Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Post Fight Press Conference

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Video Recap

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

Image Source: Yahoo Sports!

Pacquioa vs Cotto: Fight Recap

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

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

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

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.

AQUAMAN VS THE FLASH: THE TRUTH BEHIND POOL TRAINING

As someone who religiously runs between 5-7 miles EVERYDAY (no, this is not a Mayweather-like exaggeration), I can confidently say that pool training (to the non-swimmer) is much much more difficult; with the sole exception being: running steep extended hills.

Why I bring this up is not to brag about my daily exercise regimen (okay maybe), but to respond to the many misguided opinions that I’ve been forced to endure while getting my daily fix at mannypacquiao.ph [Pacland Forum].

On my daily runs I can average near 6-minute miles for three consecutive miles (before dropping back down to the 7:30 range), but drop me into a pool and I can barely swim one olympic sized lap before getting winded. Which at first shock the (f)ish outta me. It didn’t make any sense.

Why the hell could I run forever, but swim barely a lap???

Well how bout bad technique (not surprising for a beginner), using completely different muscles and bad breathing. Really, really bad breathing.

I likened my first few weeks in the pool to doing full intensity sprints; because at the end of every lap, I was breathing so hard the Korean ladies watching their kids nearby started looking at me weird.

So, assuming Pacquiao is just as un-technically sound a swimmer as I am, I will just as easily presume his little aquatic experience went a similar route.

Which means 26 minutes in the pool, was like an hour of sprinting running.

Look, the only reason you swallow urine water chlorine (as reported by coach Roach) is because you have bad technique and you have really really bad breathing. really. And for guys, that’s the only reason you should swallow water.

Which points to the genius of Freddie Roach. Pool training can actually benefit a boxer in as many ways as roadwork. Don’t believe me? Just compare the bodies of swimmers to those of long distance runners and you’ll see the difference. But combine the two, and you’ll say (in your best Sam Jackson impression) “now, that’s what I’m talking about”.

With swimming you can mix in low impact (meaning not having your knee cartilage take a beating as a result of running on pavement or down hills), leg strengthening exercises by running circles in the kiddie section of the pool. When you’re through with that, you can then go on to upper body strengthening and wind-building exercises by swimming laps. And unless your running long extended hills with light dumbbells, you can’t match the resistance benefits that pool training brings.

So with all that said, my point is this: don’t armchair quarterback Pacquiao’s training no matter how eccentric or exotic it may seem. Yes, its probably in our human nature to criticize (which as a consequence, makes for great lively Internet discussion) something we don’t fully understand. But in reality, there’s a reason you’re at home (like me) typing away and Freddie’s in the homeland training away.

And from someone (me) who engages in roadwork everyday, I am witness to the fact that pool training is hard, makes you sore and definitely causes you to swallow the first couple tries.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-28201.html

Roach wants Cotto disqualified if…

Legendary trainer Freddie Roach wants one specific but stricter rule implemented in the 12-round face-off between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Interviewed by Fightnews at the upscale Manor Hotel, Roach said he will insist during the rules meeting that an automatic disqualification be imposed for the first intentional low blow thrown during the match. “Cotto tends to get dirty when the going gets tough in most of his fights and I don’t want that to happen. I will make sure the referee will be very strict about it,” said Roach.

One fight that Roach said saw Cotto get away with the supposed ploy was the Puerto Rican’s welterweight bout against American Zab Judah back in November 2007.

Though Cotto stopped Judah in the 11th round, the American did not easily give up and even had the Puerto Rican wobbly at times.

“Cotto stops his opponents momentum with that kind of blow. In that Judah fight he had five low blows,” said Roach.

Another issue Roach wants to bring up is the choice of the referee for the bout. The amiable trainer said he learned about seasoned referee Joe Cortez having an inside track in getting the job.

“Joe Cortez is Puerto Rican and he’s in the running as one of the referees. I don’t want him letting Cotto get away with stuff like that. We’re going to make an issue of it first,” said Roach.

Meantime Roach dismissed rumors they plan to leave earlier than expected after intermittent rains hampered this city last week.

Roach insists they will leave the country on the 24th and that despite the bad weather in the city, it has not caused any major negative effect as far as their training is concerned.

“As long as I’m seeing Manny happy there won’t be any problem. So far he’s in high spirits,” said Roach.

Friday morning Roach was able to convince Pacquiao to try swimming to make up for lost time in their road work.

Non-stop rains last weekend forced Pacquiao to work out on a thread mill, something which Roach believes would not be enough to compensate for their inability to run in the mornings.

Source: http://www.fightnews.com/?p=26283

Too many distractions could cause Pacquiao's defeat

Boxing sportswriters and fans believe the popular Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao may suffer defeat at the hands of Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico if the pound-for-pound king continues to train in Baguio City where there are too many distractions.
The world's most popular boxer, Manny Pacquiao, could end up losing to Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico when they collide at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 14, 2009.
Boxing experts say the Filipino boxing superstar is on track with his training schedules, but his mind is not focused on his training because of too many distractions.
Among other things, Pacquiao's lull moments while training at his specially-prepared gym in the mountain city of Baguio in the Philippines, are often taken advantage of by fans, politicians, movie people and even the media who are perpetually hungry for news about the boxer.
On top of these distractions, Pacquiao's training is often interrupted by inclement weather that the mountain city of Baguio is experiencing as back-to-back typhoons with devastating wind and rainwater slashed through the mountain province and most part of northern Philippines. Pacquiao's outdoor activities including running and jogging are often put aside because of mudflows and floods along the trails and roadways.
Despite these distractions, boxing experts, including Nacho Berestain, the popular Mexican boxing coach and former handler of Oscar de la Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez, believe Pacquiao will triumph over Miguel Cotto. Berestain even predicted Pacquiao will finish Cotto in five or six rounds.
Pacquiao's coach, Freddie Roach, also predicted his ward will win over Cotto.
As GMANews.TV reports:

Hall of Fame trainers Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain and Freddie Roach are one in saying that Manny Pacquiao would score a knockout win over World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title holder Miguel Cotto in their 12-round Nov. 14 fight in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Both trainers, however, have contrasting views on what round the current mythical pound-for-pound champion would end Cotto’s reign. Ignacio Beristain myboxingfans.com Beristain, the highly-respected Mexican trainer who also handled the career of former three-time World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion Humberto Gonzalez, believes Pacquiao would KO the 28-year-old Caguas, Puerto Rico native midway through their title showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“I believe Pacquiao should put him on the canvas in five or six rounds," said the veteran trainer who also handled four-time featherweight king Juan Manuel Marquez and the legendary Oscar De La Hoya, who both tasted defeat at the hands of Pacquiao.
In the Philippines, local boxing fans are appealing to Team Pacquiao to ask Roach to immediately pack up and fly to California to resume training at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles in order to shield Pacquiao from unnecessary distractions.
Roach has expressed his dismay over Pacquiao's mixing with the crowd during training, compromising his attention from the task at hand

Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/280388

Pacquiao up vs bigger, meaner sparmates

Bigger and meaner guys will now be the chief sparmates of Manny Pacquiao as training camp for his Nov. 14 “Firepower" title duel with Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto enters its fourth week.

With the arrival of Mexican toughie Jose Luis Castillo in Baguio City, the “Pacman" will be up against natural welterweights, the weight class where the 28-year-old Cotto currently reigns as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion.

Regular sparmate Shawn Porter fights as a junior middleweight, with Urbano Antillon the smallest of them all at lightweight.

Trainer Freddie Roach said he’s inclined to replace Antillon with Castillo for Pacquiao to get use being banged by opponents bigger than him.

The closed-door sparring session resumes Tuesday at the Shape-Up gym inside the Cooyesan Hotel, with Castillo sparring with Pacquiao for the first time.

From the looks of it, Roach believes Castillo, the former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion, is fit and ready.

“I believe he weighs around 160. According to him, he has a fight scheduled next month, so he must be in good shape," said Roach.

The three-time Trainer of the Year plans to make the 30-year old Filipino ring icon spar four rounds against Porter and three opposite Castillo.

So far, Pacquiao has logged in a total of 31 sparring rounds through three weeks at the City of Pines. He spars three times a week, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and looks to complete the regular 150 rounds he usually does while preparing for a major fight. - GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/174448/pacquiao-up-vs-bigger-meaner-sparmates

How will Cotto train his chin to survive Pacquiao's 'See you at the Karaoke party' punch?

When I say "See you at the Karaoke party" punch, I'm referring to Manny Pacquiao's dreaded fight-ending left cross that has laid down several of his opponents in the past and has sent thousands of his Filipino fans home happy after witnessing a thrilling victory live and millions more watching on TV, satisfied to continue their celebration with the staple of Philippine party tradition of singing 'Karaoke". (I can do 100 on South Border's "Kahit Kailan" so don't challenge me)


Much has been said about how Miguel Cotto has legitimate welterweight power and how Pacquiao might have finally bitten off more than he can chew.


Keeping track of statistics, my official count on predictions by boxing figures I have spoken to on Pacquiao-Cotto has the Boriqua bomber enjoying a significant edge. From trainers like Emmanuel Steward to boxers like Paulie Malignaggi, Sergio Mora and Kendall Holt, it seems like a lot of the 'experts' agree that Cotto may be too strong and too big for Pacquiao.


As much as people credit Pacquiao's speed, it's almost as if people are overlooking the power in his fists especially his signature game-ending left cross. Who would've thought a few years ago that people would be saying Pacquiao will beat an opponent now because of his boxing skills and by moving his feet while utilizing his speed and the entire ring?


Although it's sound logic, it just amazes me how people tend to forget about Pacquiao's knockout power especially since he just floored Ricky Hatton a few months ago. If you think his power will not translate five pounds higher than it last did, then allow me to translate it to you- It will be there! Welterweights weren't born with a thicker jaw than lightweights. Pacquiao's killer cross delivered perfectly can knock down any man- there were even rumors saying it knocked out a water buffalo (carabao) but I won't even try to legitimize that story based on how rumors can easily be fabricated and circulate in Pacland. After all, there were rumors too just last week that Pacquiao was knocked out in sparring which Freddie Roach denied and even countered by saying Pacquiao dominated his sparring partners during the last day of sparring last week.


And Cotto himself has a history of getting rocked by big punches. Back when he was campaigning at the junior welterweight division, Cotto was knocked down by Ricardo Torres and wobbled a few more times. He also started seeing stars against Demarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley in 2005. Of course all of us know about the beating he received from Antonio Margarito and how vulnerable he looked against Joshua Clottey in the latter rounds of his last fight. I just wonder how Cotto's chin will hold up against one of the biggest punchers he has ever faced who throws lightning quick punches that he won't see coming.


Pacquiao in his part has not been knocked down since fighting Nadal Hussein in 2000 when he was still campaigning at 122. That's not to say however that he will be safe from Cotto's hard punches, but chances are, and with how slow Cotto looked in his movement even in his most recent training video clips, Pacquiao will have the KO advantage over Cotto. I for one wouldn't be the least surprised if this fight ended in "Ricky Hatton" fashion.


The crowd will also play a big factor in favor of Pacquiao as Cotto has been spoiled and used to having the home court edge in majority of his past fights. I think Cotto is fragile enough for it to affect him against Pacquiao, what more when he will be hearing the crowd narrate every single blow that would land on his face with "oohs", "aahs" amidst the deafening ruckus of a jam-packed MGM arena that will be rooting against him. I've questioned his heart in the past and against a pressure fighter like Pacquiao and in a pressure situation, I just think Cotto is bound to crack. And when he does, I'll be the first to tell the fans inside the MGM, "See you at Pacquiao's Karaoke Party!"

Source: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10947-Indianapolis-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2009m10d11-How-will-Cotto-train-his-chin-to-survive-Pacquiaos-See-you-at-the-Karaoke-party-punch

Roach wants tougher low blow rule for Pacquiao-Cotto

MANILA (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach will demand referees impose automatic disqualification for any deliberate low blow landed during the Filipino's challenge for Miguel Cotto's WBO welterweight title.

Puerto Rican Cotto was docked a point for low blows in his successful defence against Zab Judah in 2007, but maintained the blows had been accidental.

"Cotto stops his opponents' momentum with that kind of blow," American Roach told Monday's Philippine Daily Inquirer.

"In that Judah fight he had five low blows."

Roach said he would raise the issue at a rules meeting before the November 14 showdown in Las Vegas.

The highly anticipated bout pits Pacquiao, widely regarded the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, against Cotto, who retained his WBO title in June with a split decision over Ghana's Joshua Clottey.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE59B0VK20091012

Miguel Cotto taking Manny Pacquiao way too seriously

When Manny Pacquiao is going over political campaign strategy, Miguel Cotto is training.

When Pacquiao is mapping out his postfight concert schedule, Cotto is training.

When Pacman is bobbing up and down in a swimming pool, Cotto is running the streets of Tampa the way a fighter is supposed to.

When Pacquiao is trying to keep Coach Freddie Roach from biting the head off of Michael Koncz, it’s harmony and harmony only in the quiet camp of Cotto.

When Pacquiao is shooting hoops in Baguio, Cotto is doing special physical conditioning with Phil Landman in Tampa.

When Pacman was running off to Manila to aid typhoon victims, Cotto was eating, sleeping and breathing boxing in Florida.

While Pacquiao is besieged by his outside of boxing interests—commercials, TV shows, movies and more—Cotto’s only focus is on their Nov. 14 fight in Las Vegas.

While Pacman’s poor choice of flooded, muddy Baguio as a training site caused a one day delay in the arrival of fresh sparring partners Danny Escobar and ex-champ Jose Luis Castillo, Cotto’s hired hands have been in camp from Day One.

While Pacquiao is trying to make up for lost time, cramming like a college student pulling an all nighter before a tough exam, Cotto had a big head start on the start of his serious training.

While the Pacman camp is split into two warring factions, Team Cotto is united, not divided.

Add it all up and what have you got, you Everlast Einsteins?

Do the distractions, the delays, the issues add up to a disastrous defeat for Megamanny? Is that light at the end of the tunnel a runaway freight train named Miguel I’m No Cotto which will derail the Pacman Express?

Don’t be silly.

The bottom line is Cotto is going to be over prepared.

He’s just taking this fight way too seriously almost as if the rest of his career depended on it.

He’s just training as though he thinks that being The Man who knocks off Manny will be some big deal.

Lighten up, Miguel, nobody likes a grinder.

Loosen up, will you?

Stop being such a nerd, such an Urkel.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Miguel-Im-No-Angel-Cotto-taking-Manny-Pacquiao-way-too-seriously

All is not fine in the City of Pines; Time for Manny to Pac his bags for LA

The benefit of the doubt has been exercised but after 3 weeks of training in Baguio, it's looking clearer and clearer that the Philippines' City of Pines isn't all that fine when it comes to hosting Manny Pacquiao's training camp for his upcoming fight against Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto.

In fairness, it hasn't been a total failure either. This is not me pressing the panic button, as Pacquiao is somewhat on pace to where he wants his conditioning to be- but he could be doing so much better.

According to Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach and Philippine media who have been covering Pacquiao's training camp, with each passing day, the Pac Man is consistently regaining his form and endurance and is steadily doing better in his sparring sessions.

Pacquiao's focus though leaves a lot to be desired. In Baguio, Pacquiao is surrounded by friends and fans that constantly compromise his full attention from the task at hand. Roach from time to time has expressed his dismay over Pacquiao playing to the crowd during training. From military and senior citizens joining his morning runs, to how accessible he has been to his friends and local media, coupled by typhoons and bad weather that has prevented him from running outdoors which has definitely affected his road work routine, it's crystal clear that it's time to move on and step up his training a notch elsewhere.

I got to agree with The White Gorilla who floats like a butterfly and stings like a moth from NYC, Mike Marley, when he suggested Team Pacquiao to start packing it's bags for LA and the Wild Card Gym. It's not really too late yet, but I feel as if though that they need to do a little bit of catching up.

In an article by "tukayo" Dennis Principe of the Inquirer, he reported that Pacquiao has taken to swimming as an alternative to jogging to make up for lost time in his road work due to the bad weather. Roach said,

“For the last eight years I’ve been trying to get Manny in the pool. With the rain here we finally got him in the pool. He swallowed a lot of chlorine but he learned to swim quite quickly. I think I actually liked it overall because when he started to work out he realized how hard it was. It’s like weightlifting but it doesn’t make you tight and slow so it’s a really a wonderful workout. I think we’ll get him back there again.”

I would have to agree for the most part with Roach as I myself have experienced the benefits of water training. Personally, it actually makes me feel lighter and gets my muscles toned and more responsive for basketball. I feel light on my feet every time I swim laps and do water aerobics type of stuff before I go and hoop. It's definitely a great work out and doesn't put stress on the joints as opposed to running, BUT! -and I really had to emphasize the word but- the thing that strikes me is that it was also reported that the water training lasted for 26 minutes.

26 minutes?

Even the older adults at our YMCA can do twice that pace easily. And Pacquiao had to learn how to swim in the process? Wait, wasn't Pacquiao snorkeling a few months ago? Don't tell me Lapu-Lapu from the tuna capital of the Philippines just learned how to swim. Besides, doesn't Pacquiao have a boxing glove shaped pool that looked like something else if you didn't know Pacquiao is a boxer. Anyway, at this stage of the game however, I just don't know how smart it would be to change up a person's routine after so much success. I know they are simply trying to improvise, but I think the best improv they can do is ditching Baguio now to go back to their usual surroundings so they wouldn't have to improvise and compromise their training. Besides, swimming uses totally different sets of muscles and I just don't know how it will translate to Pacquiao's speed and explosiveness compared to how his daily runs at the Hollywood hills did.

The writing is in the wall. As the fight draws closer and with about a month left before the big fight, it's really time to buckle down and put nothing to chance. No more after party band rehearsals because ultimately if Manny does not 'rehearse' properly for the real task at hand, there's a chance that he might not need all the rehearsing because it would be Cotto doing all the celebrating. How much rope and improvisations does Manny really need at this point? Baguio wasn't such the great idea they thought it to be and it's about time they admitted it to themselves. I mean, what's next? Bringing in a sparring partner named Michael Phelps?

Source: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10947-Indianapolis-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Who-said-Baguio-was-a-good-idea-Pac-needs-to-relocate-camp

Breaking camp: Freddie remembers his history; Pacquiao - Barrera I

I remember this fight, as I lived in San Antonio in 2003 and was helping the site - coordinator in advance of this highly anticipated event.

Do you remember Barrera was training in Big Bear, CA at Oscar De La Hoya's training camp?

Incredibly, wild fires in the area forced him to get out of there. So Team Barrera came straight to the site of the fight - San Antonio - well before they were scheduled to arrive.

They really had no where else to go and so they settled in San Antonio for an extended stay.
There was a lot of tension in the camp anyway. Barrera, it had been speculated, wouldn't even be allowed to fight because of a past head injury that caused a metal plate to be inserted in his head.

But he made the hour-long drive to Austin, the state capitol, and took a battery of medical exams and was approved by state boxing coordinator Dick Cole.

My point is Freddie Roach was certainly watching what was going on with Barrera back then. He obviously developed the game plan for Pacquiao to win that fight.

Now his own fighter, is in a similar situation and needs the best advice from the person who knows him best.

For Pacquiao, there is a huge financial consideration (Internal Revenue Service) of coming to America any earlier than they are scheduled to and it's a situation they can't overcome.


Let's count on Freddie to do what he believes would give his fighter the best chance to win the fight. I wouldn't trust anybody else.

Uprooting the camp now could be very disruptive. But where would you move it?

NY Examiner Michael Marley also had some thoughts on this subject.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-11372-Dallas-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Breaking-camp-Freddie-remembers-his-history-Pacquiao--Barrera-I

US-BASED FANS: WE ARE WAITING FOR MANNY PACQUIAO’S ARRIVAL

LOS ANGELES, California – US-based fans eager to watch Manny Pacquiao trade mitts inside the Wild Card gym in Hollywood in preparation for his 12-round title fight against Miguel Angel Cotto dubbed “Firepower” at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 14, won’t be disappointed after it was reported that Team Pacquiao will soon be headed here for the second phase of Pacquiao’s training – and to escape the wrath of the third typhoon which reportedly threatens to lash at the Philippines.

Pacquiao and his training management led by Fred Roach and Alex Ariza are expected to plane in on Oct. 24, said sources from La Brea on 3rd St. here.

“Baguio is a nice place in terms of weather but the team is wary of the possible third typhoon that is expected to hit the Philippines this October,” said a source, a semi-retired boxer who closely works with Team Pacquiao here. “Ready lang kami (for Pacquiao’s arrival) sa October 24.”

Two powerful typhoons – “Ketsana” and “Parma” -- wrecked havoc in the Philippines in the last four weeks prior to the start of Pacquiao’s trek to the summer capital of the country where he was joined by two tough sparring partners -- Shawn Porter and Urbano Antillon.

Former WBC lightweight king Jose Luis Castillo later joined the group.

CROWD

“We miss the crowd on Vine St. every afternoon,” said Juanito Vergara, a Fil-Am member of L.A. Police, who is a big Pacquiao fan. “These past weeks, we noticed there was no crowd in that area; we later learned that Pacquiao spent most of his days (training) in Baguio. We wired some of our friends in La Union who rushed to Baguio to have a glimpse of the national idol.”

Vergara, a look-alike of the late Filipino actor Romy Diaz, once parked the police patrol on Vine St. together with fellow police officers to check if Pacquiao was already inside the gym.

“Nandiyan na ba si Manny, pare?” Vergara’s other fellow Fil-Am cop asked this writer. “Kung wala pa babalik nalang kami.”

Couple Premchard “Prem” and Rowena “Weng” Encarnacion, Pacquiao’s most loyal Fil-Am fans who always brought tarpaulins inside the gym, are also excited to meet their idol and are monitoring Pacquiao’s schedule from their residence in Eagle Rock, California.

The Encarnacions have never missed Pacquiao’s fights in Las Vegas and have become part of the team’s “extended family.”

Pacquiao will reportedly train at the Wild Card gym for about two weeks before heading to Las Vegas where he will conclude his training at the IBA Gym on Tropicana Avenue.

Pacquiao will relinquish the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight belt he wrested on a second round knockout from Ricky Hatton last May 2 to shoot for Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown in a 145-lb “catch weight.”

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-28184.html

Message to Manny Pacquiao: Out of the pool, you fool

I just hope to hell that Manny Pacquiao swims better than the nearly drowning Smokin' Joe Frazier did in the 1973 Battle of the Superstars on ABC (see video below).

HBO PPV TV BOXING LIVE FROM THE MGM GRAND, LAS VEGAS, NOV. 14

Jim Lampley (screaming): “What is Manny Pacquiao doing? I have never, in all my years at ringside, seen anything like this. Miguel Cotto is completely befuddled…”

Larry Merchant (quizzical): “I don’t know, Jim, this is something new from Pacman. I can’t really figure it out. It looks like…it looks like…

Emanuel Steward: “It looks like…well, guys, it looks like a combination of the backstroke and the Australian crawl…Cotto is stunned at what Manny is doing, the way he is moving his hands in a breaststroke type maneuver…

Harold Lederman: “This is unusual ring generalship, something my eyes have never seen, either, guys…Pacquiao is moving his feet as though he was wearing flippers, as though he was swimming against the current…”

Lampley again: “Fellas, I’ve got to say this...but taking a dive used to a pejorative accusation in boxing but Manny Pacquiao has stunned us, the crowd and opponent Miguel Cotto with this strange technique...Manny is moving like a dolphin now!..."

Go ahead, you Baguio backers.

SEE DIGITAL JOURNAL ON HOW EXPERTS (that's me blushing), FANS WANT PACMAN TO RELOCATE HIS CAMP FROM BAGUIO NOW, IMMEDIATELY AND ASAP.

Go ahead, you Manny is always right guys.

Go ahead, you people who think Pacman is above and beyond even the mildest form of criticism

Tell me that Coach Freddie Roach having to substitute work in the pool for a boxer’s daily regimen of roadwork is a good thing and not detrimental to his training.

Tell me that having the three roads from Manila to Baguio shut down due to landslides and having to use Chavit Singson's private plane to airlift new sparmates Jose Luis Castillo and Danny Escobar to the training site, the Shape Up Gym, isn't absurd.

Even Roach admits that Manny is no stellar swimmer, that he gulped down some chlorine in the hotel pool. Is this a new training technique like Juan Ma Marquez's urine ingestion?

Still, word is Pacman and crew won't leave for California until Oct. 24.

There's no mule like a stubborn mule, I suppose.

My question is why isn’t Team Pacquiao at the airport in Manila right now, even as you read this, for a flight to Los Angeles or, if the US tax regulations remain problematic, to somewhere like Vancouver or Tijuana?

Leave the swim fins behind, Manny. Drop your pool googles.

Get thee to the Wild Card Gym or to one in Canada or Mexico if need be.

These aquatic exercises are a sorry substitute for roadwork, for running outdoors.

I keep repeating myself, bag it Baguio, brother, bag it.

I don’t think you will be able to use a flotation device in the ring against Cotto.

Get three to the Wild Card or somewhere the sun is shining and the roads are not flooded.

Home, sweet home at the Wild Card would be perfect because, as the old song goes, “It Never Rains In Southern California.”

Bedsides, Coach Roach is right as well, right as rain, when he says fighting the prideful Puerto Rican is not going to be any day at Boracay Beach.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Message-to-Manny-Pacquiao-Out-of-the-pool-you-fool

Pacquiao's Options: Cotto Rematch, Mosley or Marquez

If Manny Pacquiao is able to beat WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, there are plenty of options out there. Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank told the New York Post that Manny has plenty of options - even without Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The fight everyone wants to see is Pacquiao-Mayweather but Arum doesn't think the two sides will be able to reach a financial agreement. If he can't reach a deal with Mayweather, there are three possible options out there for Manny. Arum said the first would be a rematch with Cotto, if the first fight is good enough. The second would be a unification fight with Shane Mosley, the WBA champion, but Mosley would have to beat WBC champion Andre Berto in their tentaive bout on January 30. The third option would be a trilogy bout Juan Manuel Marquez at 140-pounds. Pacquiao has a tentative date of March 13 for his 2010 debut.

"If [Cotto-Pacquiao] is a really good fight you do a rematch," Arum said. "Two, [Pacquiao] could fight Shane Mosley. Three, you could do a fight at 140 against Marquez.

Source: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=22769

Training in the Philippines was a bad idea

Freddie Roach never liked the idea of having to go to The Philippines, and usually he's spot on with his thinking on things as it pertains to Manny Pacquiao. Already we are hearing about the negative impact that has transpired due to training in the PI. Manny continues to be distracted by the mass amount of attention that he gets.

Pacquiao has been reduced to swimming in a pool rather than running because of the amount of attention that he gets over there. The weather has been horrible, with floods and the extremely sad news of those who have lost their lives in the typhoon.

This writer has been getting mixed signals from the camp, and does not get the same feeling as previous camps. Yes, there are always little messy things prior to one of Manny's fights but they get worked out and things resort to normalcy. This time around there seems to be more to it. The distractions with the fans, the weather, and then mix in the all out war between Roach and Michael Koncz, it's more than messy.

The team will be arriving back in Los Angeles later this month, and it could not be a moment sooner. Roach and Manny will have about 3 good weeks to adjust back to the time difference. With Roach being back in his nest at Wild Card, he will have a firmer grip on the Koncz situation as well. Roach will have more of his soldiers, more of his confidants surrounding him. Being thousands of miles away, halfway across the world from Los Angeles has it's problems, and we have seen them clearly so far.

The good news is that apparently Pacquiao has had some very good sparring. Jr Middleweight Shawn Porter has been a blessing. More good news is the fact that Pacquiao is naturally a hard working athlete. His natural ability mixed in with his work ethic, and a great game-plan by Roach should provide what he needs to get the job done.

Donate to a good cause and help the people in The Philippines who suffered from the Typhoon here www.redcross.org.ph/

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-23590-Mississippi-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2009m10d11-Training-in-the-Philippines-was-a-bad-idea