Pacquiao vs Cotto: Fight Recap... PACQUIAO RULES

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.

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Cotto is Pacquiao’s Mayweather

By Francisco Hernandez: When Manuel Pacquiao refused to fight Juan Manuel Marquez a third time, Marquez decided to chase Pacquiao into the lightweight and then the Welterweight divisions, hoping to either outshine the Pacman or shame him into a third fight.

Marquez didn’t waste time with small fights or has-been fighters, he wanted big fights that could make the most money and deliver the most prestige. In the lightweight division he challenged and knocked-out two great champions, dangerous fighters who had dominated the lightweight division: Joel Casamayor, and Juan Diaz. When MannyPacquiao moved up to the lightweight division he challenged a club fighter named David Diaz.

Again when Marquez moved up to challenge the Welterweights he called out Mayweather. Mayweather is a fighter who outmatched Marquez dramatically in both size and speed.Juan Manuel could have chosen easier opponents but he decided to go against a great risk in Mayweather. On the other hand Manny chose to go against the husk of Oscar de la Hoya. In his next fight Manny comatosed the over-rated brit Ricky Hatton.

All this is not to say that Manuel Pacquiao is not an excellent fighter. Despite the low level at which Oscar and Hatton had fallen, the way in which Pacquiao disposed of them was phenomenal. This is the characteristic that makes Manny Pacquiao so exciting, no one else in boxing today disposes of opponents the way Manny Pacquiao does. In his last three fights Manny has dished out severe one-way beatings.

Now Manny has chosen to fight a real risk, Miguel Cotto, just like Mayweather was a real risk for Juan Manuel Marquez. Cotto is a bigger and stronger man, who is at the top of his game. He is younger than Pacquiao and is in top physical shape. Cotto has the boxing technique needed to neutralize Manny’s speed, as he demonstrated against Judah and more emphatically against Shane Mosley. Cotto also has a granite chin. He took the punch of a Clotty who looks like a light-heavy weight. Cotto could not be knocked out by what were probably the plaster reinforced hands of Margarito.

The great Marquez took a high risk against Mayweather and although he failed to pull it off, he fought with great dignity, forcing Mayweather to fight out of a turtle shell; Mayweather was forced to rely on pot shots and was never able to mount a sustained offensive against Marquez. Marquez lost the fight because he didn’t have the power or the speed to mount an offensive himself to force Mayweather out of his turtle-shell. Now Manny is facing his own high risk in the form ofMiguel Cotto. This is truly the defining fight for Manny Pacquiao whether it is in defeat or victory. In Cotto, Manny is facing the first fighter who has all the advantages over Manny. By logic, Cotto simply cannot be overcome by Manny.

Manny has been tested in three tough fights, the first fight against Eric Morales (where he was defeated) and the two fights againstJuan Manuel Marquez (tie, split decision). In those fights Manny demonstrated a great heart and looked admirably even in defeat. But in those fights Manny was on level ground. Against Cotto Manny will be fighting uphill.

If Manual Pacquiao does the impossible which is to defeat Miguel Cotto, then he will have cemented his place amongst the great fighters. If Manny loses with dignity then he will not lose any of his hard won admiration. If Manny comes apart at the seams, is dismantled by Cotto, then he will have shown that he was not a fighter up for heroic tasks.

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Cotto to go in first or late rounds - Roach

By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 05, 2009 12:00 AM

HOLLYWOOD – Freddie Roach is putting a thousand bucks that Manny Pacquiao stops Miguel Cotto right in the opening round.

He thinks it could happen. He wants it to happen.

“I’m just saying it’s a possibility. And if we hurt him early we’ll finish him. He’s been hurt early many times,” said Roach at his Wild Card Gym Tuesday after steering Pacquiao to eight rounds of sparring on a surprisingly hot California afternoon.

Roach has been calling for a first-round knockout for Pacquiao on Nov. 14, and said in case it fails, he also put in a thousand bucks each on rounds nine and 10. A reporter said he’d take the cue so he’d make some money.

“Me, too,” was the quick answer from the hottest trainer in boxing today.
As Pacquiao took the backdoor out of the gym, after more than two hours of heavy workout, Roach talked to scribes from Manila. He was showed a photo of a shirt-less Cotto, a shot that was taken just hours earlier at the LB4LB Gym somewhere in LA.

“He likes tattoos and we’re going to put tattoos on his face, too,” said Roach, still at it in trying to throw the WBO welterweight champion from Puerto Rico off. Slowly but surely he’s been succeeding.

“He said it hasn’t (affected him) but he’s been talking about it. I’m just saying he has many fundamental mistakes,” added Roach of Cotto, a natural welterweight (147) but someone who might have difficulty making the catchweight of 145 lb.

“I tell you what I watched his fights when he still had hair and he’s a pretty good fighter. But in his fights with no hair he showed mistakes. His mistakes? He tells you when he’s coming in. This is going to be a Ricky Hatton fight all over again,” said Roach.

By this time, Pacquiao was stuck somewhere inside his favorite Thai restaurant downstairs, grabbing a bite and surrounded by friends and some pretenders too overzealous to keep the scribes from Manila from entering.

He sparred eight rounds against Ray Beltran and Urbano Antillon, and raised his total to 138 rounds. Roach said sparring continues with six rounds on Thursday, four on Saturday and probably three or four more on Monday, the day the team pushes to Las Vegas.

No media was allowed in as Pacquiao sparred.

Pacquiao looked spent coming out of the gym, but had time to have a picture taken with a fan, a little girl who had waited for more than three hours out front to get a glimpse of the Pinoy icon. He was smiling even if you knew he was tired.

Roach said he likes where they’re at right now.

“Eight rounds today then down to six and four. He’s ready and he’s back to normal after some distractions in Manila where everybody wants a piece of him of course. He’s been into some great sparring. He’s happy and he’s okay. And I’m happy, too. He’s where I want him to be,” said the trainer.

Roach repeated what he said a few days ago that if Cotto, who will be fined $1 million for every excess pound, goes in over 147 then he would call the fight off.

“He should be able to make it. But I really don’t care what he weighs. The contract is the contract. We’ll deal with it as it comes. If he’s too heavy there’ll be no fight,” he said, however, adding that Manny might go the opposite way.

“Manny doesn’t give a shit. Manny will fight him at any weight. Manny will fight King Kong,” said Roach, then asked how much he’s putting into the fight.

“I put a thousand in the first round then I put a thousand on rounds nine and 10,” said Roach.

He wasn’t joking.

Notes: Manny Pacquiao came out smiling, waving to his fans when he was called in by the host, Jimmy Kimmel. He was greeted with chants of “Manny! Manny!” from the Filipinos among the audience. Kimmel, a very popular talk show host here in LA, the program being aired live from Hollywood Boulevard, was quick to realize that Pacquiao had too many fans, and said, “I don’t want you to think this is a fight because I don’t want to get punched.” Then he asked the Filipino fighter if he preferred to be called “The Mexecutioner” or “Pacman,” and the 30-year-old ring icon answered, “Just Pacman.” That set the tone for his first and very successful appearance in a live program beamed nationwide. He was asked if he ever played the computer game, which he was named after, and he said he did when he was young, but that the only other Pacman he knows now is his three-year-old Jack Rusell Terrier. He did bring the house down, especially when he belted out Dan Hill’s “Sometimes When We Touch” live. The fans just went crazy, and Kimmel rose from his chair to give the boxer a hug. It surely won’t be the last of Pacquiao’s appearance on US television.

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Miguel Cotto: Can he be denied?

Boxing Examiner | Vivek Wallace

The career of Miguel Cotto has been a very storied one in such a short period of time.

For years, he was viewed as a heavily protected fighter, sheltered by the arms of a promoter who knew exactly how to map out his future, despite the rumblings of fans who felt he was little more than a manufactured Puerto Rican hype, anxious to grab what was left of the islands rich history in the sport.

In the 140lb jr. welterweight ranks, many saw Cotto struggle at times, partly due to a chin that the public perceived as more porcelin than powerful.

Silently, while they all sat back and formulated thoughts that now amount to very little, the Puerto Rican banger has somehow figured it all out.

Gone are the days of questioned stamina, present are the days of world class endurance. Gone are the remnants of questionable opposition, present is a resume that proves precisely why he now stands on the stage he now stands.

At 147lbs, bar none, there is no more legitimate fighter anywhere in the sport.

In his last 11 fights, Cotto has only fought 3 men who some would view as minimal test, (Branco, Urkal, and Jennings). That laundry list of dominant foes dominated includes the likes of powerful Colombian Ricardo Torres, speedy Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, and Shane Mosley.

He has developed what was once average boxing skills into what can now be viewed as a very thorough ability, as evidenced by his destruction of slick boxers like Malignaggi and Carlos Quintana, a man who owns the dubious distinction of being the only fighter to date to defeat the awkward Paul Williams.

As we take a trip down memory lane and bring things back full circle in the career of Miguel Cotto, we ask, does the lessons learned in years of the past help him at all against the man he'll be confronted with on November 14th?

Pacquiao has demonstrated more ability and fire than nearly all of those men, but what he hasn't demonstrated is the ability to accomplish such feats against a man that not only carries more power, but is also younger, and truly in his prime.

This defining moment in the career of Cotto may serve as a breeding ground to remove all the pain from the past; but it won't come easy.

Manny Pacquiao is determined to prove yet again why he is the sports pound-for-pound king. But Miguel Cotto is a man on a mission that won't be denied. Considering that someone has to lose, the operative question today is will he (be denied)? Or better yet, can he?

We'll find out in less than two weeks.

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No stopping Manny's jet-setters...

BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR

MALACAÑANG cannot restrain government officials if they decide to fly to Las Vegas for the match between Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on Nov. 15 (Manila time).

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said all they could do is remind everyone, including those in charge of approving travel orders and leaves, to be strict and conscious that these leaves and travels "should not just be spent for the purpose of watching such an activity."

"There is a need for us to be considerate of our resources. In my case for example, being the one authorized to issue travel authority, I will assure the public that I will not be very liberal in giving authorization for those asking to go just to see the fight of Pacquiao," he said.

Reports said deputy national security adviser Luis Singson filed an official leave for a medical checkup abroad. He’ll still be in the US by the time the fight is held.

Ermita said he is not aware about Singson’s plans but stressed Cabinet members, including elected officials, are entitled to seek official leave.

"That is one of the reasons that they can submit, they can go on leave, they’re entitled, they already earned that. So that’s one reason or baka naman meron silang tinapat na lang nila, meron silang medical check up sa Amerika, kanila na lamang, kanilang itinapat. These are possibilities, pero it’s not something you can tie a rope around their waist and say hey you cannot leave," he said.

Speaker Prospero Nograles defended himself and some congressmen who are expected to watch the bout in Las Vegas, saying they would miss only one session day which is Monday, when sessions resume after the Halloween break.

"Well I think the ones who will go Vegas are the regulars and will not miss sessions because they leave Thursday afternoon and be back Tuesday morning so they may miss only one session day, Monday, which is privilege hour day," he said.

Nograles is leading a House contingent to Washington to meet with counterparts in the US Congress to discuss areas of legislative cooperation on issues that affects both the US and the Philippines, such as the economy, peace and order and human rights particularly in Mindanao.

Nograles said he has no reason not to watch the bout because he has "never missed his (Pacquiao’s) fights."

"I am part of the team (Pacquiao) especially because he comes from Mindanao and has residence in my district in Davao," he said.

Nograles said he does not know how many congressmen will fly to Las Vegas because they will be spending their own money. – With Wendell Vigilia

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Cotto: I'm still on the up

Miguel Cotto has brushed off suggestions that his defeat to Antonio Margarito last year has affected his confidence.

The 29-year-old was previously unbeaten but surprisingly lost his WBA welterweight title to the Mexican in a brutal encounter that was stopped in the 11th round.

Cotto returned with an easy victory against over-matched Briton Michael Jennings, before struggling to a narrow points victory over Joshua Clottey, despite putting the Ghanaian on the floor early in the fight.

However, the Puerto Rican fought much of the fight with a bad cut following a clash of heads and while he now approaches the biggest fight of his career against Manny Pacquiao on November 14, Margarito has since lost to veteran Shane Mosley.

Not only that, the Mexican was subsequently banned after being found to have 'loaded wraps' following the loss, something that, while never proved, could have affected the outcome of the Cotto fight.
Losses

"A loss is a loss," said Cotto. "Nobody knows for sure if he uses it (heavier wraps) with me or not, just Margarito and his team.

"But it makes me feel better about the loss. Boxing fans are knowledgeable. They are the judges."

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has said that a fighter's first defeat is the toughest to recover from, but Cotto countered: "Why don't you ask Manny that question because he has had three losses - I have had just one.

"My commitment is with myself. In my last fight I could have stopped the fight (because of the cut) but I decided to stay in the ring because of my commitment to myself and my family.

"Sometimes when you lose, you win. Since Margarito great things have come to my career. Where is Margarito right now and where is Miguel Cotto.

"I'm preparing for 12 rounds and nobody is going to know what will happen until the night of the 14th.

"It is the most important fight of my career, but we'll have to see on the 14th if he is the toughest guy I have fought in my career.

"Manny looked good against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, but I'm not Oscar or Hatton. Manny chose the right time to fight Oscar."

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Pacquiao Sings While Cotto Puts on a Show in L.A.

Published on November 4, 2009 by Ariel Avenasa in Boxing

As a sign of each one’s commercial viability at this juncture of their careers, the protagonists in the ‘Firepower’ pay-per-view event on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas spent their Tuesdays in L.A. doing separate and contrasting activities.

At around noontime, Puerto Rican pride Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) conducted a public workout for the media at the Pound-4-Pound Gym just south of Beverly Hills in L.A. Cotto showed his tremendous form which he achieved after more than ten weeks of training thus far. He also seemed right at home as he shadow boxed, hit the mitts, and talked to comedian Mario Lopez and several reporters on hand, as reported by David Avila of The Sweet Science.

After the media workout the WBO Welterweight champion is expected to immediately head back to Las Vegas
where he is now based after wrapping up his training camp in Tampa, Florida over the weekend. Pacquiao’s media workout is scheduled for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) who is also in L.A. for the penultimate stage of his training camp at the Wild Card Boxing Club of coach Freddie Roach engaged in eight rounds of sparring with sparmates Urbano Antillon and Shawn Porter, as reported by Michael Marley of Examiner.com.



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Pacquiao Sings While Cotto Puts on a Show in L.a

Published on November 4, 2009 by Ariel Avenasa in Boxing

"Firepower" pay-per-view event’s protagonists were in L.A. on Tuesday. While Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto showed tremendous form in a media workout, Filipino spitfire Manny Pacquiao showed his vocal range as he guested in the popular Jimmy Kimmel Live late night talk show.

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As a sign of each one’s commercial viability at this juncture of their careers, the protagonists in the ‘Firepower’ pay-per-view event on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas spent their Tuesdays in L.A. doing separate and contrasting activities.

At around noontime, Puerto Rican pride Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) conducted a public workout for the media at the Pound-4-Pound Gym just south of Beverly Hills in L.A. Cotto showed his tremendous form which he achieved after more than ten weeks of training thus far. He also seemed right at home as he shadow boxed, hit the mitts, and talked to comedian Mario Lopez and several reporters on hand, as reported by David Avila of The Sweet Science.
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« “hot” Topic Pacquiao-cotto: 60% of Boxing Personalities Favor Pacman

After the media workout the WBO Welterweight champion is expected to immediately head back to Las Vegas
where he is now based after wrapping up his training camp in Tampa, Florida over the weekend. Pacquiao’s media workout is scheduled for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) who is also in L.A. for the penultimate stage of his training camp at the Wild Card Boxing Club of coach Freddie Roach engaged in eight rounds of sparring with sparmates Urbano Antillon and Shawn Porter, as reported by Michael Marley of Examiner.com.

The Pacman also spent time watching the progress of his friend and former sparmate as well, WBA Light Welterweight champion Amir Khan who will be making his first title defense against Brooklyn-based Ukrainian Dmitry Salita on December 5 in Newcastle, UK.

Just par for the course for Pacquiao as far as the day’s training goes but what sets this particular day apart from the countless days in the Pacman’s career is that on this night he will be guesting on the raucous late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, a move which could officially place Pacquiao on the verge of popular mainstream consciousness as this is a nationally-syndicated show in the U.S.

Pacquiao was his usual fun-loving and unassuming self during the show where he was even seen punching pumpkins backstage in a mock training set-up and belting out Dan Hill’s ballad ‘Sometimes When We Touch’ during the show’s music segment. The Pacman proved to be too cute for host comedian Jimmy Kimmel that he gave him a hug after the performance. I’m sure a lot of uninitiated viewers were also taken by the Pacman’s charm as well.

Given that it’s another publicity stunt orchestrated by Top Rank but Pacquiao’s sincerity and charm just makes this supposedly routine promotional stop a little more special. More importantly, the show provided a platform for Pacquiao to convert those thousands who are not yet converted out there to hop on to the Pacman bandwagon.

This nifty move is sure to not only add a couple thousand of nice PPV buys on the 14th but also with Pacquiao’s future fights whoever the opponent may be, in a bid to make the Pacman not only Asia’s greatest fighter ever but also its biggest cross-over star if he is not one already.

As for the singing? Well, let’s just say… keep your day job Manny, we’ll love you anyway.

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CHECK OUT THE HAND WRAPS BUT IT WON'T MATTER A BIT

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com

LOS ANGELES -- Recent reports indicate that Miguel Cotto Sr., will leave nothing to chance and will send a team representative inside the Pacquiao locker room to ensure that the Pacman’s hand wraps are legal.

Nothing wrong with that move. After all, it's Team Cotto’s right to see to it that Pacquiao will not do what Margarito allegedly did.

So I say, go ahead Miguel so you will find out that Pacquiao is an honest fighter and will not resort to foul play to achieve an advantage over any opponent.

Why should he cheat when he knows that he can handle who ever is placed in front of him. Yes, Cotto is no Hatton or even a De la Hoya. But, just like the Brit and the Golden Boy, he will fall as well.

Perhaps Team Cotto should ask their cutman, Joe Chavez who worked the Pacquiao corner before and find out the real deal, that is -- Pacman relies on his speed, power and overall ring generalship to win fights. There is no need to “load his gloves” to achieve a resounding victory.

You know what?

With the high probability that Pacquiao will opt for the Cleto Reyes gloves, there will be no need to “plaster” his hands because with those “puncher’s gloves his powerful punches will cut up Cotto anyway, that is if he does not knock him out first.

Perhaps it would do Cotto good if his Team concentrates on what is important to win the fight rather that basically suspecting that Pacquiao could be another cheating Margarito.

Rather than being so distrustful, Miguel Sr., would have gathered more points and looked good to boot if he said the opposite, that is - Team Cotto will trust Team Pacquiao in so far as hand wraps are concerned rather than coming out saying “yeah, we will sent someone to keep an eye on them to make sure they do not cheat,” or something to that effect.

It is simply unfathomable to even think that Pacquiao will “do a Margarito”, not with the very reputable Freddie Roach doing the hand wraps and before the eagle eyes of the HBO cameras.

I am sure Pacquiao would rather lose the fight fair and square than attempt to cheat.

Perhaps people are forgetting that Pacquiao carries with him the whole Filipino nation each time he climbs the ring. The Cotto fight is no different.

Besides, he has a very good reason to keep honest. He will be running for a political office in May 2010 and one of the strong points he carries to the political ring is his integrity.

Do you think he will sacrifice that? Hell may freeze over before he will even think of that!

But just the same, you have the rights, so go ahead Miguel, check out the hand wraps but it won’t matter a bit!

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Pacquiao scores a knockout at Jimmy Kimmel Live

Indianapolis Fight Sports Examiner | Dennis "dSource" Guillermo

Philippines, give it up for your boy Manny Pacquiao because I'll be damned he just officially conquered Hollywood.

By golly he just turned The Jimmy Kimmel Show into a Filipino Karaoke Extravaganza, and if you ask me, he sure hit that ball out of the ballpark. Pacquiao is definitely a once in a lifetime athlete and personality in the mold of Muhammad Ali. It's amazing how he owned the stage as if he was simply working the boxing ring. To put it succinctly, like Kanye West, got me singing, "it's amazing!"

As if the hoards of Hollywood's biggest celebrities lining up to get their glimpse of the Filipino icon isn't proof enough of his status as the sport's most revered fighter, Pacquiao mesmerized his fans once again this time on network television as he flashed his pearly whites, joked with Kimmel and did his rendition of Dan Hill's classic love song "Sometimes When We Touch".

Pacquiao displayed all the characteristics that has endeared him to his fans all over the world. He was charming, witty, funny and always accommodating as he obliged the show with a song. Most of all, Pacquiao displayed his natural humility. When asked by Kimmel whether he was the most popular person from the Philippines, Pacquiao simply smiled and wouldn't even answer. Just for the record, I couldn't care any less about love songs but somehow Pacquiao singing it makes it look cool- and that is what Pacquiao truly did since he stepped into mainstream boxing and captured the world's imagination. Pacquiao made being Filipino "cool". And it is.

Pacquiao perfectly captures and represent the Filipino culture through his genuine smile, kind-hearted nature, hospitable attitude, generous ways and most of all his courage and strength to put his nation, his fans and his family first and do whatever it takes to make them proud.

Hats off to you Manny! As a Filipino living here in the US, you definitely made each and every Filipino believe that despite all the hardships we go through and through the lows you came from and how high the unimaginable lengths you have already achieved, that anything is definitely possible. Mabuhay ka Manny Pacquiao!

Writer's Note: I was a bit shocked when I received a letter from Magnamedia today regarding my credentials request being turned down. I know the magnitude of this fight and understand there's a lot of interest from media all around the world to cover the Pacquiao-Cotto spectacle. I can't hide my dismay however knowing how much I've followed Pacquiao-Cotto on a daily basis, especially when some writer over Yahoo.com or some some newspaper that hardly wrote anything about Pacquiao or Cotto these past months will get a spot. It's really disheartening, but politics is politics and I am a small fish compared to these ESPN and Sports Illustrated writers but the hits don't lie. You'd like to think they'd give more significance to internet writers who truly grind 24/7 to keep fights significant. I am in the process of appealing the request as it will definitely enhance the book I am currently finishing about Manny's career. If I don't get the credentials reconsidered however, I still hope to see you at the fights on the 13th featuring Mark Melligen and Z Gorres and thanks for allowing this disheartened writer and fan vent for a second.





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Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto Hits A Hot L.A

By David A. Avila

WEST L.A.-Reeking of sweat, heat and the scent of more than 100 body odors in the small West L.A. boxing gym, Miguel Cotto seemed right at home as he used the ropes, shadow boxed, hit the mitts and chit chatted with a few celebrities on Tuesday.

Cotto’s rare L.A. media workout brought out the journalists eager to capture the Puerto Rican bomber who defends his WBO welterweight world title against Pound for Pound champion Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 14.

The clash takes place in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be shown on HBO pay-per-view.

Cotto spoke with television star Mario Lopez and posed with the Tecate girls before sitting down to speak with the several dozen fight reporters. On Wednesday it’s Pacquiao’s turn.


“I wouldn’t be here unless I thought I could beat him,” said Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), who is soft-spoken as usual.

Standing in the corner away from the press was cut man Joe Chavez, a long-time trainer in the gyms of East L.A. and perhaps the best hand wrapper and caretaker for boxers suffering gashes during a fight. Many attribute Cotto’s win over Joshua Clottey to Chavez’s ability to shut down the blood streaming down the Puerto Rican’s face.

One thing most people overlook is Chavez previously worked with Pacquiao too. Aside from hand wraps and cuts, the man also knows boxing. But don’t ask him who is going to win.

“I stay out of that,” said Chavez, who may work with Pacquiao in the future. “I just deal with the day to day stuff.”

But ask Chavez what Cotto does well?


“He’s a very strong puncher,” said Chavez. “And he’s a very good counter-puncher.

That’s what he does very well.”

When Cotto and Pacquiao meet next week it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Puerto Rican boxer force the Filipino superstar to attack. He’s probably seen dozens of tapes and evaluated what opponents like Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales were able to do successfully and throw out the strategies that didn’t work.

Told that Pacquiao has been talking about Mayweather, Cotto was succinct with his response.

“After I beat him then he can fight Floyd Mayweather all he wants,” Cotto said matter-of-factly of Pacquiao.

Most people forget that Cotto has only one loss. That came a year ago to Mexico’s Antonio Margarito. The issue of hand wraps though often given to Cotto as a scapegoat was not grasped.

“Nobody knows if his hand wraps were illegal or not,” said Cotto of Margarito.

Cotto is a man’s man. He would rather beat Margarito in the ring then have some commission reverse the loss of July 2008. He knows a win over Pacquiao would vault him to the top of the Pound for Pound standings too.

“I don’t know how fast Manny Pacquiao is but we’re going to find out,” said Cotto.

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COTTO L.A. Media Day!

By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Los Angeles, CA:- Miguel Cotto arrived at the new Pound-4-Pound Gym along La Cienega Blvd., just south of Beverly Hills to keep his appointment with the media.

And, he came well ahead of the scheduled time of 12:00 high noon.

Cotto arrived in a limo with his trainers and a very small entourage and immediately started preparing for his workout.

Cotto’s demeanor tells us that he is dead serious in his preparation for the biggest fight of his life. There was no clowning around even with the Latino media people he recognized. Only polite “como ‘esta” and a small smile.

Cotto appears extremely fit contrary to certain published observations in the media. Although he did not reply when asked how much he presently weigh, he appeared to be somewhere close to the fight weigh of 145 lbs. Therefore, Team Pacquiao can forget about getting a million bucks for every pound that Cotto will weigh above 145 lbs when they officially step on the scales a day prior to the fight.

Cotto flies straight back to Las Vegas after the LA presscon to continue his training leading to the fight on the 14th.

Photos by Dr. Ed de la Vega.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-28939.html

Pacquiao must challenge Mayweather to be the undisputed best at 147

Dallas Boxing Examiner | Matt Stolow

Manny Pacquiao may very well win his seventh world title in seven different weight divisions in less than two weeks. But if he wants to be known as the best welterweight today and not just a title holder, he simply has to challenge Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at 147.

Trainer Freddie Roach recently said they wouldn't go over 154 if that, so a battle at 147 seems realistic if Pacquiao gets past Cotto.

Mayweather's credentials as the No. 1 welterweight are solid. Miguel Cotto's are very good but just short of Mayweather's, and Pacquiao doesn't have enough fights there yet.

All three fighters have met common opponents. DeMarcus Corley, Zab Judah and Ricky Hatton, to name three, have met some combination of Pacquiao, Mayweather and Cotto.

Mayweather has three welterweight defenses against Ricky Hatton, Carlos Baldomir and Zab Judah, along with a non-title against Sharmba Mitchell. He even went up to 150 to fight Oscar De La Hoya for his 154 title.

Mayweather has two WBC Light Welterweight (140) Eliminators against DeMarcus "Chop Chop"Corley and Henry Bruseles. He has one WBC Light Welterweight fight against Arturo Gatti.

Mayweather has four WBC Lightweight (135) defenses. Two are against former Pacquiao sparring partner and world champion Jose Luis Castillo. Mayweather had nine WBC Super Featherweight (130) before that included wins over world champions Genaro Hernandez and Jesus Chavez.

Cotto won a vacant title over someone named Michael Jennings, that no TV network would buy, and a near life or death battle with respected Joshua Clottey in his one title defense during this current second run at the welterweights.

Cotto made four successful welterweight title defenses and claimed a vacant title before losing to Antonio Margarito under suspicious circumstances in his first run at 147.

He had beaten Alfonso Gomez, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Oktay Urkal, and the vacant title over Carlos Quintana.

Cotto made six successful title defenses and one successful vacant title win at 140.

Those wins were against: Paulie Malignaggi, Gianluca Branco, Ricardo Torres, Muhammad Abdullaev, DeMarcus Corley, Randall Bailey and Kelson Pinto, respectively.

Pacquiao has an impressive KO-2 over Ricky Hatton for the IBO Light Welterweight Title (he weighed in at 138). Pacquiao (142) also has his gigantic December 2008 8 -round TKO over Oscar De La Hoya (145).

But the question remains: What will Manny Pacquiao do next after this fight with Cotto?
An exciting, competitive fight could bring about an easy to make rematch. A Pacquiao win over Cotto could set up negotiations for a Mayweather fight.

I believe negotiations have and are going on between Pacquiao and Mayweather camps and Arum said basically no they are not and it would be a while because Mayweather is so difficult to deal with, simply to get people off his back.

Originally there were eight weight divisions and only one sanctioning body. For a while after World War II it stayed that way but in early 1950s the lighter weights went to the junior titles and more sanctioning groups, starting with the World Boxing Association came into being.

Today we have 17 weight divisions, six world sanctioning organizations, Interim titles and, Champion in Recess that serve only to dilute the boxing product because they are not accountable to anybody about anything.

Beneath that we have layers of International, national, and regional titles.

The trick is for the sanctioning bodies to protect their interests by tying up its top contenders waiting for their title shot with these interim titles so as not to see them go fight for other titles of other organizations while the current champion considers retirement or easy voluntary defenses.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-11372-Dallas-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m11d3-Pacquiao-must-challenge-Mayweather-to-be-the-undisputed-best-at-147

COTTO READY FOR PACQUIAO, SAYS LANDMAN

By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com

“They can do what they want and say what they want, Miguel doesn’t pay much attention to those things.”

Thus declared World Boxing Association welterweight champion Miguel Cotto’s conditioning coach Phil Landman by way of reacting to his ward’s almost not getting the attention his November 14 opponent Manny Pacquiao has been getting.

Landman, in an interview with broadcast journalist Dennis Principe in his program ‘Sports Chat’ yesterday, said Cotto, who will be staking his 147-pound crown in that 12-round encounter with the Filipino icon at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, said the Puerto Rican is actually benefitting from the lesser attention the media is according him.

“Yeah, I think so. This less-superstar status Miguel is getting is giving him more precious time to focus on the things that matter most,” Landman said.

The International Boxing Organization junior-welterweight champion’s famous trainer and psywar master Freddie Roach has been doing all the talking for Team Pacquiao, obviously in his efforts to get the goat of their once-beaten but still formidable foe.

“A lot of what Freddie says is to get in camp Cotto’s heads. There is nothing wrong with that. That’s boxing. No one knows what can happen. The fight could go a lot of different ways and that’s why it’s going to be a great fight,” fight promoter Bob Arum said in a recent conference call in justifying Roach’s verbal assault on Cotto.

Roach, in a separate interview, even claimed he has placed a huge bet on a first round knockout win for his prized ward to which Landman said: “So far, Roach is coming up short with his shots.”

Now working on his ninth fight with Cotto, Landman assured that the program he has established from the day they first met has been greatly absorbed by his fighter.

Proof of this, added Landman, is the constant ability of the longtime light welterweight champion Cotto to deal with all type of fighters the welterweight can offer, speed and power wise.

“Since we arrived we knew what we have to achieve and we knew exactly the kind of work to be done and we’ve done that,” said Landman “We try to make new things but for the most part we generally stick to something that has worked.”

Landman’s job as Cotto’s conditioning coach started when the Puerto Rican made his debut in the tough 147lb division in December 2006. By that time Cotto had already beaten most, if not all who challenged his supremacy light welterweight class.

Cotto’s booming entry into the welterweight derby, a fifth round stoppage of compatriot Carlos Quintana, gifted him the vacant World Boxing Association belt.

Cotto finally reached full stardom after scoring a close but deserving 12-round verdict over longtime pound-for-pound entrant Shane Mosley in a WBA title defense November of 2007 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Cotto’s celebrity status however came to a screeching halt after he was battered to a pulp by Mexican warrior Antonio Margarito via an 11th round stoppage in July 2007 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Back-to-back wins after the Margarito setback somewhat regained for Cotto some of the luster he lost. But what pushed Cotto closer to recapturing his lofty position was the issue that befell Margarito who was caught red-handed of using plaster-like substance on his hand wraps moments before the Mexican’s title defense opposite Mosley early this year in Los Angeles.

“Pacquiao’s our next main objective and were giving everything to attain that,” Landman said. “Since we arrived we knew what we have to achieve and we knew what exactly the kind of work to be done and we’ve done that.”

“Obviously he (Pacquiao is the best in the sport. We try to make new things but for the most part we generally stick to the plan and something that has worked,” he bared. “We always try to make it interesting but we make adjustments just a little bit. Miguel doesn’t need anything to get motivated because in fighting Manny Pacquiao, That alone keeps him motivated.”

Speaking of the catch-weight Pacquiao and Cotto will be fighting, Landman said: “We don’t really need to be motivated. At 145 he will come in as strong as he was fighting at 147.”

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-28938.html

TSS As PI: Searching 24/7 For Clues To Cotto-Pacquiao

By Michael Woods

Examining HBO's 24/7 for clues which might affect the outcome of the upcoming fight is one of the most enjoyable aspects of watching the expertly crafted infomercial. In the second installment of the Pacquiao-Cotto docudrama miniseries, TSS played PI, and looked for anything in the fighters' actions, physiques or behaviors that might inform a fight fan what is likely to unfold on Nov. 14, when Manny Pacquiao tries to secure a seventh title in a seventh weight class from WBO welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto in a 145 pound "catchweight" clash.

In the previous installment, we saw Cotto mixing business with pleasure; it looked like his training camp in Florida, away from distractions in his native Puerto Rico, took a load off the fighter with the frequently furrowed brow. In contrast, Pacquiao's camp was a picture less tranquil. He chose to stay in Baguiao, a region beset by severely foul weather, causing his trainer Freddie Roach to firmly request that the fighter switch up his plans, and decamp to a safer spot, free from typhoons, and perhaps, leeching politicians hoping to get a bump in the polls with a endorsement from Manny.


In the second episode, viewer saw a previously perturbed Roach in Manila, having made the eight-hour trek from Baguiao without Pacquiao. They hugged it out, it was made clear, and got back on track preparing for Cotto. Or, they got back on track as much as Manny's demigod status allows—fans clamor to touch the fighter whenever he exits Gerry Penalosa's gym. But Pacquiao seems to be able to clear his mind of distractions. And Roach makes sure of it, offering a $1,000 bounty to any sparring partner who dumps Manny on his can. So far, Shawn Porter and Jose Luis Castillo haven't been able to get that extra spiff in their envelope, but the added impetus gives Pacman more reason to stay on message in training, and tells viewers that at this juncture, at least, it certainly appears that all the money and adoration he enjoys hasn't swelled his head, and won't pave the way for a fall to Cotto.


Back to Cotto—the Puerto Rican hitter welcomed Miguel the 3rd to Tampa, for a week-long visit to see pop do his thing. That includes pre-dawn workouts at a local track. Perhaps the "stamina thing," Cotto's supposed tendency to fade in the last third of fights, will not be an issue come Nov. 14, if these track workouts have been installed, or modified, to speak to his gas-tank woes? Team Cotto did manage to get some chill-time in, going golfing, and viewers with old-school values might wonder if Miguel is splitting his focus too much, taking too much time with his son, instead of eating, breathing and sleeping Pacquiao 24-7.


Then again, Manny does manage to have a varied life during training camp. Witness Pacman's duet with a female vocalist on the 1977 Dan Hill classic "Sometimes When We Touch," which he filmed for a Filipino TV network as part of a farewell concert. That went swimmingly, but there was still the matter of the conflict within his crew. Fitness coach Alex Ariza and advisor Michael Koncz haven't been getting along, and snipe at each other in front of Manny, who stays above the fray, seemingly untouched by the chaos. Can Manny truly be as unruffled by the beefing as he appears?


A viewer watching this installment might wonder whether Cotto's sparring partners are of a lesser breed than Pacquaio's and be left to think that Pacman's camp is that much more effective than Miguel's. Cotto gets work in with 9-3-1 southpaw Kenny Abril, from Rochester, NY, and 7-1 Georgian lefty Fred Tukes. Contrasted with Pacman's crew, which included 26-1 Mexican Urbano Antillon, 10-0 Shawn Porter from Ohio and former lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo (60-9-1), it does seem like Cotto's getting gypped in this department. Perhaps the time spent studying films of Pacquiao on the part of Miguel's dad Miguel Sr. and 32-year-old trainer Joe Santiago will compensate.


At Roach's Wild Card Gym, Pacquiao looks trim and on message. He doesn't seem put off by the absence of Michael Moorer, who helped Roach while Manny got ready for Ricky Hatton, and rubbed Manny the wrong way with his brusque manner. The Wild Card looks cramped but homey, while Cotto's training zone in Tampa looks roomier, but more complicated. Viewers see his wife Melissa, who he'd been estranged from, is back in the picture. She comes to the gym, with two more kids, and Miguel's mom, who wears an expression none too joyous. Perhaps those relationships don't siphon an ounce of Cotto's mental energy, perhaps he is relieved to be unburdened from the presence of his uncle Evangelista, who he split from in the spring. But we saw Miguel's dad admit he and his bro have severed ties totally, one wonders if having all these sticky family issues in his face benefits Cotto two weeks before his big bout.

Source: http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/7366/tss-searching-clues-cotto-pacquiao/

Pacquiao versus Cotto: The Firepower Mega-fight

If you are involved in real estate business, you are very much familiar with the housing adage "location, location, location." Not surprisingly, in boxing today there is a similar tune and that is "prediction, prediction, prediction." This is the most common topic in every boxing forum and every boxing website on the Internet: Who can accurately predict the outcome of the much anticipated, mega welterweight showdown between the pound for pound king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and the current WBO welterweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto of Puerto Rico? Boxing fans from all over the world and of course, boxing experts (analysts, promoters, trainers, journalists, etc.) have something to say about this incredible and exciting match-up between the two best ring gladiators of the Sweet Science.

Legendary boxing trainers like Angelo Dundee and Emanuel Steward predict that Cotto's skills and power will earn him a victory over the most exciting fighter in the world in Pacquiao, while Pacman's astute trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning guru Alex Ariza boldly claim that Cotto will not last against their fighter's blinding speed and vaunted power. Many popular fighters, who either currently have a championship title or have held one in the past, like Bernard Hopkins, Mike Tyson, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., agree with Roach and Ariza's assessment. Hopkins believes that Cotto's youthful face will be "busted up" in this fight; Mayweather states that Pacquiao "is a quick starter" and he leans toward the latter in this showdown; and Mike Tyson undoubtedly forecasts, "Pacquiao will win." There are countless predictions made by different, knowledgeable boxing experts for this championship duel and the fighters truly deserve all the accolades and recognitions because they amazingly stand out amongst all the fighters of today: two gallant warriors ready to face and destroy each other with their limitless arsenal of "Firepower."

On November 14th, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, we will witness a boxing classic unfolds before our very eyes, between the fighting pride of Puerto Rico, Miguel Angel Cotto and of the Philippines, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao. The former (Cotto) eying to dethrone the pound for pound champion and the latter (Pacquiao) ready to defend his title as the best fighter in the planet and to cement his legacy as one of boxing greats, if not the greatest, by winning an unprecedented seventh title in seven different weight divisions. Regardless of the outcome, worldwide fans of the Sweet Science can proudly boast that they witnessed the greatest fight of all time in their generation: The Firepower Championship of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-28452.html