters. In the ring, they are like wild beasts ferociously battling until the very last ounce of strength is sapped and last drop of blood is drained from their veins.

But off the ring, they are just too nice and too much of a gentleman. Their last press conference was almost like a love fest, a refreshing sight to behold.

However, it appears PPV buyers want controversy, trash talking, dysfunctional personalities and at least one villain.
PPV buyers just like everyday Americans want dirty and crazy antics. The Mayweather family circus does it best. They were the best selling point of the Marquez-Floyd Jr Fight, not the fight itself. It turned out to be a boring fight but a huge PPV success.

We love to see the meltdown of a Britney Spears. The more poor judgment Jon and Kate Gosselin exhibit, the higher their ratings go. Paris Hilton is famous not because she is a lady. The Octo Mom should not deserve any attention but everybody wants to know everything about her. Controversial actions make one a celebrity. Reality TV is getting more unreal and the viewers keep on clamoring for more.

It is so hard to find any titillating tales from Manny and Miguel that HBO's 24/7 had to rehash over and over the only controversy they have, the Michael Koncz - Ariza/Roach feud.
One thing is for sure, it will be one heck of a fight here in Las Vegas come Saturday night.

Let's just worry about the PPV numbers later on, we all have a fight to enjoy.

And yes, it is OK to be a gentleman.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-29522.html

No Excuses, Says Roach

2009-11-13T01:27:00.000-08:00

By Steve Kim
(Photo © Chris Farina / Top Rank)

After the IRS imposed exile to Baguio, followed by the malaise of Manila, trainer Freddie Roach was satisfied with where his charge, Manny Pacquiao, was- physically and mentally- as they headed down the home stretch of their training camp at their familiar haunts of the Wild Card Boxing Club, last week. This Saturday night, they face WBO welterweight champion, Miguel Cotto, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, in the years most anticipated event.

"Manny told me,’I’m back’," said Roach, last Thursday afternoon, one of their last days in Hollywood before they took off for Las Vegas."He’s back, no problem, at all. Focus is there, the conditioning was never a problem. We worked everyday. Baguio, Manila, wherever we were. We never missed a day of working out and running and so forth. So we got back here, his running has been really great, boxing’s been really good. He sparred eight rounds the other day, looked really good, 100-percent."

On this afternoon, Pacquiao went through six rounds of sparring( three each with Urbano Antillon and Ray Beltran) before finishing off his days work with an energetic session on the heavy-bag and a few rounds on the double-end bag, jumping rope and then shadow-boxing. His workout took approximately three hours and it was marked by Filipino’s trademark energy and enthusiasm. For all that surrounds ’Planet Pacquiao’, nobody works harder in the gym then he does.

"My training camp for this fight is good," said ’the Pac Man’ after his days work."We’re doing great and we work hard for this fight." He added," I feel strong, I feel strong enough for a 12-round fight."

Their last week in Hollywood was hectic, as it included an appearance on ’the Jimmy Kimmel Show’ and a media day at the Wild Card. But Roach says that these obligations do not overload his fighter.

" Jimmy Kimmel, we filmed that at like 5:30 in the afternoon. So it wasn’t really late day. It loosened him up a little bit because he likes the singing part of it. Media day, is actually like a day off because we don’t really show that much, just give you guys a taste of what we’re up to because the whole workout would be impossible with as many people that came to the gym," said the well-regarded trainer."Yesterday, we ran him really hard in the morning on the track and then we just went four rounds on the mitts, a couple on the speed-bag and on the rope, stuff like that. The mitt day before was 16 rounds, straight."

Pacquiao said of his appearance on the late night ABC talk show,"It was very fun. I was very happy for that show. It was funny, I sing one song."

There is always the lingering question of whether Pacquiao is distracted or not. It’s become a permanent storyline of any fight he participates in. But Roach, says with a grin,"Y’know what? We like drama. We have enough in our lifetime that we must like it. Otherwise, we would change things. We’ve always had problems, there’s always something going in Camp Pacquiao."

The large focus of this camp has been the on-going animosity between strength-and-conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, and adviser Mike Koncz, who had a well-documented physical altercation while in the Philippines. Roach laughs this off as being a non-issue. The trainer has been through it all with Pacquiao. From when he was getting fleeced by Murad Muhammad or the multitude of fans that swarmed the gym on a daily basis before the first match-up with Erik Morales.

Those were real distractions that hindered his focus. The extra-curricular stuff he’s now involved in? To him, it’s a necessary diversion.

"He enjoys it, he thrives on it," Roach stated."He thrives off it, it’s a challenge. People say he can’t do it. It’s just like after the fight, he’s in concert at the Mandalay Bay."

Win, lose or draw on Saturday night, there will be no alibi’s from them.

" No excuses for this fight," said Pacquiao."I’m ready to fight and I will do my best."

Roach echoes those thoughts," No excuses, 100-percent. No excuses."

COTTO

So what are Pacquiao’s thoughts on his upcoming foe?

"Everyone knows he’s bigger than me, he’s stronger. I know he hits hard but I’m very confident in myself and my speed, my power."

But Roach wonders if Cotto is irrevocably damaged following his loss to Antonio Margarito last year.

"To be quite honest, studying his tapes, he was a very good fighter early in his career but he’s not the same guy after the beating he took with Margarito. I don’t think he has his confidence back, his defense seemed to be poor in the Clottey fight and he was very slow," he opined."I think everyone reacts differently on the first knockout loss, some people never get over it, some people get over it quickly. They say, ’Well, Manny should be the one shot because he got KO’d twice.’ But yeah, that was 20 years ago. We’re obviously gotten over that. So he’s one of those guys who can get over it.

"Can Cotto get over his KO loss? I don’t think so. He hasn’t shown it, yet."

BUZZ

Judging by the reaction the two fighters received on Tuesday afternoon at the MGM Grand, there’s no doubt that ’Firepower’ is building a lot of momentum. I’m told it was the biggest reception ever for a promotion.

One way you can gauge just how well an event will do is to see just how many fans show up to the weigh-in( which takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 3:00 on Friday afternoon, with the main event fighters getting on the scale at 3:10). I expect to see a raucous crowd there.

Just a hunch, but I think this fight will exceed one million pay-per-view buys, and perhaps even rival what the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight did last year( which did right around 1.4 million.)

iN DEMAND ’FIREPOWER’

As this promotion goes into overdrive, various cable systems around the country are offering several free On Demand programs that are distributed by iN DEMAND, in addition to two exclusive on-line documentaries that give viewers a look at the fight and both Pacquiao and Cotto.

On the cable end, the Pac-De La Hoya, Cotto-Clottey fights will be offered On Demand. Along with a 30 minute preview show from HBO Pay-Per-View, in addition to the weigh-in, which takes place on Friday afternoon.

From the on-line perspective, ’Miguel Cotto- A Champion on a Mission’ and ’Manny Pacquiao- Rise to Greatness’- which are both an hour in duration- are available starting on Wednesday at www.indemand.com

On Demand cable programs are available on Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Bresnan, RCN, LodgeNet and other independent cable systems.

SUPER SIX

November is a very good month for boxing, because in addition to this weeks blockbuster, the following week; Showtime’s ’Super Six’ continues between Andre Ward and Mikkel Kessler in Oakland, California. Here’s a video preview put out by Showtime Sports:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid49625175001

Source: http://www.secondsout.com/news?ccs=1625&cs=114836

Pacquiao in best shape of life, says trainer Roach

2009-11-13T01:26:00.000-08:00

By Kieran Mulvaney

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach says the Filipino southpaw has never been in better shape and has predicted a knockout when he challenges Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title on Saturday.

Pacquiao, widely regarded as the sport's best pound-for-pound fighter, is gunning for a seventh world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class.

"This week is the sharpest I have ever seen him in my life," Roach told reporters at the MGM Grand on Thursday.

"We were doing the mitts (training) on Tuesday and every time I was about to tell him something, he made the move before I could say anything."

Roach believes his fighter's renowned hand and foot speed will be a significant factor in the hotly anticipated clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"Manny's speed is so effective whether he's coming or going. It's his footwork, he'll feint you out of his socks," he said.

"We're definitely going to dictate the pace of the fight. I respect Miguel, but he'll get knocked out in this one."

Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago countered by saying his man would control the tempo of the scheduled 12-round bout.

DICTATING PACE

"You have to," he added. "You have to decide what's going to take place in the ring from the beginning. We're going to dictate the pace."

Santiago predicted Cotto, 34-1 (27 KOs), would match Pacquiao's speed, citing the Puerto Rican's victories in 2007 against Americans Zab Judah and Shane Mosley.

"He showed us he can deal with speed, against Judah and against Mosley, and he did it very well," he said.

Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 KOs), is a 3-1 on favorite with Las Vegas bookmakers, a fact that surprises Santiago.

"I can't understand why Pacquiao would be the favorite," he said. "Look at who we've fought, and the guys he's fought. He fought a couple of guys who were over the hill."

Roach, however, believes Cotto is on the downside of his career, and that he is still feeling the after-effects of a brutal 11th-round stoppage by Antonio Margarito in the same MGM Grand ring in July 2008.

to read more please visit the link below

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE5AC07120091113

Roach, Pacquiao boast 'edge' in welterweight showdown

2009-11-13T01:24:00.000-08:00

By Bob Velin, USA TODAY
LAS VEGAS — In Manny Pacquiao's eyes, Freddie Roach has transcended the title of trainer.

"Freddie is my master, my master in boxing," Pacquiao said.

Roach will have to be master and commander of Pacquiao's corner when the Filipino superstar (49-3-2, 37 KOs) meets Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET).

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) is not happy playing second fiddle to Pacquiao, the closest thing to a global icon, in this fight, which will be fought at a catch weight of 145 pounds, a concession to Pacquiao's smaller frame.

"I know what I'm capable of doing, and there is no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this fight," Cotto said at the final news conference Wednesday. "I've prepared for the best Manny Pacquiao, the fastest Manny Pacquiao, and I will be ready for anything he brings into the ring."

Roach doesn't believe that. He thinks Cotto is damaged goods, having not fully recovered from his only loss, a brutal beating by Antonio Margarito in July 2008 that had a bloody and battered Cotto taking a knee twice to stop the punishment.

"When you get knocked out for the first time and take a beating like he did, it takes a while to get over it, and I just don't think he's over it yet," Roach said Thursday. "He's going in the right direction. … That's why in the first round of this fight, I'm going to have Pacquiao make a statement. We're not going to give (Cotto) momentum, because if you give him that, he'll get stronger."

Pressed to go into more detail, Roach said, "We're going to show him our power in the first round. We're going to hit him, remind him of the punches he took in the Margarito fight."

Roach said he has a "Plan A and B. Either (Cotto's) going to use his strength and come forward and show us he's a bigger, stronger guy, or he'll try to become (Juan Manuel) Marquez and become a counterpuncher, and you can't become someone else in an eight-week period. I'm ready for whatever he brings."

"I truly feel that once he gets hit, he'll revert back to what he does best," Roach said. "He's got a great left hook. … And once he gets you on the ropes, he's very effective. Our job is not to be on the ropes at all, keep the fight in the middle of the ring."

Asked if Cotto's corner — his trainer, Joe Santiago, is Cotto's chief for only the second fight — will be able to make adjustments during the fight, Roach was typically blunt. "Nope. He's got a good cut man in Joe Chavez, but I think Miguel Cotto calls the shots in that camp," he said.

Roach said Pacquiao's foot speed will be the difference. "Manny has too much speed for Cotto," he said. "That's where the fight's won, foot speed, and Manny excels in that department."

Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, is not totally convinced of that.

"Cotto is the biggest obstacle in Manny's path," Arum said. "He's a true welterweight, a strong welterweight, with a heart as big as this room. And when the bell rings, there won't be one legend in the ring but two great fighters. And Cotto will acquit himself like he always has and show he is one of the best in the world today."

Roach said he and his fighter, who is guaranteed $13 million, are in sync. "I don't have to tell him the game plan anymore. It's automatic now," he said. "I make moves like Cotto will make in the fight, and it's like a dance. He knows exactly what to do."

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2009-11-12-pacquiao-cotto-camps-boast_N.htm

Miguel Cotto aiming to erase painful memories by lifting crown

2009-11-13T01:23:00.001-08:00

By Ron Lewis, Las Vegas

All his career, Miguel Cotto has been used to being the star attraction. Despite having his WBO welterweight title on the line, Cotto knows that he has second billing to Manny Pacquiao for tomorrow’s big bout here. But Cotto is not worried about billing, he has a serious point to prove.

Cotto previously boxed in this city 16 months ago, when he suffered a bloody and painful defeat by Antonio Margarito. It was something of an upset, too, but it is a bout that will for ever be wrapped in controversy because of the events that followed.

In January, Margarito defended the WBA welterweight title he had won from Cotto against Shane Mosley in Los Angeles. Before the bout, Margarito and his trainer were caught trying one of the most outrageous pieces of cheating in the sport’s history.

As Margarito’s hands were wrapped by Javier Capetillo, Nazim Richardson, the trainer of Mosley, raised an objection. Rather than the usual gauze and tape, Margarito’s wraps included a grey pad and were wet.

The wraps were impounded by the California State Athletic Commission — Margarito’s hands were rewrapped correctly and he lost the bout — and it was found that they hardened in a style similar to plaster of Paris, which effectively would have turned his hands into rocks. Margarito had attempted to box with loaded gloves.

While Margarito and Capetillo had their licences revoked, many people’s thoughts turned back to the Mexican’s bout with Cotto and whether Margarito’s gloves could have been loaded that night. The Puerto Rican, who had been unbeaten, dominated the early rounds but was ground down by Margarito’s punches.

“The tears coming out of Miguel’s eyes that night were tears of blood,” Miguel Cotto Sr, the boxer’s father, said. “He was bleeding out of his nose, bleeding out of his ears. You had to see how deep the wounds were. It’s impossible to explain how someone with gloves could do that.”

No member of Cotto’s team had watched Margarito’s hands being wrapped that night because they had been busy with other boxers on the undercard. “The only people who really know when he has used those things are him or his team,” Cotto said. “That fight is in the past.”

But the question remains how much that defeat has taken out of Cotto. He returned in February, when he stopped Michael Jennings, from Chorley, Lancashire, for the vacant WBO title, and struggled to a splitdecision win over Joshua Clottey in June. He has a size advantage over Pacquiao, but so did Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton and neither could cope with the Filipino’s speed.

Cotto, 29, took up boxing to get in shape when he was an overweight 10-year-old. He discovered he was very good and now stands alongside the likes of Wilfred Benítez, Wilfredo Gómez and Félix Trinidad in the affections of his countrymen.

To help Pacquiao, who is moving up in weight, tomorrow’s match has been made at 10st 5lb, 2lb below the welterweight limit. The bout will still go ahead if Cotto fails to make the lower weight, but he would face a $1 million (about £600,000) fine.

While the world will be watching when the WBO world welterweight title is decided here tomorrow, far fewer will look on when Matthew Hatton challenges Lovemore N’dou for the IBO version at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke this evening.

The IBO has made large strides but is still regarded as a fringe belt, as is shown by the fact that N’dou, a former IBF light-welterweight champion, and Hatton are Nos 26 and 50 respectively in the IBO’s independent rankings.

Still, it is a big chance for Hatton, 28, who has improved greatly in four wins since he was beaten by Craig Watson for the Commonwealth title 18 months ago. Victory over the 38-year-old champion from Australia could move him on to bigger things.

Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/boxing/article6914557.ece

You bet: Odds on Manny Pacquiao over Miguel Cotto are out of line

2009-11-13T01:22:00.001-08:00

NY Boxing Examiner | Michael Marley

LAS VEGAS—My fellow Pinoys know that, when it comes to picking any Pacquiao fights, I’ve been way out of the closet for the longest.

I would Pacman to turn back Al Queda. I would favor Megamanny to squash the entire countries OF Iran and North Korea, which might not be a bad idea in either case.

Let Pacquiao topple those despotic regimes the way he toppled de la Hoya and Hatton we can rename Iran as “Pacland West” and start calling North Korea “Pacland East” or something like that.
But even I must admit the betting price on the Pacman-Cotto bout, coming up here Saturday night at the MGM Grand, is out of whack.

It’s a combination of Pacquiao’s phenomenal popularity, which includes a massive groundswell of approval from the world’s best fight fans (Mexicans), and the idea that many have that the Boricua Banger is pretty much “a punched ticket” as a result of being hammered by Antonio Margarito.

The betting board Thursday night at the MGM Sports Book listed Manny as a minus 3.50 favorite and Cotto is the plus 2.70 underdog.

Over at The Palms off The Strip, you can get a lower price as Pacman is only minus 3.00. That’s a little know secret for all you boxing bettors: go to the casinos off the main stem and you will find better odds on fights.

Again, I understand Pacman being the favorite but 3-1 to 3 ½-1 is simply what the bookies and bettors call an “overlay.”

I am betting that many small “punters” will opt to bet on whether the fight goes 9.5 or 10 full rounds or not.

At the MGM, it is plus 1.05 that it lasts 30 minutes or 10 complete rounds and the won’t go price is minus 1.25.

Remember, if the fight is stopped with even one second left in the 10th, you will lose if you bet it to go a full 10 frames.

You zany folks may want to review the odds on a 12 round draw which I saw at 20-1 at The Palms and only 15-1 at the MGM.

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Want to know how authentic the Big Fight souvenirs are?

I was informed that the bobblehead set, with figurines of Manny and Miguel inside a tiny ring, were done so that the tattoos on both fighters are lifelike.

I keep saying it, I know Pacquiao will find a way to win (by decision I say, although I am now wavering as to a possible, late round stoppage) but I need some of you NFL mavens to tell if the Colts can possibly beat the Patriots by three ppoints on Sunday.

Not that I would ever bet against my hometown New England team but, hey come on, we’re talking investments here and not loyalty. I am leaning towards Indy on this.

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Pacquiao pal Gov, Chavit Singson, one of the most powerful and connected citizens in the Philippines, is also the National Security Adviser to President GMA.

Singson is, approrprately enough, staying at an exclusive MGM property know as The Mansion.

Yes, Gov. Chavit’s got it like that.

Singson did not bring any of his tigers over from his estate which I'm sure comes as a relief to Manny's Jack Russell terrirer, Pacman.

*****************************************************************

Well liked Showtime fight announcer Nick Charles, who is more than holding his own in a bout against cancer, came to watch the fight.

Charles was, appropriately enough, given a heartfelt round of applause when he entered the Media Center.

"And I didn't even knock anbody out," Charles told me, laughing.

Here's hoping he KOs the dreaded disease.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m11d12-You-bet-Odds-on-Manny-Pacquiao-over-Miguel-Cotto-are-out-of-line

Exclusive photo gallery: Inside the lives and minds of the Pacquiao-Cotto under card combatants

2009-11-13T01:18:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas Boxing Examiner | Chris Robinson

Earlier today the final press conference for the under card portion of the Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao bout took place.

As is the always the custom with a Top Rank show, Bob Arum first spoke to everyone in attendance. Arum pointed out that even though the Pacquiao-Cotto showdown is the main event, that the fighters on the under card all will fight just as hard when the bell rings for their respective bouts. Below I have taken a look at the under card fighters from Saturday’s night’s show, as well highlighting their expectations come fight time.

Alfonso Gomez

Gritty Alfonso Gomez spent much of his early career in obscurity, fighting all over Las Vegas, California, and Texas before becoming known on the first season of ‘The Contender’. On the show we were witness to Gomez’ down to earth and passionate demeanor and saw him compete against the likes of Peter Manfredo Jr. and Jesse Brinkley.

Following his run on the show Gomez would push forward with his career. In July of 2007 he would get the break he was looking for when he signed to fight then living legend Arturo ‘Thunder’ Gatti. In the bout Gomez fought the fight of his life, out boxing his older opponent before halting him in the seventh round. By that time Gatti had seen better days but the win itself was still very much impressive.

Gomez was fortunate to fight for the WBA Welterweight title of the world in April of 2008, but his only problem was that he was going up against one of the world’s best fighters in Miguel Cotto. In the bout Gomez would be out muscled and outclassed, surrendering by way of 5th round stoppage.

This Saturday night Gomez will be locking horns with Jesus Soto Karass in what figures to be an all action thriller. The bout is a chance for Gomez to jumpstart his career again and he knows that everything will be on the line for him.

Addressing the media on Thursday afternoon, Gomez looked calm and confident.

“I’ll be brief,” Gomez opened up. “I’ve prepared very hard for this bout. I know that Karass keeps coming and coming.”

Gomez went on to state that he has taken great motivation from his newborn daughter for this bout and promised everyone a great fight. Knowing Gomez’ history that isn’t out a question.

Jesus Soto Karass

It’s somewhat ironic that Jesus Soto Karass’ biggest career victory came on the eve of Miguel Cotto’s first and only defeat in July of last year. Fighting at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino against rugged David Estrada, Karass introduced himself to many in the boxing world in a wildly entertaining fight.

Estrada has always proven himself to be all heart and mixing his style with Karass’ proved to be ultimately exciting. The key advantage that Karass had in the bout was that he seemed to have the edge in boxing skills over his charging opponent and he was also very poised with his attack. In the eighth round a sweeping hook would level Estrada, who would be in no shape to continue moments later. The victory for Karass showed how much promise he possesses as a fighter.

Heading into his bout with Gomez this Saturday, Karass was a many of very few words or emotions.

“I’m very motivated,” Karass claimed. “I’m hoping this fight can lead to a world title fight next year.”

Karass went on to state that his showdown with Gomez will be a ‘big battle’ and could possible steal the show from the Cotto-Pacquiao main event.

After his win over Estrada, Karass had slid under the radar a bit but he will have his chance to again remind everyone of the fighter he is underneath the bright lights of Las Vegas. Let’s hope the 27-year old doesn’t let this chance slip away.

Yuri Foreman

I remember first speaking with Belarus native Yuri Foreman in the spring of 2005 before his Showtime televised fight against Kevin Cagle. In talking to Foreman I was taken back his humble nature and found it hard not to root for the likeable guy.

Years later Foreman now finds himself in a position he has always dreamed as he will be facing off with Jr. Middleweight champion Daniel Santos in hopes of wrestling away the WBA belt.

At 27-0 with 8 knockouts, Foreman has a record that is notable; however it is the fashion in which he has compiled those victories that has left many asking for more. In many fights Foreman has shown himself to be void of any killer instinct and has instead used his skills to navigate his way towards victory.

Foreman could do himself well with an impressive performance against the well traveled Santos and perhaps it could be the start towards a new beginning in his boxing career. Because at the end of the day being a belt holder in the sport isn’t’ enough; you need to be a champion who finds a way to captivate your audience. Let’s hope Yuri puts it all together on Saturday.

Daniel Santos

At 34 years of age and carrying with him a 32-3-1 record, Puerto Rico’s Daniel Santos has seen a little bit of everything in his boxing career.

The highs have included victories over the likes of former champions Antonio Margarito, Jose Antonio Rivera and others but the lows have been in the form of inactivity and a style that hasn’t always won everyone over. Still, there are some definite strong points about Santos.

Throughout his career has never shied away from traveling into unchartered territories as he has fought all over the world in such locations as Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy, among others. He has also shown the ability to remain resilient despite any setbacks and he has refused to let the boxing world phase him out of the championship picture. His last title winning victory, a sixth round knockout over Joachim Alcine, is proof to such a statement.

Heading into his bout against Foreman, Santos realizes just how dear a championship fight in Las Vegas is to his career at this point.

“I’m happy because I’m back,” Santos mentioned earlier of returning to Las Vegas. “I used to live here for 2 ½ years and it’s been great to see old faces and friends.”

With some feeling that Santos’ back is again against the wall, he remained both optimistic and determined.

“This is a very big fight for me. I feel young and excited to be here. You will see and believe the new Daniel Santos on Saturday night.”

Santos also made mention that this is the first time he has been able to bring his son with him for one of his bouts. Afterwards Santos spoke at ends length with the media about his showdown with Foreman and it seems he’s just happy to be back in the spotlight after all these years.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Despite possessing a 40-0-1 record with 30 knockouts, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has received his share of criticism throughout his career. The son of a ring legend, young Chavez Jr. has faced questionable opposition so far in his career and there are those who simply don’t feel he can fight nearly as well as his record can indicate.

To his credit, Chavez Jr. is still only 23 years old and without any amateur experience he has been learning on the job as a professional fighter. Chavez Jr. is set to face Troy Rowland this Saturday night and while he may not win over all of his critics with one performance he surely can appreciate what the fight means to his still developing career.

“I’ve always had extra pressure because of my name,” Chavez said as he spoke earlier today. “I feel that this is a big stage for me. Ever since I was a little kid I’ve wanted to be a champion and I haven’t stopped.”

The sport of boxing is brutal towards its fighters in many aspects. Inside of the ropes the pugilists must deal with the adversity that comes form their opponents and outside of the squared circle it is the criticism, doubt, and even hatred that they must somehow cope with. Hopefully we can recognize Chavez Jr’s performance on the under card this Saturday for what it is; a showcase opportunity for a young fighter who is still maturing fight after fight.

Troy Rowland

If there is anybody who may feel a bit overlooked on the Pay Per View portion of the card, it is probably 25-2 Middleweight Troy Rowland, who fights Chavez Jr. on Saturday.

Rowland, who was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is used to being the opponent despite his fine record. In his time as a fighter he has had upset wins over Kenny Ellis and Epifanio Mendoza, and he will be looking to derail Chavez Jr. as well.

“Like everybody else I’m just happy to be here,” Rowland claimed. “This is the opportunity of my life. Chavez is an amazing fighter and he’s done great in his career but we’re looking to take away his ‘0’. People have been saying that’s he’s fighting a nobody but that’s because nobody knows who I am.”

There’s something genuine and admirable about the hard luck underdog in the sport of boxing and it seems that Troy Rowland knows his role all too well. He’ll be looking to change those perceptions when the bell rings.

Also in attendance

Undefeated Middleweight Matt Korobov will be facing Kerry Hope on the untelevised portion of the under card. Trainer Kenny Adams, who helped guide Vince Phillips to a championship years back, claimed the Russian is one of the most skilled fighters he has worked with over the years.

Israel’s Eilon Kedem fights Eden Sonsona Saturday night as well. Kedem is trained by Hector Rocha, who once held the reigns to Arturo Gatti, and says it ‘couldn’t get any better’ than fighting underneath a bout with the magnitude of Pacquiao-Cotto.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-22973-Las-Vegas-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m11d12-Exclusive-photo-gallery-Inside-the-lives-and-minds-of-the-PacquiaoCotto-under-card-combatants

Cotto takes a backseat to Manny mania, but has shot at Pacquiao in the ring

2009-11-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

By Tim Dahlberg (CP) – 2 hours ago

LAS VEGAS — Miguel Cotto didn't need to be reminded what his role is supposed to be against Manny Pacquiao.

Not after signing for half the money Pacquiao is getting paid. Not after having to agree to fight nearly a kilo (2 pounds) under his normal weight just to get the fight. Not after spending months training for a fight a lot of people in boxing don't really believe he has much chance of winning.

Promoter Bob Arum took time at the final pre-fight press conference to remind him anyway.

"Psychologically he knows it and I know it," Arum said. "In this fight he is not the star of the show."

No, the star of the show is boxing's latest sensation, a mild mannered Filipino who gave Oscar De La Hoya such a beating he quit on the stool and destroyed Ricky Hatton with a single punch. Pacquiao is the face of this event, the boxer who brings the Philippines to a virtual standstill every time he steps into the ring.

But Cotto has a country behind him, too. Puerto Rico has long been a breeding ground of top fighters, and this fight is probably the most anticipated in his country since Felix Trinidad won a disputed decision over De La Hoya a decade ago.

Almost lost in the Manny mania that has made this perhaps the most anticipated fight of the year is that Cotto has some serious credentials of his own.

"I don't want to be Manny Pacquiao," Cotto said. "I just want to be Miguel Cotto."

For a long time that was good enough. Cotto was a rising star himself, a relentless puncher who won two titles, knocked almost everyone in front of him out, and had no trouble selling out Madison Square Garden.

But along came Antonio Margarito and Cotto found himself on the receiving end of the kind of beating he usually handed out. He fought valiantly before finally being stopped in the 11th round of a brutal slugfest, a devastating loss tempered later only by the suspicion that Margarito had plaster inside his gloves like he did in his next fight against Shane Mosley.

"When things about Margarito came out after the fight it made me feel better about the situation," Cotto said.

He came back to win a tuneup fight, then had to rally to beat Joshua Clottey by split decision in the Garden in June. Pacquiao was there at ringside to watch a bloodied Cotto barely pull off a win to retain his piece of the welterweight title, and it wasn't long before negotiations for their fight began.

Though Pacquiao is careful not to say so, his trainer, Freddie Roach, believes Cotto is not the fighter he once was.

"I've studied the tapes of Cotto before and after the Margarito fight and he's not the same person," Roach said. "It's a good time to fight Miguel Cotto."

Oddsmakers think so, too, making Pacquiao a 2½-1 favourite in a fight that will be held at a catch weight of 66 kilograms (145 pounds), something Cotto had to agree to if he was going to get the fight. Pacquiao wanted the weight concession because he is the smaller fighter, having made his way up from 48 kilos (105 pounds), and fought Hatton at 63½ kilos (140 pounds).

Cotto insists he has put the Margarito fight behind him and is even better than he was before, but there are not only questions about his confidence, but his conditioning. He parted ways with his longtime trainer this year and has been using 32-year-old Joe Santiago, who has no experience in big fights, for the biggest fight of his career.

Pacquiao, whose marathon sparring sessions are legendary, believes that his preparation and his corner will both be factors.

"It's a big help to have a great trainer in your corner," he said.

There aren't as many questions about Pacquiao on the eve of the fight, though there are those in boxing who say he may be getting too much credit for his last two fights because De La Hoya was clearly past his prime and Hatton may have never been ready for prime time.

But the body of his work - six titles in six weight classes over the years - and the fact that Roach has managed to turn his right hand into as big a factor as his left hook make Pacquiao dangerous to anyone in front of him. He not only seems to have carried his speed with him as he moved up in weight, but the punch is there too, as evidenced by the tremendous left hook that floored Hatton in the second round of his last fight.

"We believe we have the advantage in both speed and power," Pacquiao said. "My speed is still there and if you have speed you can create power."

Cotto has power of his own - 27 knockouts in 36 fights attests to that - and neither fighter thinks much about defence. The promise of a lot of action led to a quick sellout in the arena and promoters believe they will do strong business on pay-per-view.

The promise of at least $6.5 million helped sell Cotto on the fight. But the promise of greatness should he win means even more.

Because he knows that a win against Pacquiao might just make him boxing's next big star.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gWVXjzytVuaw38dggf-VzZ0gA0xA

PACQUIAO, COTTO PRESSCON RECAP

2009-11-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Nov 2009

With both pronouncing they’re ready, Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto brace themselves for their 12-round welterweight championship fight Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, the reigning International Boxing Organization junior-welterweight champion, is eyeing Cotto’s welterweight diadem in the hope to becoming the only man in the entire planet to wear a seventh crown in seven weight divisions.

Cotto, on the other hand, will not only be defending his 147-pound championship, but, likewise, will try to deny Pacquiao the honor of making boxing history and, at the same time cast doubt on the Filipino’s grip of the title pound-for-pound king in the sport of sweet science.

Last Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) Pacquiao, ‘Pacman’ to the boxing world who is also the reigning ‘Fighter of the Year’ and box office king, and Cotto, the ‘Bocicua’ three-time world champion, met for the final press conference where they were both handed the Keys to the City by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman in the presence Bob Arum, president of the promoting Top Rank, their handlers and many of their followers.

Pacquiao, being the challenger, was the first of the two boxers to speak to the press and, as usual, begun by thanking God, the media and various other organizations present at the conference.

“This fight is the most important fight in my boxing career, he said signifying the importance of the fight in his 14-year boxing career that started as a 108-pound fighter and climbed to 145-pound, the catch-weight agreed upon for the bout.

“If I win this fight I think it’s another history in boxing”, he said as be brought laughter from his audience when he thanked his chief trainer Freddie Roach, whom he said he will now call “Master.”

“Of course I have to thank Freddie Roach, my master… my master in boxing. Before I call him coach Freddy, but now I call him my master,” he said before proceeding on how he trained, first in Baguio City in the Philippines where he spent the first five weeks of preparations, then at the Roach-owned Wild Gym in Hollywood then in Las Vegas.

Commenting on the exchange of harsh words between his camp and that of Cotto, particularly between roach and the Puerto Rican trainer Jose Santiago, Pacquiao said he has not been bothered by all those, adding that he will let his fists do the talking atop the ring.

Cotto, also in his usual self, kept his comments short and to the point. “The only left to say is that there is only 3 days left, and we have worked hard, we have worked like never before.”

“I feel good, I’m in excellent condition and it’s going to be a great night for all boxing fans in general, but specially for the Latino fans, and most of all the Puerto Ricans. We’re prepared for everything and specially to win,” he averred.

Executive secretary of the World Boxing Council, Mauricio Suliman, executive secretary of the World Boxing Council, was also present, representing his father, WBC president Jose Sulaiman, in presenting the ‘Diamond Belt’ which will be rewarced tothe winner of the bout.

“The WBC voted unanimously from all around the world to recognize this as one of the greatest fights in recent years”, the young Suliman declared. “The WBC diamond belt was voted and produced for the winner of this fight as recognition of the greatest fighter of today.”

“It is not a new title, it is not a new championship, it is not a new confusing thing, it is just a trophy for the winner of Saturday night. The winner will take home the belt, it has 600 diamonds, so they can give 600 engagement rings to some girls,” he concluded Sulaiman drawing laughter from the fighters and crowd.

Roach, in his turn to speak also kept his comments short and polite stating they had a great training camp and thanking all members of his camp.

Santiago was a bit livelier when he remarked: “Miguel Cotto is in excellent shape and we hope our opponent is as well. There’s only 3 more days until the fight, and a great victory for Puerto Rico. Manny good luck, you’re going to need it.”

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-29498.html