Floyd’s trainer: ‘Pacquiao has guts to face Cotto’

MANILA -- There’s nothing new in recognizing Manny Pacquiao’s ferocity in facing guys bigger than him.

Unless the recognition came from Roger Mayweather, the uncle-trainer of former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

In an interview with fight Fan.com’s Ace Freeman, Roger said it takes some serious guts for a small man like Pacquiao to face Miguel Cotto.


“Obviously if Pacquiao is taking the fight with Cotto, he thinks he can beat him. That should tell you right there… for a little guy, he’s got some balls,” said Roger.

Roger, who himself fought as a professional and was a former world champion in the late 80’s, also admitted that he may have underestimated Pacquiao in the past.

“Obviously he’s a much better fighter than I thought he was. Regardless of how he beat [Oscar] de la Hoya, he still beat de la Hoya. Regardless of how he beat Ricky Hatton, he beat Ricky Hatton. Obviously, he’s a better than I thought he was,” he said.

However, he thinks it will be a different story when Pacquiao meets Cotto, whom he described as the bigger guy and a very good puncher.

“I don’t think he’s going to beat Cotto. If he does beat Cotto, I’ll be amazed… I’ve got to see him beat Cotto… I’ve got to see it with my own eyes,” said Roger.

Pacman vs Floyd
Roger also said that he would also like to see how Pacquiao would fare against his nephew, Floyd.

“That would be the biggest fight in the world for Pacquiao. It would also be the biggest fight in the world for my nephew if they were to fight in the near future,” he said.

Roger, however, thinks it will only happen if Pacquiao beats Cotto.
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abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/28/2009 11:51 PM

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Pacquiao versus Cotto already creating buzz

July 26, 2009 11:56 PM | Posted by   Chris Iorfida
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Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will meet on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, it was announced last week, a legitimate superfight that has divided opinion among boxing fans.

Yes, online polls are unscientific, but the degree to which Pacquiao seems to be a favourite is a bit of a surprise. Cotto's troubles in two of his last three fights have many believing that Pacquiao will be able to land without too much difficulty and, after some tough spots, eventually add a 38th KO win to his record.

But the fight will be contested at 145 pounds, and it's the first time Pacquiao will face a legitimately strong welterweight. The only time the Filipino has fought above 140, he faced an enervated Oscar De La Hoya.

Cotto never steamrolls his foes, but he can both box and slug and has beaten men a lot bigger than Pacquiao.

The fight also shows how one of the traditional criticisms that UFC supporters have directed at boxing — too many tuneups and not enough matchups of elite fighters — is largely a thing of the past in the sport (see also the 168-pound tournament, subject of last week's blog).

Check out Pacquiao's five most recent opponents:

    * Cotto
    * Ricky Hatton
    * De La Hoya
    * David Diaz
    * Juan Manuel Marquez

Nary a tuneup to be found. Each of those fights involved a legitimate test, and arguably a bolder challenge than the previous bout. Sure, Diaz isn't in the same class as the other four, but that was Pacquiao's first fight at 135 pounds.

Hatton is no match for Marquez in talent, it's true, but that was a fight against a truly strong 140-pound junior welterweight. We all know how it ended, with Hatton's head still bouncing off the canvas in sports highlight reels.

Cotto's ledger in recent years is only slightly less impressive. The Puerto Rican took on easy touches Alfonso Gomez and Michael Jennings among his last six opponents, but the other four comprise some of the best the welterweight division has to offer: Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and Zab Judah.

Cotto suffered a brutal stoppage loss to Margarito, but a taint has been cast on that result after the Mexican subsequently was found to possess illegal hand wraps prior to his loss to Mosley.

Cotto of course beat Mosley — now on the outside looking in on the superfight game — by close but uncontroversial decision.