Manny Pacquiao TKOs Miguel Cotto in 12 Rounds, Makes Boxing History

Growing up in a poor town in the Philippines to becoming a boxing superstar, Manny Pacquaio has overcome adversity with his fists. On Saturday night (November 14), he earned his place in boxing history with a TKO over a noticably bigger Miguel Cotto in 12-rounds for his 7th title in seven different weight classes.

The 30-year-old Pac-man gave a dominating performance from early on.

He unleashed a big right in Round 3 to knock Cotto to a knee, recording the first knockdown of the evening. Then later that same round, Pacquiao lands a three-punch combo opening up a cut under Cotto's right eye.

In Round 4, the two fighters go through a series of exchanges, but it's a devastating left uppercut from Pacquaio at the end of the round that rocks Cotto, sending him to the canvas once again.

From here on out, it's evident that the power -- not to mention speed -- of the Filipino fighter has made an impression on Cotto, but he wills on to no avail. Even in the post-fight interview, Cotto admits that Manny's punches were coming in so fast, he couldn't even see them coming.

"I didn't know where the punches were coming from," Cotto said. "And I didn't protect myself from his punches."

Throughout the later rounds, it's almost all Pacquiao, with Cotto showing some signs of life at moments, but they're very brief. By the last two rounds, Cotto is tactically retreating and backpedaling, just trying to survive each barrage of punches Pacquaio lets off.

The beating was so brutal, Cotto's wife and son left ringside after the eighth, simply because they couldn't bare to see their husband/father take so much punishment.

At the end of Round 11, it's almost certain that the fight would be called, but Cotto emerges from his corner to try to finish out the fight. After more devastating blows, referee Kenny Bayless steps in and puts an end to the fight at 55 seconds into the round. The crowd roars with cheers of "Manny! Manny!"

"He hit harder than we expected," Joe Santiago, Cotto's trainer, said after the fight. "He was stronger than we expected. Manny broke him down."

Manny's performance lands him in boxing's history books, becoming the first boxer to earn a title in seven different weight classes. He improved to 50 wins, 38 by KO, 3 losses and 2 draws; while Cotto drops to 34 wins and two losses, both coming in the last two years.

"We were very careful in the early rounds because we know what could happen," said Pacquiao, following the fight. "We were trying to taste his power in the early rounds. We were looking for a KO shot, that's why I didn't throw lot of punches early. I was timing him."

Cotto was tough though. He did not get KO'd, despite Manny trying his "best to knock him out."

"That's what I had heard, he's bigger than me and stronger than me, so we tried to accelerate the fight and look for one punch, keep pressuring him and looking for a counter," Pacquiao said. "We tried our best to knock him out."

While Cotto's boxing future is in question, Manny Pacquiao is peaking. Right now, he's the man to beat. However, after the fight, he did reveal that he would not fight at any higher weight than 145.

With the win over Cotto in the can, is Floyd Mayweather next in line?

After the fight, Manny wasn't thinking that far ahead. He had a concert scheduled at Mandalay Bay just two hours after winning, where he'd perform a full eight songs, and then it's vacation time back in the Philippines with his family.

Source:

          Baller Status

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Pacquiao-Cotto undercard report

LAS VEGAS -- In the main support to the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. scored a unanimous decision over Troy Rowland in a 10-round middleweight bout.

Chavez (41-0-1, 30 knockouts), of Culiacan, Mexico, won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 in what was an largely uneventful fight that was booed by the fans in the MGM Grand’s Garden Arena when it was finally over.

Rowland (25-3, 7 KOs), of Grand Rapids, Mich., boxed effectively in spots, but Chavez walked him down and landed the heavier blows for most of the fight. Although Rowland stood his ground and traded punches with Chavez in the final rounds of the bout, he simply lacked the power and physical strength to move the son of the Mexican great.

In one of the main undercard bouts of the pay-per-view broadcast, junior middleweight contender Yuri Foreman (28-0, 8 KOs) dropped Daniel Santos (32-4-1, 23 KOs) twice en route to lifting the Puerto Rican veteran’s 154-pound title belt by unanimous 12-round decision.

Foreman, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based orthodox Jew from Israel by way of Belarus, became the first Israel citizen to win a major world title when he out-hustled Santos to scores of 116-110 and 117-109 (twice).

The bout was tactical one between two technical fighters. Foreman employed his usual stick-and-move strategy with sporadic attacks led my lead right hands. Santos, who was dropped in rounds two and 12, laid back counterpunched for much of the fight, but alternately stalked and backpedaled away from Foreman down the stretch.

Alfonzo Gomez (21-4-2, 10 KOs) scored a technical unanimous decision over Jesus Soto-Karass (24-4-3, 16 KOs) after their welterweight bout was stopped in the sixth round due to an awful-looking cut over Gomez’s right eye that was the result of an accidental headbutt.

Gomez, a participant in the first season of The Contender unscripted television series, snapped Soto-Karass’s 15-bout unbeaten streak that stretched back to early 2005 (when the Mexican fringe contender lost an eight rounder to Yuri Foreman).

Aided by two points that were deducted from Soto-Karass for low blows (in rounds three and four), Gomez won by scores of 59-55 and 57-55 (twice). Because Gomez’s cut was caused by a headbutt and more than four rounds had transpired the fight went to the scorecards.

On the non-televised (in the U.S.) undercard:

Junior middleweight prospect Roddrigo Garcia (5-0, 4 KOs) scored a unanimous four-round decision over Martin Vierra (5-3-1, 2 KOs). Garcia, of Los Angeles, won by unanimous scores of 40-36.

Bantamweight prospect Eden Sonsona (14-3, 3 KOs) scored a second-round knockout of Eilon Kedem (9-2-4, 6 KOs). Sonsona, a southpaw from General Santos, Philippines, dropped Kedem, of New York, N.Y,, by way of Israel, with a left cross.

Middleweight prospect Matt Korobov (8-0, 6 KOs) scored a unanimous six-round decision over James Winchester. Korobov, a 2008 Olympian from Russia, won by unanimous scores of 60-54.

Flyweight prospect Richie Mepranum (15-2-1, 3 KOs) scored a split six-round decision over Ernie Marquez (9-6-2, 3 KOs). Mepranum, of Sarangani, Philippines, won by scores of 58-55 and 57-56. The third judge scored it 57-56 for Marquez, of Ft. Morgan, Col.

Lightweight prospect Abner Cotto (5-0, 3 KOs) scored a unanimous six-round decision over Lupe Guzman (3-5, 2 KOs). Cotto, a second cousin of Miguel Cotto, won by scores of 58-54 and 57-55 (twice).


Source:
           The Ring Blog

Arroyo rejoices with nation over Pacquiao win

While she failed to personally watch the bout, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo joined the nation in rejoicing over Filipino boxing icon Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao's victory over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who is with Mrs. Arroyo in Singapore, said the President hopes Manny’s triumph would serve as inspiration to the Filipino youth.

"The President failed to watch the fight," Remonde said in an interview on dzBB radio, but said she joined the entire nation in rejoicing.

Remonde and Mrs. Arroyo are in Singapore to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.

"Once again, Filipino grit and determination triumphed over great odds. May this serve as an inspiration to the entire Filipino nation especially the youth," Remonde said, reading from part of the President’s statement.

Arroyo also said that Pacquiao's win showed there is no limit to Filipinos' capacity to success, as long as they work hard and "put our hearts and minds to achieve our goals."

She lauded Pacquiao for training long and hard and showing most stringent self-discipline.

"I hope we all learn from this example so together we will move forward as a nation," she said.

Also, the Armed Forces of the Philippines congratulated the Filipino boxing icon right after he was proclaimed winner in the historic bout.

“The whole Armed Forces of the Philippines congratulates its very own Master Sergeant (Reserve) Manny Pacquiao for making the Filipino Nation proud by defeating Miguel Cotto by TKO (technical knockout)," the AFP said in a text message.

It said that Pacquiao, once again, displayed the courage and determination of a true Filipino warrior.

"His victory showed us how we can be united as a people. May this spirit of oneness continue so that lasting peace and development in our country can be achieved soon," the AFP added. - GMANews.TV

Source:
          GMA News TV

Thousands gather for live feed of Pacquiao-Cotto fight

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of Metro Manila residents gathered in their cities' auditoriums to watch the live feed of the "Firepower" match between Filipino champ Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.

Around 5,000 residents of Pateros trooped to the Pateros Coliseum for the via-satellite showing of the fight that would spell history in case of a Pacquiao victory.

A large screen projector was installed on the second floor where about 4,000 people have been seated, while six 42-inch LCD TVs were put up on the ground floor for 1,000 more viewers.

Mayor Joey Medina said this was the sixth time they were showing Pacquiao's bout for free to Pateros residents.

Satellite feeds of Pacquiao's bid to set a record by winning his seventh title in a different weight division are also being provided to other Metro Manila residents in other cities for free.

Source:
            Inquirer/Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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Pacquiao Vs Cotto Results: Manny Pacquiao won via TKO on Round 12!

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao for winning the WBO Welterweight Championship belt. He defeated Miguel Cotto via TKO on Round 12. Pacquiao said in an interview that he’s planning to knock him out on Round 12. He also expected that the fight will be stopped on Round 11, because Miguel Cotto was so tired and looks too pathetic in the 11th round.

Here are some excerpts of the Manny Pacquiao post-fight interview courtesy of Sports Live Blogger:

“Our plan and strategy for the fight is not to hurry. You know, take time. I’m trying to test his power. In the early round I’m trying to get his in the body and in the head. I’m looking for a knock out shot that’s why I didn’t throw a lot of punches. You know, in the last minute I gave a few punches. That’s why I heard. I heard that he was bigger than me and was stronger than me. I tried my best to knock him out in the last round. I thought in the 11th round that they will stop the fight.” – Manny Pacquiao

When asked of who will he fight next:
My job is to fight in the ring. I think it’s my promoter’s decision of who will I fight next. I want to spend time with my family as of now and I want to spend a vacation. It’s a hard fight tonight, you know.

What do you think is going on in Manila and in the Philippines?
I think my Filipino fans are screaming today and they are very happy of my victory today. I want to thank you the Filipinos who came here today, specially the first gentleman and the Vice President. Thank you. Thank you to all!


Source:
          Showbiz Gossips
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Manny Pacquiao wins over Cotto in round 12

Manny Pacquiao won over Miguel Cotto in last few minutes of the 12th round.  Cotto who was knocked out twice in the early rounds.


The referree decided to stop the fight in the late part of round 12 upon seeing that Cotto will not be able to endure the final round.


Manny Pacquiao immediately run to his corner and prayed while Cotto followed him to congratulate Pacman.

Pacquiao enters MGM with wife Jinky and Mr. Wowowee Willy Revillame

Manny Pacquiao have just entered the MGM Building with her lovely wife Jinky and Filipino famous TV host Willy Revilla.

This is the first time that Willy Revillame is with the Pacquiao team. Maybe because after the "FIREPOWER" fight, willy revillame and manny pacquiao with other artists will have a concert in Las Vegas.


I also noticed that Miguel Diaz is the one who is wrapping the hand of Manny Pacquaio as a preparation for his fight which will start now in a few minutes. Miguel Diaz, who used to wrapped the hand of Miguel Cotto is now in the camp of Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, Cotto, make weight for fight

AS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao weighed in at 144 pounds, his heaviest ever, while Miguel Cotto came in at the contract limit of 145 pounds for their scheduled 12-round fight.

A raucous crowd of about 7,000, some of whom had been waiting for hours, was on hand Friday at the MGM Grand to see both fighters make weight for the bout.

Pacquiao, who began boxing at 105 pounds, weighed 2 pounds more than the 142 he weighed last year when he stopped Oscar De La Hoya. He was 138 pounds for his last fight, a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton.

Cotto was the lightest he has been since weighing 145 pounds when he defeated Zab Judah two years ago.


Source:
          The Associated Press
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Pacman-Marquez III in the works

FORMER World Boxing Council super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, who has been chasing Manny Pacquiao for a third encounter, may actually get his wish.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has raised the possibility of Pacquiao fighting Marquez for the third time on March 13, 2010, possibly in Dallas, Texas, where a brand-new 50,000-seat stadium being used by the Cowboys, is a site contender. Although Arum indicated that while Dallas is keen on hosting a Pacquiao-Marquez fight, Las Vegas will always remain a front-runner.

Marquez was described as a “cry baby” by trainer Freddie Roach after complaining about his split-decision loss to Pacquiao and a draw in their first meeting.

Arum indicated that should Pacquiao overcome World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in their “Fire Power” showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Nov. 14, a Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy was a distinct possibility, with Mexico’s undefeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. featured in the main supporting bout.

Pacquiao made his first major impact in the US when he demolished Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas in November 2003.

In their first battle on May 8, 2004, Pacquiao dropped Marquez three-times in a blazing first round, but the Mexican fought back gallantly and counter-punched his way to salvage a draw.

In their rematch for the WBC super featherweight crown on March 15, 2008, a third-round knockdown by Pacquiao helped him secure a controversial split-decision win, which Marquez’ camp complained bitterly about and even claimed that Marquez won both fights.

Marquez went up in weight to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., who came out of retirement and handed the Mexican a bad beating in a welterweight title fight.

Before that fight, Marquez told Standard Today he wanted a third fight with Pacquiao very badly. He even came to Manila to confront Pacquiao and demand a third bout.

A third fight would most probably be fought at junior welterweight, but no matter what weight it is, both Roach and conditioning guru Alex Ariza told Standard Today that this time, Pacquiao will knock out Marquez within three rounds at most.

Freddie Roach has belittled the competence of Joe Santiago, saying his Puerto Rican counterpart has not fought a single bout and has no idea what its like inside the ring, according to fightnews.com, a leading boxing website.

Santiago, who is preparing Miguel Cotto against Manny Pacquiao, has been badmouthing the feisty American trainer in the local media.

“This young coach said he wants me to put all my trophy on the line because he is the best trainer in the world. Well, we’ll see about that after the fight,” said Roach.

“I have got a thousand, a million trophies from boxing and he’s never fought before. Pretty funny. He’s never fought in his life and he has no idea what it is like being in the ring. He’s got a towel on his shoulder and gives water and all of a sudden he is a coach,” said the 49-year-old former fighter.

“Cotto trains himself,” added Roach.

Roach said Pacquiao is in tip-top condition for the Nov. 14 fight with Cotto.

“He (Pacquiao) was playing around a little bit but when he wanted to turn it on, he was there and I was very happy with the sparring and we’re right on schedule,” added Roach.

While Roach and Santiago trade barbs, Alex Ariza, Pacquiao’s conditioning coach, has nothing but praise for Phil Landman, Cotto’s strength coach.

“I give the guy (Landman) credit for a lot of things that Cotto overcame in some of those tough fights where I thought he wanted to quit but he didn’t and I thought that was his conditioning that got him over that hump,” said Alex Ariza, the Colombian-born LA-based fitness expert.

But in the end, Ariza said it will be the man in the corner who will play a pivotal role in the outcome of the scheduled 12-rounder.

“The guy (Landman) is doing a great job and I think his guy will come in shape and my guy is coming in shape and it’s going to boil down to who you have in the corner and I have Freddie Roach and he’s got whoever that is and that is where it’s going to come down to,” Ariza said.

Meanwhile, Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s childhood friend and training assistant, said Cotto’s left hook is their main concern.

“Cotto’s left hook is what we’re watching,” said Fernandez.

To counter this, Fernandez said they have devised a plan that will prevent Cotto from inflicting damage with that money punch.

Fernandez said they also expect Cotto to use the same strategy employed by Juan Manuel Marquez who fought Pacquiao twice.

“We know that they studied Manny’s fight with Juan Manuel Marquez and they supposedly saw some weakness there but we have remedied that. We know what they’re thinking,” he said.

Source:
          Manila Bulletin
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Pacquiao: Cotto’s weight woes a factor in fight

HOLLYWOOD – Manny Pacquiao knows exactly what Miguel Cotto is undergoing.

Having done the same thing before, Pacquiao pointed out that the weight reduction the Puerto Rican is doing may play a crucial role in the outcome of their World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship bout a week from now.

Aside from sweating it out, Pacquiao said Cotto also needed to lessen his food intake for him to go down at the desired catch weight of 145 pounds.

And the effort, according to him, is really going to be very demanding.“Mahirap talaga `yung hindi ka kakain. Malaking epekto `yun pag-dating sa fight, especially kung dikdikan ang laban. Disadvantage talaga pag nagre-reduce ka," he said.

Pacquiao need not go far because he himself knows the feeling.

Of his three career losses, one of them was the result of his failure to make the weight, causing him to lose his World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title to Medgoen Singsurat by way of a third round knockout in Thailand 10 years ago.

He also had a hard time meeting the 130-pound limit during his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez last year, and was fortunate enough to eke out a split decision against his durable Mexican nemesis.

But all those harsh battle with the weight is all behind him now.

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Mahirap talaga `yung hindi ka kakain. Malaking epekto
iyon pag-dating
sa fight, especially kung dikdikan ang laban. Disadvantage talaga pag nagre-reduce ka.

– Manny Pacquiao

---

The 30-year-old Filipino, considered as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, is enjoying the luxury of eating a full meal today without any consideration about the weight issue.

Pacquiao even bared that he needed to have his daily intake of food in order not to lose weight.

“Puro kain nga eh. Training tapos puro kain," he said with a big laugh.

“Tayo kumakain para hindi bumaba ang timbang. Ginigising pa nga ako para pakainin eh," Pacquiao added.

At the moment, Pacquiao weighs around 148 to 149 pounds, but easily loses three pounds at the most after workout just like he did Saturday at the Wild Card gym.

“Mga 146 ako kapag tapos ng training," the Filipino southpaw said after sparring for five rounds with Urbano Antillon and Rey Beltran.

Sunday is total rest day for the boxing icon as he was also prevented from doing road works in the morning.

“Kasi grabe `yung mga jogging namin nung nakaraang lingo. Mag-sprint kami, tapos akyat ng bundok. Matindi talaga," said Pacquiao, who’s only schedule of activity is to attend the early morning Sunday mass.

Three more rounds of sparring will be held Monday before Pacquiao’s entourage departs for a six-hour road trip to Las Vegas. - GMANews.TV


Source:
           GMA News TV
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Manny Pacquiao fight with Miguel Cotto a classic in the making

The intense interest in the meeting of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas has led Bob Arum to draw parallels between the classic fights he promoted in the Eighties.

Arum, speaking exclusively to Telegraph Sport from the Top Rank offices in Las Vegas, explained: "I see this fight as a modern version of Duran v Hagler, or a Hagler v Hearns fight. It has that feel about it, that kind of excitement.

"Two great fighters, loved in boxing. Magazine stories, unprecedented media requests, two entire countries following their fighters, I really believe that on the night this will turn out to be a classic."

Marvin Hagler v Thomas Hearns, at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, in April 1985, is regarded by many as the most exciting eight minutes in fight history, with Hagler the winner by a technical knockout in the third round. It was Fight of the Year after both men went at it from the opening bell like men possessed.

Cotto against Pacquiao brings together two fighters who are sporting icons in Puerto Rico and the Philippines respectively, and who are regarded as boxing's No 3 and No 1 pound-for-pound, respectively, at present.

Cotto, 29, a two-weight world champion, has fought at welterweight for three years, and has been beaten only once in 35 contests, while Pacquiao, 30, attempts to win a seventh world title in a seventh weight division, which has seen him come up over eight years from flyweight to welterweight. He has been beaten twice in his 55-fight career, with two draws.

Although this contest is taking place at 145lbs, Cotto's World Boxing Organisation welterweight (147lb) crown is on the table.

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

Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, visited both training camps – in Baguio City in the Philippines and Tampa, Florida.

"The way Manny and Miguel are talking about it, it could be like the three-round war between Hagler and Hearns," said Arum. "The conventional wisdom is that Cotto is best when he's aggressive, but I don't know if he feels he can be aggressive with this guy from the get-go. But if Cotto is aggressive, though, it could be a Hagler v Hearns all over again.

"People ask what it's like promoting two fighters under you. It's only a win if it turns out to be the great fight you think it'll be.Then, in spite of there being a loser, both men are elevated in the eyes of the public."

So, what of preparation? "Cotto is very, very confident," said Arun. "His work effort is very, very good. He's been very methodical. He hasn't changed anything with his workouts, doing what he has always done.

"Obviously in sparring, he's been trying to be able to counter what he expects Pacquiao to do. Cotto will be Cotto on the night. He's a big, strong welterweight with a great left hand and a great body punch."

Over to Camp Pacquiao. "The other guy is inhuman," laughed Arum. "I've never seen anyone work like he does. Four hours without taking a break and at the end he has some guy with a pole hitting him in the gut for five minutes. It's almost like he's superhuman. It's like Bruce Lee coming to boxing, that's what it's like. He was sparring with Shawn Porter, who is a big guy, a junior middleweight, who is fast, and very good. To my view, from one day to the next he just gets better and better.

"I can see now why Ricky Hatton got blown away. No one has ever seen anything like this in boxing. When he's sparring it's almost like he's doing magic. It's eerie to watch Pacquaio. His is a workout the most dedicated athlete in the world couldn't duplicate."

The $6 million question is who will win?

Understandably, Arum cannot call it. "I don't know who's going to win this fight. Cotto is the strongest, best fighter Pacquiao has ever been up against, and I don't know how he'll deal with that. Cotto will know he can't compete with this guy in speed or technique. With Pacquiao, you've got to time him and tag him, try to hurt him and slow the guy up."

Arum paused. "Look, something about Pacquiao isn't human. He's already planning his normal concert – where he'll play and sing for an hour and a half to fans – in the middle of preparing for all this."

If it lives us to its billing, Cotto v Pacquiao could become a classic.


Source:
             Telegraph UK
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Pacquiao: I want to fight the best fighters

MANILA - People's Champ and the world's pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) said he wants to ensure his boxing legacy by fighting the best boxers in the world.

In a livestreaming event sponsored by Nike, Pacquiao said his family and the Filipino people continue to inspire him to excel in the boxing ring.

"When I started boxing I was young. I was 12. But then I kept winning and winning. I love boxing and I started fighting," he said during the "Under The Hood" livestream event sponsored by Nike.

Asked which fighter past or present that he still wants to take on in the ring, he said: "I want to fight the best fighters."

One person asked Pacquiao how he would fare against former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson if the latter was still in his prime. He replied: "Maybe I can fight Tyson in a video game."

Pacquiao said he spends about two months to prepare and condition himself everytime he goes into a fight. Manny is set to take on Puerto Rican pugilist and World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight king Miguel Cotto on November 14.

Pacquiao has won six world titles in six different divisions, a distinction he shares with no less than the "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya whom he defeated last year. A win over Cotto will make the General Santos native the only boxer in the world to win seven titles in seven weight divisions.

During the chat, Team Pacquiao members Freddie Roach, Alex Ariza and Buboy Fernandez praised Pacquiao for his work ethic and dedication to the sport.

"The best part [about working with Manny] is the fact that I don't have to motivate him...Wherever he is, he's 100 percent," Ariza said.

Roach said Pacquiao's now legendary bouts with Mexican Erik Morales remains memorable to the team.

"The rematch with Erik Morales. Of course we just devastated him. It was the first time we started using the right hand. We started working it and now it's as good [as the left]," he said.

US actors Emile Hirsch, Mario Lopez and Mark Wahlberg also wished Pacquiao luck in his upcoming fight with Cotto.

"You're humble, you love God and you love your people and that's why people love you," Wahlberg said in a video greeting. He also asked Pacquiao to send him more shoes "because everyone is asking about the shoes."

At the end of the chat, Melissa R., a Filipina who won 1st runner-up in the reality TV search 'Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll', serenaded Pacquiao with her own rendition of Manny's song "Lahing Pinoy" before eventually being joined by the People's Champ. - David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com


Source:
            ABS-CBN News

Pacquiao-Cotto best of November schedule that includes Ward-Kessler

Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 has to be considered the most attractive fight on the docket this month, and for most boxing fans, the most important. But get a load of how many good main events are scheduled Nov. 21.

Yes, it’s that time of the month when your Welterweight Champion here designates the Best and Worst fights of the new month and the past month and is more willing that normal to speculate about match-ups of uncertain likelihood.

The fight of the month for Bay Area fans has to be Andre Ward’s big step up Nov. 21 against Mikkel Kessler at Oakland’s Oracle Arena in the Super Six tournament on Showtime. I’ll be there, and so will about 10,000 other folks, but there are lots of interesting fights elsewhere that night that you probably won’t be able to see even on TV.

There’s a WBC cruiserweight title match in Germany between 40-year-old Giacobbe Fragomeni and Zsolt Erdei (and no, I’m not qualified to handicap the match; neither are you).

There’s unbeaten Filipino bantamweight teenager Marvin Sonsona’s fight against journeyman Alejandro Hernandez in Rama, Ontario, Canada, and Rodel Mayol’s WBC light-flyweight bout in Chiapas, Mexico, against journeyman Edgar Sosa.

And Marcus Maidana, the guy who beat Victor Ortiz last June in Los Angeles, fights journeyman William Gonzalez in Argentina.

When you’re paying $55 for pay-per-view, as you will for Pacquiao-Cotto, you should get an undercard that varied, but you seldom do. Still, Pacquiao-Cotto should be a hellacious main event.

BEST AND WORST: If Pacquiao and Cotto go 12 rounds, as I’m beginning to expect, they’ll be hard-put to throw as many punches as Yonnhy Perez and Joseph Agbeko fired last Saturday in Las Vegas as Agbeko lost his IBF bantamweight title. If Pacquiao and Cotto were to land that many (we don’t know how many, because Showtime doesn’t have “PunchStat”), their fight wouldn’t go 12 after all.

I decline to name a worst fight of November. There are a lot of good ones, like the Chad Dawson-Glen Johnson rematch Nov. 7 on HBO, the Nov. 7 David Haye-Nicolai Valuev heavyweight bout (which could become a bad fight), and the Lucian Bute-Librado Andrade super-middleweight rematch on Nov. 28, with an intriguing sub main matching Ali Funeka and Joan Guzman for the IBF lightweight title.

Besides, there were at least two bouts in October that had to be worse than Andrew Golota’s latest loss, to Tomasz Adamek back in Poland, one of those assuredly being former heavyweight champion Oliver McCall’s latest comeback victory, over 6-foot-8 Lance Whitaker.

But it’s hard to beat this one for worst: Hector Camacho Jr., who is already 31, eked out a split decision victory Oct. 30 in El Paso over Yory Boy Campas, who supposedly is only 38 and was coming off a 2008 draw with Camacho’s 47-year-old dad. The younger Camacho suffered three point deductions, for low blows in the third round, roughhousing in the fourth and holding in the 10th, which enabled Campas to win 95-92 on one scorecard. Now that’s an ugly fight.

Source:
          Examiner

Cotto Cannot Handle Pacquiao's Speed and Firepower Says Roach

Barely two weeks before the biggest boxing encounter of the year, Manny Pacquiao's coach Freddie Roach is holding on to his prediction of a first round knock out by Pacquiao over Cotto in their 'Firepower' match in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Famous boxing coach and trainer Freddie Roach is confident of Manny Pacquiao grabbing the IBO championship belt from his opponent Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in their 'Firepower' match on November 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Roach said Cotto cannot handle Pacquiao's speed and this will work to the advantage of the Filipino boxer who is wrapping up his training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood for his final salvo in Las Vegas.

Sunstar.com reports:

"Working the mitts with Manny at this weight, he is punching so much harder than he ever has. He is very used to it now. He is punching fast and hard now that I don't think Cotto as enough," Roach said

"I feel I am one hundred percent conditioned for the fight and I can't wait for November 14th," Pacquiao said in a recent conference call.

At the start of training in preparation for the November 14 fight, Roach told sports writers he is confident Pacquiao will win over the bigger and stronger Cotto without specifically saying how the fight will end but hinted the fight will go the distance.

Several days later, the famous American boxing coach suddenly came up with a prediction that Pacquiao will knock out Cotto in the first round. He revealed Pacquiao's new found speed and power after about three weeks of training in the mountain city of Baguio in northern Philippines.

A little less than two weeks before fight night, Roach is not changing his prediction and instead opted to stand by his first round knock out forecast. Cotto's camp says Roach is trying to engage Cotto in a psychological battle but the Puerto Rican boxer refused to comment on the bold prediction of popular boxing coach.

But in a press conference after his birthday celebration, Cotto finally issued statements to the press in response to Roach's continued assault on his ability to overcome Pacquiao's speed and power. Cotto's camp maintains that the Puerto Rican boxer will win because he is bigger, stronger and younger than the pound-for- pound king.

The Sunstar report added: With both the Pacquiao and Cotto camps exuding confidence with only days leading to the fight, a war is expected between these two ring gladiators.

Cotto is strong, bigger and the younger fighter.

Pacquiao is faster, equally strong and hungry, greatly motivated by the fact that he is fighting for history. All he needs is one more smashing performance

The Pacquiao-Cotto boxing match will take place at the MGM Grand Garden on November 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Source:
          Digital Journal

Arum's view of Pacquiao, Cotto training camps

Top Rank's Bob Arum has promoted dozens of boxing stars, and he has never been afraid to match his guys against each other. He'll do just that Nov. 14, when Top Rank's two biggest stars -- pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto -- collide on HBO PPV at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in the year's most anticipated fight.

Obviously, Arum has a vested interest in the outcome, but he knows there will be big fights for whichever man emerges with the victory. The winner against Floyd Mayweather Jr. looms as the biggest fight in boxing -- by far. But even the Cotto-Pacquiao loser figures to have more big fights in the future.

Arum has visited the training camps of both fighters. He spent time recently in the Philippines watching Pacquiao, and joined him this week in Los Angeles, where Pacquiao has shifted his camp to trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

Arum also went to Tampa, Fla., for three days to check in on the Cotto camp.

While we can get a taste of both training camps on HBO's excellent "24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto" series, I wanted to hear Arum's take on what he had seen in his visits, so he gave it to me.

"I think, in general, both guys looked very, very good," Arum said. "Cotto looked strong. He's Cotto. He works hard for two hours. He does all his sparring. He's in tremendous shape. I know Cotto works hard, but in contrast to the other guy [Pacquiao], it looks like he's taking a vacation. Pacquiao goes for, like, four or five hours. It's amazing. They train differently. Pacquiao is so work-intensive. It's like nothing I've ever seen.

"Cotto does the workouts like a Marvin Hagler or Sugar Ray Leonard, two guys I promoted. They were all business. They'd come in, do their workout, spar hard and be done. When I was with Cotto, I saw him do 10 rounds one day and six rounds another day. He looked good. He'd do his two hours and be done. After two hours, Manny's just getting started. I'm glad Manny pays Freddie a lot of money, because he earns it."

Arum also noticed some other differences between the camps.

"In Pacquiao's camp, there is no question who the boss is and that's Freddie," Arum said. "In Miguel's camp there's no question who the boss is either, and that's Miguel. They're different guys, different fighters, but whatever works, man.

"Cotto, when you talk to him and he talks to the press about the fight, he's extremely confident and you know that he's not saying he's confident without really being confident. He is sincerely confident. Some guys say it, but they aren't. Some guys have doubts. I've been around so long that I can tell. Manny's confidence goes without saying."

On one of the days Arum was at Cotto's camp, famed trainer Angelo Dundee, who has moved from Miami to Tampa, paid a visit. Arum and Dundee go way back. Dundee worked with Muhammad Ali for years and later with George Foreman. Arum, of course, promoted numerous Ali and Foreman fights.

"Angelo is a delight to have around and he said something to me that was interesting," Arum said. "He said, 'If I had to pick anybody in the world to fight Pacquiao, it would be Cotto because Cotto has the best chance of anybody to beat him because of his physical power and that strong left hook.'"

Source:

          ESPN

Cotto hits back at Roach; Pacquiao flies to LA tonight

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach will do anything for his fighter, and that includes throwing the opponent off.

Miguel Cotto, however, isn’t buying any of his statements.

“I have never seen a fighter win with the talking of his trainer,” Cotto, who’s just 20 days away from a fight with Manny Pacquiao, told Puerto Rican paper El Nuevo Dia yesterday.

“So, I want to tell Freddie Roach, Miguel Cotto and his team do not care. The important thing here is that I’m not going to see Freddie Roach’s face in the ring. I will be there with Manny Pacquiao,” Cotto added.

Roach is playing mind games with Cotto the way he’d played them with Pacquiao’s most recent opponents.

He did it with Juan Manuel Marquez by trading harsh words with his counterpart, Nacho Beristain, with Oscar dela Hoya through his famous “can’t-pull-the-trigger” battlecry, and with Ricky Hatton when he told Pacquiao he’d be “disappointed if the fight lasts more than three rounds.”

“I’d do anything to try and throw them off,” said Roach, who created a stir just days before the Dela Hoya fight when he started questioning the Golden Boy’s hand wraps.

This time, so close to the fight, Roach is saying Pacquiao is capable of “knocking out Cotto in the first round.”

“He can say anything, try anything to draw the attention and try to be the hero of the whole promotion. But on Nov. 14, we will see who talks in the end, the ones who did all the talking or the ones who stayed silent,” said Cotto.

The WBO welterweight champion from Puerto Rico is the silent one.

He opened camp a couple of weeks ahead of Pacquiao, and stayed in there the whole time, eating, breathing and thinking of nothing but Pacquiao. Chances of watching Cotto as he trains in the gym are slim and none.

In contrast, Pacquiao is always there to see, except for sparring days when Roach would rather close the doors. But otherwise, on the road, in the gym and inside his suite, he’s always in the company of friends, of fans.

Roach said Pacquiao is down to 156.5 lb, which is just a little over the catchweight of 150, and is now 90 percent fit and ready to fight.

Pacquiao was to spar 10 rounds yesterday at the Gerry Peñalosa Gym in Mandaluyong City, was scheduled to host dinner with close friends and team members, and at 10 p.m. should board the PAL plane to Los Angeles.

In the long flight to LA, one that may take 12 hours and a little over 7,000 miles, Roach can always think of something new to say.

Because Cotto, still, isn’t buying.

Source:

          Philstar

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Pacquiao, Cotto in best shape ever

WASHINGTON, D.C.: With less than four weeks left to their title clash, boxing superstars Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are leaving nothing to chance even as both fighters declared they are already in excellent shape for their biggest fight ever.

“I am in great shape and almost ready for Cotto,” Pacquiao said in his latest Abante column.

Pacquiao said he hopes to make boxing history—winning a record seventh world title in different weight class—when he clashes with Cotto, the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, in the super fight at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

“I’m training very hard for this fight. I’m in great shape and doing quite well with by sparring partners,” said Pacquiao who is now sparring nine rounds with different spar-mates and hopes to log 12 rounds in the coming days.

He also expressed satisfaction with his training staff led by renowned trainer Freddie Roach and his able assistants—Filipinos Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri and his Colombian conditioning coach Alex Ariza.

Pacquiao said Team Pacquiao is in good spirits, and all minor problems are immediately being resolved, in an apparent reference to the reported confrontation involving Ariza punching Pacquiao aide Michael Koncz.

Ariza reports that found their way in many boxing websites, Ariza lost his cool after finding out that Koncz tried to get his slot to work in Pacquiao’s corner for the Cotto fight, despite the Filipino icon’s personal order that Ariza join Roach and Fernandez in his corner during the fight.

Koncz, who serves as Pacquiao’s personal assistant but wanted to work the corner in place of Ariza, was admonished by the Filipino icon to stay clear on matters involving training, according to a key member of Team Pacquiao.

Meanwhile, Cotto said from his Tampa, Florida training camp that “I am now in my best shape ever,” and added that his fight preparation are proceeding in without hitches.

Cotto said is currently training in a 24 feet by 24 feet ring, bigger than the normal ring, in anticipation of Pacquiao using a lot of movements to maximize his speed advantage.

“We are getting to ready to fight in a ring 22 by 22 or 24 by 24,” Cotto’s chief trainer Joe Santiago told El Nuevo Dia. “Miguel has no problem fighting in any ring, but since Pacquiao sticks and boxes are getting ready for [Pacquiao moving around a lot].”

Santiago said Team Cotto will move to Las Vegas starting November to acclimate to the Las Vegas weather, which can get really cold at night in autumn.

Source:
          The Manila Times
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Manny Pacquiao wary of rough ugly fight with Miguel Cotto

Miguel Cotto will want a rough, ugly fight with Manny Pacquiao. Cotto fights close to the border, has a hard head, and will use it if he has to. Pacquiao must be wary.

Yes, Cotto can use an ‘accidental’ low blow when necessary. Cotto will want to use his left hook to the body against Pacquiao, and to catch him with his jab. Pacquiao must be wary.

Cotto will be patient; he will box happily from distance; but he may also try to walk Pacquiao down in this fight, particularly to go to Pacquiao’s body. He will need to show his ring generalship, which is excellent, to trap Pacquiao. But going to the body is a must for Cotto, as he has arguably one of the best body attacks in the sport. Pacquiao must be wary again.

Cotto’s two victories over Zab Judah and then Shane Mosely were proof of his great boxing skills, and adaptability. Pacquiao must employ his speed, his footwork, lateral movement, and keep it on the bounce for at least eight rounds. Roach will have worked out openings into Cotto’s defence. Because of Cotto’s adaptability, the Filipino/Hollywood game plan may have a switch in strategy in the middle rounds.

But there is one thing. Pacquiao’s speed could exploit Cotto’s chin. Cotto’s chin has looked as if it could get him in trouble more than once. But what he does it protect it brilliantly. The fight is 33 days away…and counting. The juices are flowing for this fight. It has the makings of ‘Fight of the Year’.

Source:
          Telegraph UK
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The Boxing Fans weigh in on Pacquiao-Cotto

These days it is apparently obvious that there is no event that is more anticipated in the sport of boxing than the coming Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto bout. While many boxing scribes, fighters, trainers, and the like have all had something to say about the contest there hasn’t been one specific group as nearly as passionate as the fans of the sport.

At the end of the day it’s the fans that help keep boxing going and there has been no shortage of verbal warfare heading into the November 14th clash between Manny and Miguel. 8 Count News recently took a quick look across some of the busiest message boards online to get a feel for what the boxing public is saying about the showdown.

In their own words, this is what fans across the globe are saying about Pacquiao vs. Cotto…

Rebel @ BoxingFanatics.com…

“Natural 105 pounder my ass. Pacquiao was practically a teen when he won that title at 112.

Many fighters would've began their careers 2-3 weight classes before their actual debut weight class had they turned pro in their teens. Even our boy Sanchez turned pro at bantamweight. This is not a mismatch in favor of Cotto.

Margarito ruined Cotto and fighting below welterweight will only make Cotto more vulnerable.Pacquiao TKO 5”

Hex-One @ FightBeat.com…

“As we get closer to the fight the more people are siding with Cotto. Cotto isn’t slow. This is where most people are making a big mistake. Cotto's combination punching is actually very fast.”

Pac-Boy @ BoxingScene.com…

“Everyone is confident getting in the ring with Pacquiao. Until the bell rings...then all that confidence seems to go away.”

Stofi619 @ ESPN.com…

“These type of fights are what boxing needs in order to once again be one of the world's most exciting sports to watch.”

Valdosta @ BoxingFanatics.com…

“Yeah don't count out Cotto. He didn't look great against Clottey but he still eked out a win with that huge gash over his eye. Also, who has looked great against Clottey? Unless he gets smashed early it's very questionable how Pacquiao would handle Cotto's strength and yeah power. Cotto might not be a big puncher when fighting other WW's, but in this case he punches plenty hard to hurt Pacquiao badly IMO. I think Cotto is fine as long as he don't go below about 144. That's only 2 pounds less than he weighed against Clottey.”

Lb 4 lb @ FightBeat.com…

“Speed isn't everything if you know how to neutralize it and Cotto showed in the Mosley fight that he does. Pacquiao likewise has shown in JMM fights that having his speed neutralized is basically taking away his main advantage. Cotto doesn't have the technical skill of a JMM, but Cotto's size and strength could more than make up for that difference.”

WorldsBestMCotto @ BoxingScene.com…

“Its good that he is sounding confident and ready to get a perfect training camp going, hopefully he doesn't start talking bout retirement again soon. Cotto is basically preparing by himself again, his trainer now Santiago, is not teaching him something he doesn't know already. He needs to keep that same "Clottey" defense technique when he covers his body and chin instead of the peek a boo style. Got my tickets already... Patiently waiting to see the next Filipino president get his sh!t packing and start the campaign early and have the streets in pr celebrating”

Primadonna Kool @ EastSideBoxing.com…

“I just believe on November 14th, it is the end of the PACMAN hype, at the top of the sport. Because he is going to sustain a violent beat down...

I don't even think Miguel Cotto is the best Welter Weight out there.. But that’s just it, Pacman decided to play with he big boys..

And he is now going to pay.. Miguel Cotto, will not be a weight drained Oscar De La Hoya.. Miguel Cotto is a violent man and I think he is slightly disturbed.

When he sees his own blood it only makes him fight harder... The fight is over already, done..! Game, Set...and Match...!”

Zboxz @ BoxingFanatics.com

“In his last fight Cotto was eating straight shots down the pipe.I am sure Pac Man was all eyes.If Pac Man did not think he could win he would not take the fight. Too much to lose.”

Joony @ FightBeat.com…

“I’m looking forward to a good fight. Hopefully, Cotto won't get blasted out in the first 6 rounds.”

Vergudo @ BoxingScene.com…

“This isn't the old Cotto that I used to know......not that there's anything wrong with it. But for this fight, he's been talking a lot. Normally, he just keeps his lips shut, train his ass off, and then let his fists do the talking on fight night. This is the first time I've heard him make a prediction that he's gonna win. Anyway, Cotto is gonna be the most dangerous opponent Pac will ever face. Let's see if Pac can get pass through him......can't wait.”

BigReg @ EastSideBoxing.com…

“Cotto is getting his ass knocked the fuck out in this fight. I'm looking forward to the all the excuses that come rolling out afterwards.”

BKING @ BoxingFanatics.com…

“I have watched the Pacquiao/DLH fight, Pacquiao/Hatton fight, and Cotto/Clottey fight multiple times. When I think about the fight on November 14, I look back at those three fights and ask myself, "Who would I rather be going in this fight?"

Quickness, thinking, and out pointing VS. Power, strength, and willingness to go war. Quickness and thinking is going to win this fight.

Pacquiao is a fast, young southpaw who has begun to use his right hand as well as his lethal left ever since his schooling at the hands of Erik Morales in 2005. I also feel his boxing skills have improved immensely and he is more than capable to boxing circles around Miguel Cotto. Cotto has all the heart in the world, but you can't make mistakes against Pacquiao. That dude is a buzz saw, and when he starts getting heated up as the rounds progress, he is a storm that is very difficult to contain or control.

Cotto has some boxing skills, but the Margarito fight had to have affected him in some way. At least when I look back at the Clottey fight, I see a guy who can definitely punch (he knocked Clottey down with a JAB in the first round), but he's too straight up and down for a speedy little fox like Pacquiao. Cotto is not as fast and he's not going to out punch Pacquiao.

Pacquiao has actually grown smarter as a fighter; he's well aware that Cotto can punch and he's not going to rush recklessly and try to take Cotto out early in the fight. He didn't rush in against Hatton either and that's why Hatton didn't have a prayer in that fight; he fought intelligently and let Hatton come to him and he exposed his leaky defense sooner rather than later (as I suggested months earlier could happen). Pacquiao going to war with Cotto early and trying to knock him out will give Cotto is best chance to score a KO himself. On the contrary I see Pacquiao using a lot of movement early on, pecking away with his straight left. Cotto's guard is actually pretty wide apart and I think that's a clear target for Pacquiao's straight left.

Where people who pick Cotto are going to be shocked on November 14, is their insistence that Pacquiao can't hurt Cotto! Hatton didn't think Pacquiao could hurt him either, until he was lying on his back seeing stars. It's the punches that you don't see coming that really hurt you and Pacquiao has a knack for catching his opponents at just the right angle to the point that the punch shouldn't have been so lethal, but it's perfectly placed and connects such devastation that it paralyzes his opponents.

Pacquiao is going to hit Cotto early and often, boxing carefully for the first 5 or 6 rounds, and when Cotto gets frustrated, it's going to turn into a beat down in the later rounds. Pacquiao will hurt Cotto late in the fight and take him out, I'm guessing in 9 or 10 rounds. It'll look like Raheem/Morales for the first 7 rounds, and it will turn into Hopkins/Trinidad in the last few.”

TexMex @ FightBeat.com…

“Manny's foot speed and how Cotto handles it is the key to this fight.”

Valentino @ BoxingFanatics.com…

“Cotto only looks bad when he has a nasty cut from a head butt or when plaster of Paris is used to beat him up. And even then...he came coming forward. And either won or was arguably ahead.

I doubt PBF would have done the same (judging by the drama he pulled when his hand hurt). And I doubt Pac would have done the same too (judging by non-decision against Agapito). My point is...unless Pac comes with plaster of Paris or unless Cotto suffer a nasty cut that would incapacitate his vision...everything else equal...I pick Cotto”

DatBo215 @ EastSideBoxing.com…

“I am confused with the large number of posters who actually believe Manny is going to KO Cotto. Manny has yet to hurt a WW fighter much less KO one. Couple that with the fact that Cotto, aside from the knees he took against Margo, has only been even knocked down ONE time. Cotto has only had trouble with larger fighters and even the larger fighters he's faced weren’t able to floor him. The fact that many of you feel Pac KO Hatton equates to Pac KO Cotto is dumbfounding. Pac is a really good, naturally talented fighter, who presents a lot of problems for Cotto with his speed and movement, but to objectively look at this fight and conclude that there is a high possibility of it ending with a Pac KO is ridiculous.”

Bigdawg @ FightBeat.com…

“The question will be how will Manny handle a solid punch from a true welterweight with heavy hands. That's going to the question. Remember Cotto ain't the weight drained old ass DLH now is he the very limited Hatton so therefore he will be hit and hit often. If he can not handle Cotto's power then he will be done and could possibly get ko'd. The only way Cotto does not catch Manny is if Cotto's arms are cut off. Cotto is a world class fighter. I do not understand the under rating of Cotto. He'll look at what Morales did to Manny when they fought and one could say that Cotto is at least on his level. But he will catch Manny and when he does Manny will know that he's in the fight of his life. Great fight and I can not wait until this shit jumps off.”

Rabid Kimba @ BoxingFanatics.com…

“Pac by ass whooping.”

Pimp C @ EastSideBoxing.com…

“Cotto could win this fight in a big way if he fights smart. Uses his jab, goes to the body roughs Pac up. Cotto is a very live dog in this fight.”

Fighter @ FightBeat.com…

“I don't think Pacquaio will REMAIN inside long enough for Cotto to work his body. Second half of the fight, it will be the BALLZY great little man shooting ACCURATE combos on the bigger man, breaking HIM down and winning another divisional title setting up a huge fight with Mosley”

Pugilistic Power @ EastSideBoxing.com

“I don't even think he needs to fight smart to win. I think his power will stun Pacquaio early, his movement in the early should keep him away from the power shots Pacquaio usually lands early and it will be a race to the 6th round.

If he tires, like he did in other fights, he might be in trouble against Pacquaio who is relentlessly conditioned.

But prior to that? I think he'll avoid the major shots Pacquaio throws, land to the body and land to the jaw of Pacquaio at will for the first few rounds and that could be enough to finish the job.”

Jack1000 @ BoxingFanatics.com…

“Do you think that Cotto will have to dominate Manny to win if it goes to the cards? As far as I know there are no plans for a Cotto-Mayweather fight in place, and the judges might be influenced by this in giving close rounds to Manny. Or do you think they will be fair to Cotto?

I think that the earlier the fight is, the better it is for Cotto, as the fight goes on and if Manny can take Cotto's punch, I will pick Manny by a fair decision or a late stoppage.”

Mangler @ BoxingScene.com…

“Cotto is the bigger guy, and he better fight like it. If he does, he got it locked. If he tries to box, he's getting fukked up by Pac.”

Bad_Intentions @ EastSideBoxing.com…

“Cotto is taking two knees against the Pac Man.”

Xplosive @ BoxingFanatics.com…

“Speed kills, and its gonna kill Cotto”

Source:

          8 Count News

Pacquiao sticks to winning formula

Manny Pacquiao will answer the opening bell for the November 14 clash with Miguel Cotto armed with 150 rounds of tough sparring.

Top trainer Freddie Roach said on Wednesday from the Shape Up Gym in Baguio City that they will stick with the tried and tested training program which he and conditioning coach Alex Ariza devised in the buildup to the Cotto fight set at the MGM Grand.

“Manny’s going to spar around 150 rounds to get himself prepared for Cotto,” said Roach, who has been using young and unbeaten super-welterweight Shawn Porter and super-lightweight Urbano Antillon the past four sparring days and is likewise eagerly awaiting the arrival of former world lightweight king Jose Luis Castillo of Mexico.

Roach said the 35-year-old Castillo is flying in this morning from Los Angeles and should be ready to spar on Saturday. Castillo, now fighting as a welterweight, is coming off a knockout win last September 12 and is said to be on a rebound to get back into world title contention.

Pacquiao confidant Mike Koncz, who personally picked Castillo on the advice of Mexican promoter Fernando Beltran, assures Roach that Castillo will give Pacquiao quality time on top of the ring.

“I was given the assurance that Castillo is in shape,” said Koncz.

Roach warns that if Castillo ends up resembling like a tourist frolicking at Burnham Park and winds up getting busted up, he will shove him back to Manila so he could get the first flight out.

Roach stressed that while some people tend to believe that Cotto is going to be easy pickings for Pacquiao, the 49-year-old former featherweight contender wouldn’t acknowledge that.

Roach is wary of what Cotto could bring to the ring that he is not taking any chances.

“Same as before. We won’t cut back on anything,” said Roach, who will camp out in the City of Pines with Ariza and Filipino assistants Buboy Fernandez, Nonoy Neri and two-time world champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa before leaving for the US on October 24.

Roach said he expects the 30-year-old Pacquiao to be in 80 percent condition by the time they begin the first workout at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood on October 26.

So far, Pacquiao has logged a total of 18 rounds of sparring after going three each with Porter and Antillon last Tuesday.

Porter, whose style is similar to that of Cotto but is much faster, usually starts the sparring session and is Pacquiao's main sparmate.

Source:
          The Manila Bulletin
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Pacquiao to have ex-champ Castillo as new sparmate

Manny Pacquiao will have a new challenger in his sparring sessions after Team Pacquiao decided to tap the services of former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo.

Castillo will be Pacquiao’s third sparmate after junior middleweight Shawn Porter and lightweight Urbano Antillon, who each both had three rounds with the pound-for-pound king when he resumed sparring last Tuesday.

Castillo was expected to arrive on Oct. 6 but failed to show up at the Shape-Up Gym inside the Cooyesan Hotel in Baguio City where Pacquiao is now on his third week of preparation for his Nov. 14 showdown with Miguel Cotto for the latter’s World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title.

Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz said that Castillo would be arriving in Manila on Thursday and will spar with the Filipino ring icon beginning Saturday.

Team Pacquiao chief trainer Freddie Roach, however, wants to assure that the 35-year-old Castillo is still in shape after suffering a second round technical knockout defeat at the hands of Carlos Urias last month.

“I won’t hesitate to send him back if he’s not in shape," said Roach of Castillo, who has a known history of weight problems in his 19-year pro career. – GMANews.TV

Source:
          GMA News TV
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Arum: No huge disaster if Pacquiao is upset by Cotto

There’s not much that Uncle Bob Arum hasn’t seen in his 78 years of living.

Arum, who once described himself as “a lawyer gone bad” to a New Jersey judge, has participated in or witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly in 40 years of being one of the all time great fight promoters.

So I didn’t expect the hyperkinetic one to hit any panic button Wednesday afternoon at Madison Square Garden when I asked him if it would be a terrible disaster should Manny Pacquiao lose to Miguel I’m No Angel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.

Arum didn’t even blink. He knows the consequences and he’s carefully considered them.

“When I first went to my matchmaker (Bruce Trampler) on this one, he said it’s a 50-50 fight. I think the odds are out of whack with Manny heavily favored.

“But, even if Pacquiao loses this fight, he is still Manny Pacquiao. He is still an icon. He is still the idol of the Filipino people.”

Still, even though Cotto is also Top Rank chattel, Arum thinks Pacman will shine brightly against the double tough Puerto Rican.

Arum, who I accused only yesterday of treating Cotto like the proverbial red-headed stepchild while pampering Pacman, will be at the Cotto camp in Tampa next week. Not many guys his age would bounce from Baguio to Tampa in the same week but somehow he withstands the rigors of such air travel.

Arum thinks Pacquiao will prove against Cotto that he did not just beat down a dried out Oscar de la Hoya.

“A lot of it (criticism) comes from that fight, saying that Oscar was totally dehydrated. It’s ridiculous. Three weeks before the fight in training camp, Oscar weighed 145. So he wasn’t weakened losing weight at the last minute.

“It wasn’t that, it was Manny hitting Oscar and then Oscar couldn’t find him. It was the speed.

“If Manny can do the same to Cotto, then Miguel is in trouble.”

Source:
          Examiner
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Arum: Pacquiao-Cotto no wipe out

Manny Pacquiao has set the bar very high for himself the past few years.

The Filipino idol destroyed his last three opponents –- David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton –- in a fashion so devastating that knowledgeable observers began to compare him to the great Henry Armstrong.

However, Miguel Cotto, who faces Pacquiao on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, is not expected to be the pushover his predecessors turned out to be. He’s a big, talented guy at least near his prime.

“Of course he won’t be as devastating as he was against De La Hoya and Hatton,” said Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto. “Other than a suspect loss to (Antonio) Margarito, Cotto has fought anybody and hasn’t lost.”

Now, it’s important to note that Arum is his promoter mode. He needs you to believe the fight is extremely competitive so you’ll buy it on pay per view.

Experts agree with him, though. Most observers seem to be picking Pacquiao because of his superior movement and speed but some are picking Cotto because he’s naturally bigger and also a fine boxer.

So what happens to Pacquaio’s career if he loses for the first time since 2005? Arum says his fighter will be just fine.

“This fight will be like the (first) Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran fight,” Arum said. “Duran won the fight but Leonard wasn’t diminished because it was such a great fight. Trust me, there’ll be no loser in this fight.”

Again, Arum was speaking as a promoter. He might be right again, though.

Pacquiao is a delight to watch. That won’t change unless he turns in a dismal performance, which doesn’t seem likely. And as long as Cotto puts up a good fight, he’ll remain marquee fighter some time.

Cotto slipping? Some boxing writers suggested after Cotto’s narrow victory over Joshua Clottey in June that the Puerto Rican has never fully recovered from the beating he took from Margarito, illegal wraps or not.

I didn’t see it that way. I thought Cotto turned in an exceptional performance give his horrible cut and a very tough opponent. Of course, we’ll have a much better idea on Nov. 14.

“People don’t realize how good Clottey is,” Arum said. “I think Clottey would be competitive with any welterweight out there, including (Shane) Mosley and (Floyd) Mayweather. And Cotto beat him with blood pouring into his eye. He showed a lot of guts.”

Pacquiao-Mayweather: Arum has serious doubts that Pacquiao will fight Mayweather next if he beats Cotto. Mayweather, he suspects, would be a prohibitively difficult negotiating partner.

Arum would prefer a Pacquiao-Mosley fight.

“I don’t think (Pacquiao-Mayweather) will happen within the next year,” he said, “because of all of Mayweather’s posturing, the trash talk. That impedes any realistic negotiations. It would just be too difficult.”

Of course, if Pacquaio wants to fight Mayweather, Pacquiao will fight Mayweather.

And if he does, is there reason to believe he will suffer a similar fate to that of Juan Manuel Marquez? After all, Pacquiao and Marquez fought on even terms and Mayweather embarrassed Marquez last month.

Arum doesn’t think so. And he gave another example from the distant past to illustrate his point.

“Styles make fights,” he said. “Mayweather is a defensive specialist and Marquez is a counter puncher. Mayweather forced Marquez to be aggressive, which isn’t his game. Marquez needs his opponent to be aggressive. When Manny fought Marquez –- and it’s not the same Manny now -– Manny was the aggressor. Marquez was able to win a lot of rounds because he’s a good counter puncher.

“Just because A beats B and B beats C, it doesn’t mean A will necessarily beat C. Styles make fights. Look at the heavyweights from years ago. George Foreman could fight Joe Frazier and Ken Norton a hundred times each and the result would be the same, a Foreman knockout. Muhammad Ali could fight Joe Frazier 100 times and every one would be a war. The same with Ken Norton; he just couldn’t figure out his style.

“Then you put Ali in with Foreman and he’s able to knock him out. Manny is a different type of fighter than Marquez. I think Pacquiao and Mayweather would be a fascinating fight.”

A lot at stake: Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams are both putting their standing in the boxing world at serious risk by facing one another on Dec. 5 in Atlantic City, N.J., on HBO Championship Boxing.

That’s not all that’s at stake, though. Arum believes that if Pavlik-Williams gets good ratings on HBO, it could give the sport a big boost.

“I know it’ll be sold out at the gate,” Arum said. “What we’re hoping for is a humongous rating on HBO. If we do that, maybe the powers that be will increase their budget for boxing rather than decrease it. It would be good for everyone.”

Source:
          The RING