Pacquiao vs. Cotto

Firepower Pacquiao vs. Cotto Two Weeks Out

What are the fans' expectations from the Pacquiao – Cotto match?

The Pacquiao vs. Cotto mega-fight is just over two weeks away. The big night of course is Saturday, November 14, when both men will step into the ring in Las Vegas. The match has been eagerly anticipated for months and it has big implications for not just the welterweight division, but for the pound for pound rankings and the future competition for one Floyd Mayweather as well.

Leading up to the big Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto match fans have generally been lumped into just a few main groups. Here’s a look at how some fans are feeling about Pacquiao vs. Cotto as the fight approaches.

The Pro-Pacquiao Fans
Manny Pacquiao has a diehard group of fans, not just from his home country of the Philippines, but from around the world as well. Generally speaking, these fans would support Pacquiao and pick him to win regardless of the match-up. This fight against Miguel Cotto is no different, and people in this camp are eagerly awaiting a dominating Pacquiao performance.

The Pro-Cotto Fans
Miguel Cotto has his own diehard followers of course, most of which come from the island of Puerto Rico. What do they think about their hero’s chances against the pound for pound king? His size advantage, experience against bigger men and all-around skill set will win him the day without too much of a problem.

The “Pacquiao is Overrated” Camp
People in this group point to a few key pieces of evidence for their stance on Cotto and Pacquiao. The first is that Oscar De La Hoya was past his prime and weight drained. The second is that Ricky Hatton was past his prime and was recently planted into the canvas by Floyd Mayweather. This group of fans feels that all of the Pacquiao – Cotto hype has forgotten these facts, and is anticipating a rude awakening come November 14th.

However, should Pacquiao win they are ready to discredit with their third piece of evidence , that Pacquiao has forced Cotto to weigh in at a catch weight instead of the welterweight limit.

The “Cotto is Shot” Camp
We all saw how Antonio Margarito brutalized Miguel Cotto, and this group of fans feels strongly that there is no returning from that kind of beating. The subsequent shaky victory over Josh Clottey has done little to change their minds, and memories of Cotto’s scares at junior welterweight are all too prominent as well.

The Realists
Then we have a fifth and final group of fans, the realists. They can see everything from both sides, and ultimately want the best man to win so that the biggest fights can be made afterward. They recognize that Cotto has suffered a brutal loss, and has been less than his best since then. They also recognize that Pacquiao’s weight class jumping and contract stipulations raise some question marks.

Ultimately though, they want a good fight that brings positive attention to the sport of boxing. These fans want the winner of this match to be promptly put into the ring with Floyd Mayweather in what would easily be the biggest fight of the generation. These fans may be rooting for one fighter over the other, but they’ll be happy with any result that brings other fans out of their seats and sets up more exciting moments in the future. Count me a realist.

Pacquiao VS Cotto

Freddie Roach offers US$1,000 to anyone who can floor Manny Pacquiao

• Trainer challenges sparring partners to take on Filipino
• Pacquiao faces Miguel Cotto in LA on 14 November

Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has offered US$1,000 [£611] to any sparring partner that can knock down the Filipino.

Pacquiao, widely regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, started training on Tuesday at Hollywood's Wild Card club in Los Angeles ahead of his 14 November bout with the Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

"The money is still with me and I am telling the new sparring partners that they will be rewarded with $1,000 if they score a knockdown over Manny in sparring," Roach told the Manila Bulletin newspaper's website.

Pacquiao's last fight was his second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in May.

Pacquiao VS Cotto

Pacquiao vs. Cotto: Miguel Will Send Manny Into Retirement
By Manuel Perez

Manny Pacquiao is thinking he’s going to be fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometime next year, but I think World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is going to have a lot to say about that and I’m counting on Cotto beating Pacquiao bad and sending him into retirement rather than into mega fight with Mayweather. Cotto, 28, will be facing Pacquiao on November 14th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao and Cotto will be fighting with Miguel’s WBO welterweight title on the line at a 145 pound catch weight.

I still think it’s absurd to fight with the title on the line if there’s a limit that requires the champion Cotto from fighting at the normal weight for the belt. That is so wrong. It won’t matter, though, because Cotto is still going to beat the stuffing out of Pacquiao and will do badly enough where Pacquiao will have to retire rather than continue on. That’s my prediction!

Pacquiao has been beating up weight drained fighter like Oscar De La Hoya and nearly defenseless ones like Ricky Hatton. Now Pacquiao is facing a real threat and he’s going to have a real mess on his hands on November 14th, and I can’t wait to see Pacquiao getting beaten up.

It’s going to give me a lot of pleasure to see Pacquiao’s face getting rearranged by Cotto. I can’t express how much satisfaction I’m going to get watching Pacquiao get knocked down a peg. I just hope that Cotto does it slowly and methodically because I want the beating to last as long as possible.

If Cotto ends things too quickly, Pacquiao won’t suffer all that much and will likely still move ahead and take the fight with Mayweather in 2010. That rightfully be Cotto’s fight, but I know that Mayweather will probably still fight Pacquiao anyway, leaving Cotto, the victor, to have to scrape up whatever he can put together as far big money fights go.

Okay, so back to the beating. I want Cotto to focus on working over Pacquiao’s midsection, but he has to be careful that he doesn’t hit Pacquiao too hard because I don’t want Pacquiao flopping around on the canvas like a fish out of water, gasping for breath after Cotto lands a big body shot. Cotto needs to throw to the sides to make sure he doesn’t knock the air out of Pacquiao’s tiny body.

You can’t have the fight ending early from a body shot. I can just see the excuses that will role in on that one. ‘Ah, I was blinded by flash from a camera and, ah, didn’t see Cotto throwing to my stomach area.’ Next, after working over Pacquiao’s midsection, Cotto needs to go for the face. He’s got to hit him but no too hard. I want the eyes to puff, the lips to bleed and the nose to get flattened, but Cotto mustn’t try to brain Pacquiao with anything too hard because that will be letting him off the hook.

Source.

Pacquiao VS Cotto

The fight will take place in a 20-foot, and not 24-foot, ring.

Promoter Bob Arum today said that the Pacquiao/Cotto fight would be contested in a 20-foot ring, contradicting a report in Primera Hora yesterday in which Cotto's trainer, Joe Santiago, stated that it would be held in a 24-foot ring. Santiago was under the impression that the ring would be 24-feet square because that is apparently what Pacquiao's team requested in the negotiations. But the Nevada State Athletic Commission adheres to a standard ring size of 20 feet and rarely makes exceptions. Arum claims that he doesn't know where the rumor of a 24-foot ring started, but it's not true. Most observers believe that a larger ring would be to Pacquiao's advantage, allowing him more space to box against a fighter many deem to be much slower than him.

Freddie Roach says the fight will go the distance.

In this interview with David Tyler over at Doghouse Boxing, Freddie Roach predicts that Pac/Cotto will go the distance. "Cotto certainly has his hands full but he has some advantages against us," Freddie says. "By fight time he will be 20 pounds heavier than us. He will be the bigger, stronger fighter who is a very resilient guy. Of course he has started to cut lately and I’m hoping that will be a factor for us. Manny’s speed will bust him up a little bit, I hope. I just believe that Cotto is taking this fight more serious than any fight he has had."

No site yet determined for Pacquiao's training camp.

Because Pacquiao is unable to hold his entire training camp for the Cotto fight in the U.S., other sites are currently being sought by his team, although nothing has been decided yet. Cancun is supposedly high on the list of potential locations. Pacquiao wants to train in the Philippines, but Freddie Roach is against it, feeling that their would be far too many distractions for the native hero. When one considers that the fighter is currently over there shooting an action movie (his eighth action movie, actually), well, you kind of have to think Freddie might right about that. Speculation is rampant on the internet that the confused state of Pac's training plans and that the movie-star distractions may catch up with the mighty Filipino when facing a bigger fighter of Cotto's caliber, but for myself, I seriously doubt it. He's had distractions in his camps for years, and he always shows up on fight night focused and in tip-top shape. I've seen it with my own eyes - the guy has a Jedi-like quality in the midst of chaos.

Anticipation high for press tour kicking off at Yankee Stadium.

The first official presser for the fight will be a gala event, open to the public and held at Yankee Stadium on September 10. It's well-known that members of the Yankees are Pacquiao fans, including Derek Jeter, who likely will be ringside for the Pac/Cotto fight. From New York, the press tour moves to Cotto's hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico on September 12, and then moves to AT&T Park in San Francisco on September 13 with an open-to-the-public event after a Giants/Dodgers game. The tour concludes with a press-only event in L.A. on September 14.
***
I think this fight will end in round 8 with Pacquiao gnashing Cotto.

Firepower: Pacquiao VS Cotto

FIREPOWER: Pacquiao vs Cotto

Jerry Glick reporting: Top Rank knows how to put out a good product. Whether it be a fight or a press conference, they know what they’re doing. On Thursday, September 10, Bob Arum, Lee Samuels, and the rest of the promotional team invited the media and the public to the new Yankee Stadium to launch the five city tour to hype one of the best matchups in a while, “FIREPOWER”, WBO World Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto, 34-1 (27 KOs), of Puerto Rico facing the pound for pound king, Manny Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 KOs), from the Philippines in a twelve round title fight on November 14, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It will be broadcast, live, on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Not only was there glory from baseball at Yankee Stadium, but boxing has a history there as well. Back on June 22, 1938, Joe Louis fought what felt like at the time the first battle of WWII, when he gained revenge for his only, at the time, loss in a boxing ring when he stopped Max Schmeling in a round in the house that Ruth built. On June 26, 1959 unbeaten Ingemar Johansson shocked Floyd Patterson and the world as he scored seven knockdowns in the third round, finally halting Patterson in that round annexing the heavyweight title. Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, and others graced the grand old stadium with their skills. On Thursday, boxing was alive in the new stadium as it was used to announce the Cotto vs Pacquiao fight.

Also at stake will be the WBC Diamond Belt to be presented to the winner who will own the jewel encrusted belt outright. On hand to show off the impressive hardware was Mauricio Sulaiman, the Executive Secretary of the WBC.

“The WBC realizing how momentous and important this fight is,” announced Arum. “Has commissioned what we call a diamond belt to be given to the winner of this fight to keep forever.”

The outdoor presser succeeded in spite of often high winds as we sat in, on, and behind the Yankee dugout along the first base line. As usual Arum took the helm and after explaining all the details of the event brought out the fighters, including New York’s, by way of Belarus, Junior-Middleweight challenger, undefeated Yuri Foreman, 27-0-0-1N/C (8 KOs), who fights veteran title holder Daniel Santos, 32-3-1 (23 KOs), for his WBA belt on the undercard.

Arum proclaimed the Cotto-Pacquiao a sure bet for fight of the year.

“We’re here in Yankee Stadium,” said the ever fired up Arum, “to kick off the first press conference for what will certainly be the fight of the year, and maybe the fight of the decade.”

Fact is he may be right. It’s true that is in his vested interest to say that, on paper, this is a war. Not the explosive kind where you are warned not to blink, but one that will be a sustained battle of super fighters.

FREDDIE ROACH

I am not sure who the more confident person was; was it Pacman or his trainer Freddy Roach? Both acted as though the winner was a foregone conclusion. Pacquiao joked when he grabbed the Diamond belt, but I’m not so sure he didn’t mean it. Even their training has a super confident feel to it. Pacman has not really begun yet. “He started running a couple of days ago,” said the man who is the most respected trainer in boxing. “He’s getting in shape a little bit. We start camp on the 20th, which gives us an eight week training camp which is normal for Manny Pacquiao. Once we get to camp he’s like a machine, I have trouble slowing him down. He averages 44 rounds per day.”

Training camp will be in the Philippines, according to Roach.

As far as him taking Cotto lightly goes Roach assured me that that was not happening.

“Never,” he said emphatically. “He respects everybody.”

Roach called his man the greatest workhorse he’s ever seen. “He trains his ass off,” proclaimed Roach.

They are preparing a game plan, of course, for Cotto. Freddy admitted that while there are things that they intend to take advantage of in the Puerto Rican’s style, “There are things that we have to look out for too,” explained Roach. “We can’t let this guy land that left hook. He has a great left hook.”

He has brought in sparing partners who can help Manny avoid that punch, “We’re going to be well prepared.”

MIGUEL COTTO

There is something about Cotto that convinces one of his confidence, but it is a calm, relaxed sort of a business in his case. Not almost jovial as is Pacquiao, just a worry free posture.

He sounds ready mentally.

“I try to prepare myself enough to capitalize on every mistake that he makes in the ring,” said Cotto.

It’s true that he almost ran from the 140 pound class because of weight issues, but when I asked him about his agreement to a catch weight he assured me that it was not an issue.

“In my last fight I weighed 146,” he pointed out. “If I work another fifteen minutes, twenty minutes I can make this weight.”

Cotto believes that when it comes to comparing opponents and strength its advantage Cotto.

“De La Hoya was on his last steps in a ring,” said Cotto. “Pacquiao coming from 126 and he thinks he’s going to be stronger than I am.”

At the same time he respects the Pacman’s victories in the ring over De La Hoya, Eric Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Ricky Hatton. “I don’t think he is over rated,” added Cotto.

Speaking of ratings, Has little use for the pound for pound title. How important would it be for him to be considered the number one pound for pound fighter after beating the Pacman on November 14th? According to Cotto, not very much.

“I never fight for that,” said Cotto. “I just fight for my family. This is my work; I have four kids and one wife to support, and they come first. I’m here to do my best and everybody knows that the people who write about boxing they create a list who they made pound for pound. They can put Miguel Cotto in any position that they want.”

In speaking to Pacquiao it is clear that he relies on his speed. Cotto does not see that as an obstacle to victory.

“I am used to preparing myself for anything that can happen in the ring,” said Cotto. He is training in Tampa, Florida because of its proximity to his home in Puerto Rico. This, he feels will make it an easy and quick commute to home family or to fly them to Florida.

As far as the Pacman’s thoughts on the importance of speed, I asked him what he would say to Floyd Mayweather if he were asked to advise Floyd on how to beat Marquez.

“He would have to use his speed,” was the very sound advice from the man who knows. He said that his own advantage in a fight against Cotto is his speed.

PUNCHLINES

Yuri Foreman told everyone an interesting tidbit; his name, Yuri, is interpreted from Hebrew to English as George. Yes, he is George Foreman!

Yankee COO Lonn Trost made reference to all the great events that happened in Yankee Stadium. I know that we refer to Madison Square Garden as though all of its events happened in the same arena when we all know that the one that we go to today is not the same venue where Joe Louis plied his trade decades ago, but somehow looking at the ghost of that house that Ruth built standing ominously, across the street, covered in protective netting not unlike a shroud, all that this reporter could think of is that the blood of Louis, Patterson, and Moore, the men Trost mentioned as having fought in his Stadium, spilled, not where we stood, but across the street.

Oh, the new Yankee Stadium is wonderful. Great things will happen there, but the history happened elsewhere.

On hand to watch the festivities were former Cotto foes Joshua Clottey and Paulie Malignaggi.

Both Cotto and Pacman were presented with Yankee Pinstripe shirts.
***
Big fight it is. And I'll go for Pacman.

Pacquiao VS Cotto

Let him run, attack - either way he loses, says Pacquiao
Philstar.com

SAN FRANCISCO — Manny Pacquiao has already drawn up the scenarios for his Nov. 14 title fight with Miguel Cotto.

As he waited for the nine-hour flight out of San Juan, Puerto Rico to San Francisco via Atlanta yesterday, the Filipino crowd-drawer bared his deeper thoughts on the upcoming fight.

“Magandang laban (Good fight),” said Pacquiao, comfortably seated at the departure area, just after he had finished reading a few pages of the book “Builder of Dreams” by Antonio Meloto.

“Eto, ah, sasabihin ko sa inyo (This, I will tell you),” he continued.

“Tatakbo sa akin yan. If I press the fight I’m sure he would run. At kapag naghintay naman ako, papasok yan (And if I wait, he’ll come in),” said the reigning pound-for-pound champion.

In short, Pacquiao thinks that either way would be to his advantage, considering that he has both the speed, to catch Cotto somewhere along the way, and the power to put him down.

“Ganyan ang mangyayari, tumakbo man siya or pumasok siya, okay sa akin,” said Pacquiao, his pre-game analysis cut short by a line of Puerto Rican fans wanting to take pictures with him.

From fellow passengers to airport personnel and even the police, all of them wanted to be close to Pacquiao. One of them said, “I may be the only Puerto Rican rooting for you. Believe me. You’re a great fighter.”

It was around three in the afternoon, and a couple of hours earlier Pacquiao and Cotto were at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas, right in the heart of the WBO champion’s hometown.

More than a thousand packed the theater, and they cheered wildly as Pacquiao and Cotto made a dramatic entrance, slowly rising through a hydraulic box that had kept them beneath an elevated stage.

Key members of both camps, along with some Puerto Rican officials, were introduced by Top Rank president Bob Arum.

Cotto, in an elegant brown suit, spoke in Spanish and was cheered on, while Pacquiao, more casual in a white shirt, blue jeans and running shoes, spoke in English.

Even the Puerto Ricans cheered him on, and there were even chants of “Man-ny! Man-ny!” as he took the microphone. He said, “I’m sure you will all root for Cotto because he’s your countryman. But thank you for supporting me, too.”

Before their explosive stage appearance, Pacquiao and Cotto held separate interviews in separate rooms with the Puerto Rican media. Cotto came with his lovely wife and four kids, while Pacquiao was with his lean entourage.

At one point, however, they ended up in the same room when they were not supposed to, and Pacquiao sat beside Cotto, shaking hands and again smiling, talking to one another like they were old friends.

Pacquiao and his men checked in at the trendy El San Juan Hotel and Casino past midnight Friday, and checked out of the hotel by the beach before 10 a.m. headed to the press conference and straight to the airport.

A line of black, heavily-tinted Ford Excursions, with burly bodyguards in dark suits, brought Pacquiao and Cotto to the arts center, and the convoy, with police motorcycle escorts, drove swiftly for 45 minutes like it was carrying the President.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, did most of the talking during the interview, and faced tough questions on the schedule of their training which won’t start until Sept. 21 in Baguio City, while Cotto has been training for four weeks now.

“No one dictates our time but Manny and me. If they already started I don’t care. I know my job and we know what we’re doing,” said Roach.

“We’ll be in great shape and we’ll be ready to go 12 rounds. We want to take the rounds one at a time and if the knockout comes then it comes. We know he (Cotto) has a good chin but we’re gonna take away his advantage and use ours,” he added.

Pacquiao could only agree.
***
Wish it's Pacquiao-Cotto fight because it's gonna be a big fight.
Check out more of the latest update on Pacquio VS Cotto boxing fight.

Pacquiao VS Cotto

No rift with Roach: Pacman prefers Baguio training for Cotto tiff
By Abac Cordero

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao yesterday cleared the air as to where and when he’d like to start training for his upcoming fight with Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao also said there’s no rift between him and his chief trainer, Freddie Roach, and they’d finalize the training schedule during the fight’s press tour next week.

Then the reigning pound-for-pound champion said Baguio remains as his choice as training headquarters. In fact, he said his Filipino trainer, Buboy Fernandez, is now up in Baguio.

“He’s up there to check the facilities,” said Pacquiao of the country’s summer capital, chilly most of the year, around 150 miles north of Manila and 1,500 meters above sea level.

Roach said Baguio is not an ideal place to train because of the distractions (too many fans and tourists), and has offered a secluded resort in Toluca, Mexico, instead.

Bob Arum of Top Rank wants Vancouver, but in the end it’s Pacquiao who makes the call, and as it is, it’s Baguio for the main bulk of his training for the Nov. 14 title fight with Cotto.

Pacquiao said he will discuss things with Roach when they hook up next week for the press tour in New York, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

“Then maybe from there he can come along with me, and we’d start training in Baguio. It won’t be short. Kailangan niya pumunta dito (He needs to come here),” said Pacquiao.

He said eight weeks should be enough to get him in top shape for the fight, and said the last three weeks he might move to the Wild Card Gym in LA for the final push.

“I understand our countrymen or my fans feeling worried about my training. I want to assure them that I’m not taking it for granted. I know myself. I know that eight weeks should do it,” he added.

Pacquiao faced the press yesterday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas and announced his latest partnership with Solar Sports, led by Wilson Tieng and Peter Chanliong, regarding a new promotional outfit.

Together, they’re setting up an outfit that would help promote more Filipino fighters for fights overseas.

“Basically we’ll engage in the business of production, promotion and distribution of boxing shows to the world market, not only here in the Philippines. We have a lot of boxers who can fight on an international scale,” said Chanliong.

The Solar Sports chief operating officer said the outfit, which will be named soon, will not have any direct clash with the Manny Pacquiao Promotions which “has its own business.”

Chanliong said that in the new outfit, Pacquiao will be the “chairman and the boss” and that we’ll help “Manny make more money” as if Pacquiao is not yet close to being a Filipino billionaire.

“More money?” Pacquiao cut in.

He also said he’s now at 150 lb which is just five pounds off the catchweight agreed upon by both boxers.

“No problem,” he added, just enough to assure everyone that there’s really none.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao got another promotion in the army reserve force, this time being installed as sergeant major of his unit.

From being a master sergeant, Pacquiao was promoted to the rank of senior master sergeant, the second highest rank for enlisted personnel.

“Master Sgt. Manny Pacquiao was given the rank of Sergeant Major for the 15th Ready Reserve Division of the Philippine Army,” said Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, army spokesman.

Pacquiao was also awarded the Outstanding Achievement Medal for the honor he has given the country in his past fights and serving as inspirations for many of the Filipinos, Burgos said.

In his speech, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who also attended the event, said that the boxing champ, instead of joining other civic organizations decided to “volunteer for Team AFP and don the military uniform where he could be of service to the country.”

He said that his fights are no longer a quest for personal achievement, but for the honor of the country that is truly proud of his feats in sports.

“Even groups who are fighting against each other stop just to watch Manny fight,” he said. with report from James Mananghaya.
***
Another must see fight by pacman.
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And still!... It's the Hawaiian Punch

Viloria’s Made-for-TV Performance
Dennis Principe

Based on the scorecards, world light flyweight champion Brian Viloria strutted his stuff in a seemingly dominating fashion that made Mexican challenger Jesus “El Azul" Iribe look like he was beaten black and blue, at least for those who failed to watch the GMA-7 telecast.

The official scores of the 12-round bout read 118-110, 117-112 and 117-111, all for Viloria, which means Iribe won three rounds, at most, in the Honolulu, Hawaii card dubbed “Island Assault."

For boxing purists who saw the fight, the point of discussion may well be the 12th and final round when Viloria, already way ahead on points, decided to fight toe-to-toe, thus giving Iribe one final chance to steal a win and ruin Viloria’s goal of giving boxing a rumbling resurgence in the volcanic island.

Strategically, the Waipahu-raised Viloria may have done a foolish decision in the 12th canto as all he needed to do was, metaphorically speaking, go island-hopping and eventually enjoy the fruits of his labor.

But Viloria had other things in mind, something that may have boosted his stock and realize his personal aspiration for Hawaii boxing.

Thanks to Manny Pacquiao, boxing nowadays is about giving fans toe-to-toe action that has to be punctuated by a knockout.

Sure, Viloria may have failed to score an emphatic stoppage but his decision to slug it out in the final round, given the fact he was way ahead, proves that he has the unyielding will of admired champions in the class of Pacquiao.

Boxing is about business and when you talk of business in boxing, you talk of selling tickets, pay-per-view buys and free TV advertisements. That can only be realized by giving fight fans what they want - explosive endings.

Many thinks Viloria adhered to the adage of boxing “protect yourself at all times" in the most modern, suited-for-TV way.

That Viloria indeed protected his stature as a modern-day world champion who won't just sit on big leads but will instead always go for a knockout at any given time.

That fittingly, the thrilling 12th round was the Hawaiian Punch’s cherry on a sundae. - GMANews.TV
***
Congratulations to the Hawaiian Punch.
More of the fight review.

What If Cotto BEATS Pacquiao?

I won't be surprised if Cotto beats Pacquiao
by Dennis "dSource" Guillermo

It befuddles me how a lot of people are giving Manny Pacquiao such a big edge against Miguel Cotto. To me, this fight is an absolute toss-up. If I was a Miguel Cotto fan, I'd bet on Cotto since the odds in Las Vegas have him as a 2-1 underdog.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Miguel Cotto is Pacquiao's toughest challenge to date. He is naturally so much bigger (with the exception of the washed-up Oscar De la Hoya) and stronger than anybody Pacquiao has had to face. In terms of skill, Cotto will be able to give Pacquiao fits. Cotto is a very good counter puncher in his own rite and throws textbook sweet punches from all angles.

Before Pacquiao fans jump at me without fully comprehending the context of this column, allow me to state my case. See, I am by no means belittling Pacquiao's capabilities, what I am trying to say however is that Cotto is definitely the biggest mountain Pacquiao will have to climb. To me, he is far more dangerous than Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao's past two performances against De la Hoya and Ricky Hatton were incredible indeed and Pacquiao deserves all the credit in the world he gets from both feats. Cotto though, is in a totally different league from those last two guys Pacquiao beat. Call him damaged goods all you want, but to me that is a myth. Had Cotto faced the same De la Hoya and Hatton Pacquiao did, I have no doubt he would've came away with similar results.

Cotto's true weakness for me however is his heart. A confident Cotto is a different fighter compared to a hesitant and pressured version of him. When in doubt and backed up, Cotto wavers and second-guesses himself. That's the reason why I think he quit against Margarito, and the reason why he faded against Clottey after sustaining a nasty cut from a head-butt. Against Pacquiao, he will be fighting someone whom he will have to kill before he gives up. On Pacquiao's part, he will really need all his heart can muster to beat Cotto.

Pacquiao keeps coming. When hurt, "The Pacman" pounds his fists and goes to work. His granite chin will be put to the test against a legitimate welterweight but not more than how Cotto's will be tested by a true knockout artist. If I were Cotto right now, I'd have someone ocassionaly hit the right side of my face with a baseball bat so I can get used to Pacquiao's game finishing left fist.

If Cotto survives all the best Pacquiao throws at him and fights the way he does against overmatched oppoenents, his skill and size advantage may very well be more than enough to beat the pound-for-pound king. If Juan Manuel Marquez's right was able to stagger Pacquiao a year ago, a perfectly placed counter punch by Cotto on an unsuspecting and attacking Pacquiao can definitely lay the Pacman out.

This fight is simply too intriguing and too close for me to predict and besides, it's still too early to do all of that anyway.

If I based it solely on size, strength, skill, talent and their capabilites, I might even say Cotto has a slight edge, but what most people fail to put proper value in the equation is Pacquiao's tenacity, heart and ferocity. He comes at you in a way only "Iron Mike" Tyson reminds me back in his hay days. It will also be interesting to see how Cotto will fight and react to a passionate and boisterous crowd that will be rooting against him. Most of his fights were enjoyed in the comforts of the Madison Square Garden in New York in front of a pro-Puerto Rican crowd.

Don't hate Pauli Malignaggi for favoring Cotto to beat Pacquiao by KO when he said "the guy (Cotto) hits like a beast." Cotto did afterall make him taste defeat. What Malignaggi hasn't seen however, is a devil of a fighter like Pacquiao in the ring. He may know Cotto to be a beast but Pacquiao is definitely a beast slayer. Pacquiao can definitely slaughter the biggest beasts with the power in his fists and his blinding speed.

With that said, in a story-book ending, the hero likely kills the beast. This is reality however- boxing of all things- all I'm saying is that I would not be surprised if this time the beast actually eats the hero's head off. Anything can happen, that's why this fight is so intriguing and that's why it's already sold out. It's going to be explosive and exciting unlike other mega-fights that rely on hype and advertising. And just like ticket buyers and fight fans alike, I simply could not wait to see this epic.

***
I'll still bet for Pacman
What do you think? Check this out..

Donaire VS Concepcion

Breaking Down the Donaire vs Concepcion Fight
By Allan Tolentino

On August 15th Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (win 21 (KO 14) - lost 1 - draw 0) current IBF and IBO flyweight champion will square off against Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion (win 13 (KO 8) –lost 3 – draw 1) former WBA interim superflyweight champion, in what was billed as PINOY POWER2. Without further ado, let’s look at each fighter closely by examining their previous fights.

When the name Rafael Concepcion's name is brought up, it reminds me of the gutsy guy who won over AJ “Bazooka” Banal, and the fighter who gave Jorge “El Travieso” Arce one tough fight. Too bad I wasn't able to find any videos of Concepcion's last two fight werein he won against
Emerson Nisperusa via 2nd round TKO and against Kermin Guardia via 8-round unanimous decision. Concepcion is a slugger that keeps going forward, swinging and winging those left hooks, and looping right punches. He likes to fight on the inside, banging the body regularly and will keep throwing those clubbing punches to the head. You will rarely see Concepcion throw straight left jabs or right straights. And I’ve never seen Concepcion fight from the outside.

When Rafael fought AJ Banal, Banal lost that fight mainly because of Banal’s doing. Banal just let Concepcion come to him and allowed to get hit to the body ever since the early rounds. It may not have an effect during the early stages of the fight, but any fight fan knows an accumulation of hits to the body will soon wear any fighter down. And that’s exactly what happened. By the 10th round, AJ Banal’s legs looks like made of jelly. As credit to Rafael Concepcion, he kept coming forward, relentless in his attacks. He kept punching and pounding eventhough he gets hit on a regular basis. Concepcion’s punch to Banal’s temple was just icing on the cake of Banal’s own destruction. Banal took a knee and shook his head gesturing that he resigned from the fight.

In the Arce fight against Concepcion, Rafael was actually winning the fight in the early stages of that encounter. He was hitting Arce with those wild left hooks and right hands. And I’ve seen Jorge Arce get rocked numerous times when Rafael Concepcion was able to hit him. From a fight fans’ point of view, Rafael seems to put his full weight in his punches to put more power into his strikes. Those kinds of punches coming from Concepcion are what staggered Arce during the initial stanzas of their fight. Though they look heavy, they don’t seem to “sting” Arce. Some guys can throw flickering punches that doesn’t look that heavy, yet can sting their opponents and knock them out (think Muhammad Ali and Manny Pacquiao). Some guys, like Concepcion, would hit their opponents with heavy punches, yet the effect would be like “clubbing and pushing” kind of hits. Although Arce got rocked and staggered on numerous occasions in that fight, he was never really in trouble and was able to shake those hits off. Although Arce did got hit, Jorge Arce showed that he has more defensive skills than Concepcion and was able to duck, slip and counter many of Rafael’s punches. Rafael Concepcion was eating all those left hooks and right
straights Arce was throwing at him. I didn’t see any defense whatsoever displayed by Concepcion in that fight. No head and body movements, no bobbing and weaving, no parrying and blocking, no slipping and no quick footwork, nadda! He just kept coming forward receiving Jorge Arce’s punches just to deliver punishment coming from his side. He tries to make his offense his best defense. And he just goes backwards when he is taking punishments. Rafael Concepcion threw power shots after power shots in that fight, that’s why he was winning up to the round 6. By the 7th round, Rafael Concepcion seemed to be punched out. He was panting,
breathing from his mouth, holding and trying to move away. This prompted Arce to step up his attack that made Concepcion’s eyes swell and shut. By the end of round 9, the fight had to be stopped because Concepcion cannot see from his swollen eyes.

How well will Rafael Concepcion do against a counter-puncher in the character of Nonito Donaire? Let’s take a look at Donaire closely.

On the other hand, Nonito Donaire gained prominence when he knocked out the previously undefeated slugger in the form of Vic Darchinyan to win the IBF and IBO flyweight titles. And in his next 3 fights after that was nothing short of impressive. His counter-punching style is reminds me of Juan Manuel Marquez with a certain “Pinoy flavor”.

Nonito dominated Luis Maldonado from the beginning of their fight using his ring smarts, accurate counter-punching and effective footwork. He punished Maldonado, causing cuts above Luis' both eyes. Donaire dropped Maldonado in the 7th round of the fight with a wicked looping left hook. In round 8, Nonito kept pounding Maldonado and the referee called a halt to the fight.

In the Mthalane fight, proved to be a tougher fight for Nonito. Moruti Mthalane was a game fighter who keeps coming forward. Again, Nonito showed superior defensive skills and counter-punching. In round 6, Nonito hit Mthalane with a perfectly timed left hook that connected to the eye which caused a deep cut. Later on, the cut was examined by the ring physician and called a halt to the fight.

Raul Martinez was undefeated when he fought Nonito Donaire. Yet again, Nonito Donaire displayed brilliant counter-punching skills, with accuracy and power. Donaire knocked out Martinez in only 4rounds of their fight.

How will the fight goes down this weekend between Nonito Donaire vs Rafael Concepcion?

This shall be Rafael Concepcion's chance to show the world that he is a contender in the sport. He will be the hungrier fighter in this encounter. But if styles make fights, Rafael Concepcion's style is tailor fit for Nonito Donaire. Seeing Rafael get hit regularly by those left hooks from Banal and Arce, Nonito's single left hook can knock out a "Raging Bull"! Nonito's punches are text book execution. The power comes from firm stable stance and leg movements, momentum
travels through the hips and torso, then end up with damaging power into the punching fists, delivered in less than a split second. Each one of Nonito's punches both left and right can sting, unlike Rafael's heavy punches that club and push. Nonito will box smartly in this fight and punish Rafael with those left hooks, uppercut and shots to the body. I don't see this fight going the full distance. Early to mid rounds KO win by Donaire.

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Can't wait to watch this fight.
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