Watch Pacquiao vs Cotto Fight Live Streaming

October 31, 2009

Firepower Pacquiao vs. Cotto Two Weeks Out

What are the fans expecting from the Pacquiao – Cotto match?

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

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

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

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

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

However, should Pacquiao win they are ready to discredit with their third piece of evidence , that Pacquiao has forced Cotto to weigh in at a catch weight instead of the welterweight limit. (See also: “Fans of Floyd Mayweather” camp)
The “Cotto is Shot” Camp

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

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

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

Watch HBO Boxing PACQUIAO vs. COTTO Firepower Preview Videos

HBO Boxing has released a series of preview videos on youtube with interviews and insight from boxing analysts, the fighters, and the coaches of Pacquiao and Cotto. HBO 24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto continues Saturday, Oct. 31 (Halloween) with episode 2 of the 4 part series. The fight takes place on Nov. 14th at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight is promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions, enter the “Top Rank Official Firepower “Pacquiao vs. Cotto” Twitter Giveaway”.

Contact your local cable provider to subscribe to HBO. Watch the Emmy award winning HBO 24/7 series and all the upcoming boxing matches and sports specials that will be televised throughout the year on HBO.

HBO Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Cotto – Fight Preview (HBO)


HBO Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Cotto – Heart, Courage & Determination (HBO)


HBO Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Cotto – Size Up The Opponent (HBO)


HBO Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Cotto – Fighter Strategies (HBO)

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto: The Next Super-Fight

On November 14th two of the biggest stars in boxing will face-off for a PPV super-fight. These fights are something special for boxing; they are the types of fights that get the general public to pay attention to our wonderful sport of boxing. I go through a few different phases for a super-fight, here's a look at what life is like for The Bryguy:

PHASE 1: Going into a big fight like this I always envision an epic battle between two gladiators, blood and guts warriors, grit, sweat, anger, and other adjectives that sound tough and manly! I blog about what an amazing ballsy, kick-butt fight it will be. I talk to whoever will listen to my expectations, scientific analysis, and true gut feelings. This is a great phase to be in..

PHASE 2: Honey roasted Peanuts are set out, Bud Lights are cold, my scorecards are ready, and my girlfriend is patiently waiting until fight night is over(because she's been listening to me for a month, she knows THIS one is important). I then proceed to suffer through two or three horrid under-card fights, that if I'm lucky are complete mismatches and will at the very least end quickly. If I'm not lucky it's a Zab Judah mismatch that should have ended early, but he once again doesn't live up to expectation and drags me through the miserable fight for ten or twelve rounds. This is phase filled with anxiousness and a little aggravation.

PHASE 2.1: The under-cards were terrible, but that's OK, the main event will be so amazing it will make up for everything! I refill my peanut jar, double check the fridge to make sure I have enough BL’s (because the main event will have me on the edge of my seat for at least ten rounds). I answer a few text messages driving home my prediction, letting everyone on the planet know what an amazing boxing mind I have. THE FIGHT: The main event ends as soon as it starts or is a patty cake match for twelve rounds, where on top of everything the decision is a debacle!(obviously there is the diamond in the rough, but so many do end in disappointment).

PHASE 3: Then comes the moping, tears, sadness, and complaining about forking over $50 bucks, "FOR THAT!” After that I swear off the sport forever because it's corrupt, doesn't treat its loyal fans with respect, and bleeds me dry every time I am forced to spend my hard earned cash! My girlfriend cues up Dancing with the Stars on DVR, and just yeses me to death until I finally stop my babbling and go to sleep in a Bud Light induced coma (She's very patient with me).

PHASE 4: The following day I read on Eastsideboxing.com how the winner will square off against another huge name in the sport for what will inevitably be the fight of the year! Now THAT fight is going to be the best fight ever! I can't wait to blog about it, talk about, and pay money for it! I guess that means it's back to phase one.

Well folks, I am here to tell you that I am knee deep in Phase one right now! Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are two guys who haven't ducked anyone, fight with true heart, and put on fights for the fans. There is no way this one can let us down. I am so deep into phase one that one blog won't cover this showdown. If I am going to do it justice I must break it into three parts:

PART 1: Why I Love Miguel Cotto

Miguel Cotto has been one of the most consistent fighters in the world of boxing over the past few years. There hasn't been another guy in boxing who has constantly stepped up competition, fought entertaining fights, and tested his own abilities quite like Miguel Cotto, except maybe Manny Pacquiao.

The reason Miguel Cotto is so fun to watch is that he IS beatable. I suppose that shouldn't be a reason why you love a fighter so much, but I think that was why Arturo Gatti was so popular. That's why every Diego Corrales fight was a must see, and it's probably why Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn't been able to find the fan-base he thinks he deserves. It's not that you root against a fighter; it's that you never really know how he will pull off the victory.

There is a crazy nervous feeling I get when Cotto steps into the ring with his opponent, because a lot of the times I've thought the other guy has the tools to beat him. Somehow Cotto has figured out a way to overcome that adversity, and that is what fans want in their fighters. That ability to dig deep and muster some energy, or skill that maybe even the fighter didn't know he had, it is what makes elite athletes so special.

Miguel Cotto for the most part looks like a machine when he enters the ring, chin down, gloves high, and his eyes glaring between his fists like a sniper peering through his scope. He is also very militaristic in the way he can systematically break an opponent down, as he did with Carlos Quintana, Paulie Malignaggi, Randall Bailey, Kelson Pinto, Lovemore N'dou, and many others. He'll chop you down whatever way he can, not shying away from bodywork, or with Branco, just banging away at the arms!

There have been many fights though where he wins using other tools in his arsenal, in 2005 Cotto faced off against Ricardo Torres and won that fight with his heart. The two traded bombs in the center off the ring for several rounds; until Cotto was the last man standing (The picture of Cotto at the end of that fight will always be a lasting memory for me).

In 2007 Miguel proved to the world that he was an upper echelon fighter when he disposed of two fast capable fighters in Zab Judah, and Shane Mosley. Against Judah he was taking on a fast, heavy handed fighter, who when his mind is in the game can beat just about anyone (of course his mind is never really in the game). Cotto overcame a vicious uppercut early in the fight, and fought through a severely damaged lip to impose his will, stopping Zab in the eleventh. Fighting Mosley later that year Cotto was beating the faster guy to punch and showed off some magnificent boxing skill that many didn't believe he possessed. He out boxed Mosley in an extremely entertaining fight, in which I think Miguel showed the ability to not only break opponents down, but also game plan and execute against another elite fighter.

In the lead up to the showdown against Manny Pacquiao all the talk has been about what the Pac-man is going to bring to the table, and rightfully so, he has had a run unlike anything I have seen in a long time. I feel however it's because of Cotto's only loss (Antonio Margarito) and his last fight (Joshua Clottey) that people are forgetting what a solid fighter Miguel Cotto is. In 2008 he took on the self-proclaimed "most avoided man in boxing" Antonio Margarito. The first half of the fight Cotto fought like he did against Shane Mosley, dancing around the ring, and putting on splendid display of his boxing skills (I still wish he had focused on the body instead of the head though). Then as the sixth round came and went, Cotto began to slow down and Margarito's punches started to take their toll, forcing Cotto to take a knee in the eleventh. Margarito was found with loaded hand-wraps in his next fight against Cotto victim Shane Mosley, begging the question of whether he had loaded wraps against Cotto as well.

In his last fight Cotto took on the very tough, and I feel much underrated Joshua Clottey. Cotto suffered a cut in the third round, and Clottey put on heavy pressure making it a close fight. Cotto had to dig deep in the championship rounds to pull off the split decision. The fight could have gone either way, but it seemed like Clottey just stopped fighting in those last rounds, and Cotto was able to walk away with the razor thin decision.

Is Cotto still haunted by the loss, and beating to Margarito? Maybe, I know I would not be able to overcome something like that. Did that affect him in the Clottey fight? I don't think so; I think Clottey is an underrated fighter, who will only be beat by the best fighters in the world. Let's not forget that Clottey’s only other loss is to Antonio Margarito, in which Clottey was making Margarito look very human for the first half of the fight, before he stopped boxing in the second half. Which brings up a few questions; were Clottey’s hands hurt as he claims? If so, he is quite a tough rugged fighter, were Margarito's hands loaded then as well? Where Clottey's hands fine, and he just has a habit of slowing down and not fighting towards the end of fights, as he did with Cotto? Either way Clottey is no pushover and can beat any fighter on any given night.

I love Cotto for many reasons, but one above all the others, he comes to fight (I also like some of his new tattoos, but mostly because he come to fight). Whether he's the wrecking ball that ran through Quintana, Branco, and Malignaggi, the Rocky Balboa who survived Ricardo Torres, or the finesse boxer who outpointed Shane Mosley; Cotto shows up and entertains on fight night. I have yet to watch Miguel Cotto step in the ring and not be entertained, and I don't see him letting me down on November 14th.

Pacquiao vs. 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
Pacquiao vs. Cotto: The Firepower Mega-fight
Date: November 14, 2009
Las Vegas, NV
United States of America
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."

Pacquiao vs. Cotto: Keys to Victory Part 2 - Training

35 days to go before the scheduled bout between WBO welterweight champion, Miguel Angel Cotto against the pound-for-pound number 1 and Ring Lineal Jr. Welterweight champion, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Miguel Angel Cotto knows that to beat a Manny Pacquiao, one must be very well prepared for that battle. For Manny Pacquiao always comes up with new surprises against his opponents, which enables him to shock the world time and again. The WBO welterweight champ is well aware of what Manny Pacquiao could do inside that squared circle. He is not just a small guy whom bigger guys can easily bully. Pacquiao is a little guy that beats the crap out and knocks the bigger guys to unconsciousness in multiple different weight divisions. And all these achievements by Manny Pacquiao have been well chronicled and recorded on video. And those videos, Cotto believes could give them clues as to what Manny Pacquiao could bring to the ring come November 14, and find a blueprint on how to dethrone the reigning pound-for-pound king. There were reports saying that the Cotto's camp are viewing the videos of Pacquiao's three loses, two of which were knock-out losses and the
other one was Pacman's first fight with Morales.

In today's fight game reviewing videos of previous fights of an opponent is a must, as fighters' styles rarely changes, this enables his opponents to know what to expect. Because it’s more likely that the opponent will use the things that worked for him in the past. And with that knowledge, it minimize the element of surprise, by adjusting to the opponent's style, devising moves and techniques to counter or negate his opponents' past effective moves and techniques. In many cases, making these adjustments takes time and effort. For one must do the moves and drills over and over again, up until these techniques become natural for the fighter. He would not need to over-analyze about what to do when the situation arises but he'll just naturally do whatever he practiced in the training camp instinctively. And this is something Miguel Cotto knows very well, as he started his training almost a month and a half before Manny Pacquiao started his training camp.
This allows him more time to adjust and practice the moves he needed to counter Manny Pacquiao's tactical abilities. Analyzing, devising and planning fight strategies seems to be lacking in Cotto's head trainer Joe Santiago's resume, who used to be Miguel's nutritionist, as compared to Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach.

It is also noted that since Miguel Cotto is the bigger man in this match-up, as Pacquiao's conditioning coach Alex Ariza noted during their promotional tour "He (Miguel Cotto) looks like 160lbs!" Not only Miguel Cotto require more time to adjust to Manny Pacquiao's techniques, he also needed more time to gradually go down in weight to make the 145lbs contracted official weight-in. As a fighters' body weight goes higher or lower, most of the time, the more time he uses to adjust to that new body-weight, the more effective he becomes in terms of conditioning. As a fighter goes up in weight, he would have time to fine-tune his speed, for fighters tend to be more sluggish as they go heavier, on the other hand, a fighter that goes lighter would means burning their own muscles, which means they tend to go weaker. But with enough preparation, a fighter can adjust his speed and power with his new body-weight.

Looking at the other training camp, Manny Pacquiao is training in Baguio City, Philippines to avoid paying huge amounts of taxes in the United States. He is being trained by the famed Coach Freddie Roach who molded Manny Pacquiao from being a "left handed bomber" into a well-rounded tactician. It should be noted that in each and every Manny Pacquiao's fights, the Pacman brings something new for the fans to witness. He keeps improving and he keeps learning with each training camp. It should be noted that the Manny Pacquiao who lost three times in the past, is not the same fighter compared to the Manny Pacquiao of today. This improvement from Manny Pacquiao is evidently the work of Coach Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao's training camp kicked off after their US Promotional tour, about 8 weeks before the scheduled fight. Wherein Manny Pacquiao needed to fly half way around the world to get to the Philippines, deal with jet lag and started training with Assistant trainer and bestfriend Buboy Fernandez. About one week after that, Coach Freddie Coach flew in to Baguio City to look over Manny's training. Coach Freddie Roach was impressed with Manny Pacquiao conditioning as they start their hard grind. It seems that Manny Pacquiao keeps himself in shape even during his "off season" days.

Manny Pacquiao, during his training has been followed by the fans and media. People in Baguio usually wait for him to jog by as early as 5 a.m. Manny is constantly surrounded by Baguio police force round the clock during his training. But a fan friendly Manny Pacquiao couldn't let his fans down and give in to autograph request and photo ops from time to time.

There were also reports that Manny Pacquiao sometimes sneaks out of his camp and join friends in a game of basketball at night, which upsets Coach Freddie Roach because it would put Manny Pacquio at risk of injuries.

There were times when Manny Pacquiao would jog along with Philippine Military Academy Cadets, pace with them and gradually pick up speed wherein the cadets were not able to cope up and Manny would end up leaving the cadets behind, running ahead of them. He was then invited for some rounds of target shooting at the camp, which again infuriates Coach Roach as he warns Manny to "Get serious now! We're preparing for a fight!”

Assistant Trainer Buboy Fernandez told media that "Manny Pacquiao knows himself and he knows what he is doing. When he trains, he is a work-machine. Most of the time you don't need to tell him to do things because he's going to do it anyways."

During Manny Pacquiao's training camp, the Philippines was ravaged by back-to-back typhoons, which flooded and damaged many parts of the country, including some parts of Baguio City where Manny Pacquiao trains. As of yesterday, 80% of power in Baguio City is down, and no roads are passable going in or out of Baguio City because of landslides. It was reported that last weekend; Pacquiao motored down Metro Manila to help out distributing relief good to the victims of the floods over there. And this week, Manny Pacquiao would want to lend a hand in helping people who were affected by the typhoon nearby where he is training.

So a Jose Luis Castillo motoring up the mountains to get to Baguio City is unlikely at this time, for the city needs to clear its' roads of rocks, debris and floods to be passable by motorists. The only way to get to Baguio City as of yesterday is through air transport. It is reported that Castillo's arrival in Baguio City would be delayed till he fly in on Sunday. Castillo, the former lightweight champion, now campaigning at welterweight is reported to go to Pacquiao's training camp and aid the pound for pound king as sparring partner. Jose Luis Castillo would bring his "pressure tactic" and power punching to the body similar to Miguel Cotto's as beneficial to Pacquiao's training.

It was also reported last week that Urbano Antillon and Shawn Porter has given Manny Pacquiao a rough time during their initial sessions of sparring. Roach stated last week that "Manny's condition is 40%" at the time while shaking his head. But as the days progressed and more rounds of sparring was logged-in, Manny Pacquiao somehow brought smile to Coach Freddie Roach's face as he slowly comes back to better fighting form. Porter was reported saying "Manny is definitely the best in the world today...He will shock the world all over again."

In each and every move Manny Pacquiao and this team makes, the media shall be behind them. It was reported that Manny Pacquiao is training to do a "Hit and run" tactic; that he shall employ a "three punch combination" and them move out of range, circle to the side. I'm not sure if this disclosure of fight plan to the media would be beneficial to Manny Pacquiao during fight night. Is this a ploy from team Pacquiao; saying one thing and then comes to the ring and delivers something that will totally surprise Cotto? Or are they confident that Manny Pacquiao's speed and skills would be too much for Miguel Cotto to handle that they don’t' mind disclosing their fight strategy? From Manny Pacquiao, to his trainer, sparring partners, advisers, down to his dog "Pacman", you'll definitely going to read about them in the Internet.

Again, the big question is, "Will all these distractions during training affect Manny Pacquiao's performance in the ring come fight night?"

One more week to go in Baguio City and Manny Pacquiao and his team will fly to Los Angeles to train at the Wild Card gym, which means, he'll have spend at least one day travelling and several days of jet lag before he could go back to business of training for a fight.

On the other hand, Miguel Angel Cotto trains in Florida. He trains quietly in secret. For indeed in numerous wars in history, they keys to victory are proper preparation and the element of surprise.

The big question regarding Miguel Cotto's camp would be "What's he cooking?"

With one month to go before their fight billed as "Firepower", these two champions know what it takes to defeat champions. They've been there before, they've done it before. Now, its time for both of them, two of the very best in their time, step in the ring and duke it out. And as boxing fans, we surely hope that both fighters had done their homework to bring us the very best fight they could bring.

There's no doubt in my mind that the biggest fight this year is Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao. And it is evident that everybody is excited about it.

Pacquiao vs. Cotto Will Send Manny Into Retirement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boxing prediction on Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto

Paulie Malignaggi, the former IBF lightwelterweight champion has gone on record to give his prediction on November 14th's highly anticipated mega fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Malignaggi who himself has extremely solid skills and is always exciting in the ring, feels that Manny Pacquiao is trying to bite off more than he can chew in taking a fight with Cotto.

In taking on Miguel Cotto, Paulie Malignaggi tells Joseph Santoliquito of Ring Magazine that Manny Pacquiao "is definitely trying to bite off more than he can chew."

Malignaggi went on to tell the publication that the arguement can be made that Pacquiao's win over Oscar De La Hoya was a win over a shot fighter. "I know (Pacquiao) beat Oscar but you can make the argument that Oscar was pretty shot by then."

Malignaggi went on to add that Cotto, a fighter he faced in the past hits really hard. "Cotto's punches hurt, believe me I felt them," stated Malignaggi, adding: "I don't know if Manny can take that from such a bigger guy who's close to the top of his game."

So what's Malignaggi's final prediction on Pacquiao vs. Cotto? "Cotto wins by decision in a great fight,” predicted Malignaggi.

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. You can catch a live telecast of the fight on HBO Pay-per-view. (Check your local cable and satellite providers for more details.)

Pacquiao Frozen In Time

Despite continuous evidence of the contrary, Manuel Perez still believes that Manny Pacquiao’s skills are stuck where they were during his first fight with Erik Morales. This is in reference to his recent article entitled Pacquiao-Cotto: Manny Needs to Focus on Miguel, not Mayweather where he states:

“Pacquiao will need to be at 110% if he wants to be competitive against Cotto. I don’t think he will. I see this as a repeat of the Erik Morales vs. Pacquiao I fight.”

Really? How? In what parallel universe is it that Pacquiao is still reckless? In what parallel universe is it that Pacquiao still doesn’t know how to utilize his lead (right) hand? I don’t get his logic. In Mr. Perez’s fantasy world, Pacquiao is still the rash brawler that doesn’t know how to use his right hook. That Pacquiao, in reality, is gone.

Pacquiao nowadays is decisively 1.) Faster 2.) Stronger 3.) Has Better Balance 4.) More Tactical 5.) More Experienced that he was a few years ago. He is not invincible, by no means, as can be seen in his fight with Oscar Larios; but he’s improved leaps and bounds over the following years that to say that his performance with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 will be the same as his performance with Morales of yesteryears will be the same is simply absurd.

Cotto is decisively stronger than Erik Morales but “El Terrible” was definitely faster, and more cunning. Cotto’s defense is not as good as Morales’. The only reason Erik Morales was dropped in their second fight was because he was too game to exchange and brawl with the Pacman. A stupid albeit fearless move that I still applaud today. If Morales had kept his composure then, he wouldn’t have been beaten to a pulp and Pacquiao would’ve won with a decision. But it would’ve made for a much less entertaining fight.

Cotto’s left hook is dangerous for sure and the Pacman has been known to still walk into punches from time to time but in the end I strongly believe that Pacquiao’s incredible hand speed will baffle and stun Cotto and win the day. Besides Freddie Roach would’ve drilled Pacquiao to the breaking point on avoiding and countering those left hooks. He too, like Pacquiao, has Not been frozen in time.

I see Pacquiao winning by early KO or Decision depending on Cotto’s condition.

Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Pedro Martinez

Martinez beaten by Yanks. Jimmy Rollins strikes out with Carlos Ruiz on second in the fifth inning. The Phillies offense could only score one run, and Pedro Martinez allowed three in six-plus innings.The pitcher was clever and impressive, but A.J. Burnett was better. And Mariano Rivera, who struggled in the eighth but got Chase Utley to ground into a crucial double play, earned his record 38th postseason save. Because of those pitchers, the Yankees defeated the Phillies, 3-1, drawing even in the World Series with one win apiece -Philly.com

Pacquiao calls out Mayweather. Pacquiao is training in Hollywood for his meeting with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, but the pound-for-pound champion spared a moment Thursday to evaluate his chances of fighting Mayweather, the unbeaten pay-per-view king. Although the matchup almost certainly would be a financial bonanza for both fighters, Pacquiao thinks fans shouldn’t hold their breath.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Pacquiao said. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to fight.” -AP

Yankees’ Burnett makes most of his moment to shine. A.J. Burnett, the more dynamic of the Marlins’ promising duo, was relegated to spectatorship, to cheerleading.He witnessed hard-throwing, pedigreed cohort Josh Beckett begin an ascent to rarified fame in 2003, against the vaunted Yankees, who’d propelled themselves into the World Series thanks to an unlikely Aaron Boone homer

October 28, 2009

Notes from Manny Pacquiao's training camp

The door leading in to Hollywood's Wild Card Gym opened Tuesday afternoon and in walked Manny Pacquiao.

Boxing's top pound-for-pound fighter arrived back in L.A. this weekend, and although he's still recovering from the jet lag from the lengthy flight from his native Philippines where he trained for 31 days, Pacquiao is preparing to ramp up his conditioning as the days dwindle to his Nov. 14 welterweight showdown against Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

"He's tired right now, you can see it in his eyes," Pacquiao trainer's, Freddie Roach, said.

Pacquiao and Roach withstood typhoons that devastated other parts of the Philippines as they set up training camp in Baguio in the northern part of the country. The training was done in near-solitude by Pacquiao standards -- he is a national icon.

"I've never seen him more relaxed, his body is relaxed more than I've ever seen it," his U.S. advisor, Michael Koncz said. "The crowds in Baguio were very respectful of his need to be left alone during training."

One of Pacquiao's sparring partners overseas was former world lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, who reported Tuesday that "you have to have [guts] to get in the ring with [Pacquiao], he's very dedicated and is all about constant preparation. It's going to be a great fight. The more intelligent man will win, and Manny is very smart."

Since knocking out Ricky Hatton in a sensational performance May 2, Pacquiao has filmed a movie that will likely be released next year and have him starring as a father who transforms into a Superman-Batman-like superhero. He's also been declared an ambassador, won a peace/humanitarian prize and has decided to run again for a seat in his country's national congress. He lost a previous bid.

Pacquiao has to decide by the end of November if he'll seek a specific provincial office or pursue a national seat. The election is in May 2010, Koncz said.

Roach said he believes Pacquiao should avoid politics because "he can do more for his country in boxing than he can in politics, and in politics you can't make everyone happy like he does now."

-- Lance Pugmire

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

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

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

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

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

Pacquiao back to ‘normal’

Manny Pacquiao has reverted back to his old ways.

Despite the punishing effects of jet lag, Pacquiao still managed to give trainer Freddie Roach a reason to smile when the Filipino kicked off his sparring session on US soil on Wednesday at the Wild Card in Hollywood, less than three weeks before the November 14 duel with Miguel Cotto.

Sparring 10 full rounds with unbeaten super-welterweight Shawn Porter and super-feather Ray Beltran and one guy Porter handpicked to help, Pacquiao didn’t resort to things that made Roach cringe the last time he worked out in Manila over the weekend.

“It’s back to normal,” said Roach on the phone from the sweat shop located on Vine Street. “I was surprised that he looked good today despite the jet lag. There was no more playing around this time.”

Pacquiao, Roach noted, did four rounds with Porter then had three apiece with Beltran and the unidentified fellow who subbed for original choice Raymond Serrano.

“He had a lot more focus today than the last time (in Manila),” added Roach.

Roach said another former sparmate, super-welter Rashad Holloway, will likely be called in to replace Serrano as Pacquiao hikes the number of rounds to 11 on Thursday and as much as 12 on Saturday before he begins to slow down next week.

Roach expects Pacquiao’s showing to improve even more in the coming days now that they are training under familiar conditions.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao and Roach are hosting a teleconference call this Thursday to give the media a deeper look into their training camp.

Watch out for Cotto’s power

The fight between Miguel Angel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas highlights two traits needed by world-class boxers—power and speed.

Cotto is regarded as a power puncher while Pacquiao, although he packs power in his mitts, is better known for his speed. These two qualities would play a huge role come fight night.

Power

THE power of a punch in general is defined by two things: by the weight thrown behind the punch and by the speed by which the punch is thrown.

The reason Cotto is an interesting fighter to watch is because he throws all his punches with a lot of power. He puts his body behind every punch. His conditioning level is so high he can sustain this work rate all throughout a fight.

This same power was evident in his fights against quick fighters—Shane Mosley and Zab Judah, two (stylist) boxers who rely on speed for their victories but have been beaten by Cotto.

Cotto is a natural welterweight. He should have a heavier punch that, if it cleanly connects, may hurt Pacquiao. The Filipino, although expected to be in tip-top shape, could still get hurt.

On the other hand, Pacquiao brings in something alien to Cotto. Pacquiao’s power is generated not only by his weight but also by his speed. A lot of his sparring partners swear he has the power of a middleweight (160 lb) and, if both fighters weigh the same on fight day, Pacquiao will readily multiply his power through the speed he inherently possesses.

There is no doubt about the Filipino’s power in the 140-lb category. He demonstrated he can drop “naturally bigger men” against Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton—the latter with a very quick win.

Speed

Cotto may be fast versus other welterweights, but Pacquiao is clearly faster.

Cotto looked perplexed in his last fight against Joshua Clottey (although it can be argued that a cut above the eye that caused blood to cover his eye may have slowed him down). Clottey, evidently more agile, was picking his punches; connecting when he wanted with jabs and straights and left Cotto flat-footed at times, revealing a weakness in the latter’s defense.

Cotto needs speed to get away and react to Pacquiao’s punches and to be able to tag “The Pacman” with his left hooks.

Ability to position for the punch (agility and leg power)

Over the last couple of fights, Pacquiao has proven to have honed the ability to move well and find the openings to throw from various angles. Leg movement and positioning honed by rigorous drills at the gym molded Pacquiao into a well-oiled machine.

Cotto lately has been a stand-up fighter relying on torso movement rather than leg movement to find openings. He relies heavily on his power punches to the body that he does not seem to give emphasis on moving away from his opponent.

If Cotto can find a way to cut the ring and box-in Pacquiao, then throw well-timed body shots, he may be able to slow down the Filipino.

With calculated movements Cotto can conserve enough energy for the long haul and steal the win in the later rounds.

Although the speed factor gives Pacquiao a huge edge, as they say, a power puncher will always have an advantage. A power puncher will always have chance to win a fight even if he is way down on points. Cotto’s power will be something to watch out for.

Pacquiao vs. Cotto: Breakdown and Prediction

pacquiao vs cottoBy Ted Sares - I think it was a very smart move by Miguel to move the whole team to Tampa for this fight and for the last fight --Joe Santiago

He is right where I want him to be, perfect --Freddie Roach

These two will fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 14 in what promises to be another great war between two superstars—this one at a catch weight of 145 pounds. Cotto is 34-1 with a lofty KO percentage of 77.14 while Pacquiao is 49-3-2 with an impressive KO percentage of 68.52.

The Breakdown: In many ways, these two are more alike than not. They are skilled, have great heart, are great sportsmen, and represent their respective homelands with dignity and class, but enough of the niceties, let’s cut to the chase..

Level of Opposition:

Manny has fought 9 fights against 5 guys who arguably have a great shot at being inducted into the Hall of Fame. But he also fought and beat fine Thai and Filipino fighters with great records coming in. If you throw a dart at his list of opponents, you might, for example, hit South Korean Seung-Kon Chae (23-0), Mexican Oscar Larios (56-4-1), Thai Wethya Sakmuangklang (41-3), or Colombian Jorge Eliecer Julio (44-3).

Cotto’s list of opponents is also impressive. It includes name like Zab Zudah, Sugar Shane Mosley, and Antonio Margarito. He is now coming off a split decision win over the tough Joshua Clottey, a fight in which he showed that he can still fight through adversity.

Style

Cotto is a boxer/puncher but most often, he is a stalking and menacing presence that carefully breaks down his opponents with heavy and punishing body attacks. In his fight with Mosley, he showed he is far more than a banger; in fact, he seems to add to his technical skills each time he fights.

But speaking of skills, Pacquiao now seems to possess an arsenal the qualitative content and completeness of which only Floyd Mayweather Junior can stake claim to. With his in-and-out whirlwind movement, effective jabs, fight-ending hooks from both hands, solid stamina, and a sound defense, there is little to criticize. As for speed, Pacquiao is flat out faster than Cotto in every way, particularly with his foot movement.

Both have one punch Knock Out power, though in my opinion, Cotto is stronger than Pac Man at this weight and if he connects flush, he could send Pac Man back to General Santos City faster than you can say “Boricua.” But Pacquio’s ability to send Cotto to Caguas dreamland should not be underestimated. It will be interesting to see what happens when Miguel tests Manny with his first rattling body shot.

Chin

Cotto has been hurt on a number of occasions and I see his chin as being relatively weaker than that of Manny’s, but his recuperative power and strength advantage make this a wash. Manny has been hurt badly as well, but it occurred too far back to be meaningful in my view.

Ring IQ

Both are savvy and experienced fighters, but I believe Pacquiao has the edge as he can adapt to different situations faster. However, Cotto showed he can adjust as well in the Mosley fight and then later against Clottey when he fought from the outside during the last rounds. Yet, was this from being overly cautious perhaps as a result of the so-called “Ghost of Margarito,” or was it because Clottey held back for some inexplicable reason and did not press the action? If a similar situation develops in this fight, Pacquiao will not be reticent and will jump on Cotto faster than you can say “Pinoy.”

Intangibles

These are particularly important. Let’s start with …

1) Momentum: Pac Man gets the clear nod. He is on a great streak of big wins (Hatton, De La Hoya, Diaz, Marquez, Barrera, Solis, Morales, and Larios). Cotto, however, is coming off a close SD win, a walk-over win with Michael Jennings, and a devastating TKO loss to Margarito. More importantly, the loss to Margarito raises questions as to whether he is as good as he once was.

2) Cuts: Both fighters are prone to cuts, so the effectiveness of their respective cut men could play a key role here. It certainly did in Cotto’s last outing. Moreover, Manny’s body is more rested than Cotto’s.

3) Trainers and Camp: Freddie Roach vs. Junito’s relatively new corner. On April 8, 2009, Cotto fired his uncle, Evangelista Cotto, from the team's staff, following a reportedly violent discussion. He then appointed Joe Santiago, who had been his nutritionist, as his new trainer. Though he guided Miguel to victory in the Clottey fight, the clear nod goes to Roach. Look, you don’t argue with his kind of success.

However, there have been rumors (which I don’t necessarily buy) that the strong chemistry between Freddie and Manny has been straining some. If true, this evens out what could be an obvious advantage for Pacquiao. The typhoons have devastated the Philippines while Manny was training there. How this might impact him is conjectural, but it did, in fact, force Roach to break camp early against Manny’s objections. Still, it could provide an incentive for Manny in the fight. This is a classic intangible factor. On balance, it does appear Cotto is having a more serene camp than Pac Man.

4) Cotto's loss to Margarito: Some say it was suspicious and therefore the severity of it should be discounted. But even assuming that to be so, the beating took place so suspicious or not, the damage was done.

5) Catch Weight: Cotto coming down; Pacquiao coming up favors Cotto, though Pacquiao seems to take his strength with him as he moves up in weight.

6) Dimensions: They are both about the same size, but Cotto has a naturally bigger frame.

Outcome

I see Pac Man beating Miguel Cotto in a fast paced action fight in which Manny will exploit Cotto’s weakness beginning in the mid rounds (but I don’t see it happening the other way around). This exploitation will be enhanced by Pacquio’s incredibly fast in-and-out movement accompanied by just about every punch in the manual-- and each thrown with malice aforethought—as he cuts and befuddles Cotto and starts to slow down his trademark stalk as he lands punches from every direction.

Now then, I clearly remember Cotto backing up in the late rounds against Clottey and I think I even might have seen glimpses of “Margorito” being somewhere in that ring. If Cotto backs up against Pacquiao (and I think he will at some point), the Filipino superman will be on him fast and will not let him off the hook. Of course, if Pac back up against Cotto going into the late rounds, that could spell doom for him, because Cotto is a stalker extraordinaire and who knows how to close off a ring and knows how to close a fight.

In sum, given his superb performance against Ricky Hatton and given Miguel’s not-so-superb performance against Clottey, Manny may well win within the distance, perhaps on cuts. Cotto will not like the overwhelming variety of weapons he faces including stinging jabs, right hooks to the head, left hooks to the jaw, brutal uppercuts (remember Margorito), speed, and in-and-out movement the likes of which he has never before seen. Miguel, on the other hand, will show Manny nothing new except strength and maybe one of the best body attacks in boxing. But speed will be the decisive factor here and speed is what Manny Pacquiao is all about.

Dundee not betting on a Pacquiao win vs Cotto

For the third time, legendary trainer Angelo Dundee is keeping off his bet on Manny Pacquiao in his Nov. 14 title showdown with Miguel Cotto.

Despite being proven wrong twice before by the Filipino boxing champion, the 88-year-old Dundee thinks reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title holder Cotto has got what it takes to pull off a stunning upset.

Hall of Fame trainer Dundee visited Cotto's training camp recently in Tampa, Florida, and was convinced the Puerto Rican champion can beat Pacquiao based on what he had seen.

“If I had to pick anybody in the world to fight Pacquiao, it would be Cotto," Dundee, who recently moved in from Miami to Tampa, told Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, whom he chanced upon at Cotto’s Florida training camp.

“Cotto has the best chance of anybody to beat him (Pacquiao) because of his physical power and strong left hook."

Despite being a revered boxing personality involved in the “sweet science" for more than six decades now, Dundee has never got it right in Pacquiao’s last two fights.

The long-retired trainer helped prepare superstar Oscar De La Hoya when he fought the "Pacman" a year ago in a mega-fight that ended with boxing’s "Golden Boy" quitting on his stool just before the ninth round of their "Dream Match" showdown.

The bout proved to be De La Hoya’s last as he retired shortly after.

And only last summer, Dundee also picked two-time junior middleweight champion Ricky Hatton to beat the hell out of Pacquiao. The opposite happened as the 30-year-old General Santos City native knocked the lights out of the boxer from Manchester and scored a swift, second round technical knockout.

As the man who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, Arum wouldn’t come out in public as to who he thinks will win the much-anticipated slugfest at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

But having seen the two fighters sweat it out in training camps, the veteran boxing promoter, undoubtedly, is a lot impressed with Pacquiao’s work ethic.

“I think, in general, both guys looked very, very good," he said.

“Cotto looked strong. He’s Cotto. He works hard for two hours, He does all his sparring. He’s in tremendous shape," said Arum of the 28-year-old champion from Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Yet for Arum, Pacquiao does more than that.

“I know Cotto works hard, but in contrast to the other guy (Pacquiao), it looks like he’s taking a vacation," said the 77-year-old promoter. - GMANews.TV

Cotto Trainer Santiago's Point: The Fighters Will Do The Fighting


Joe Santiago looks like a guy who might sell you insurance or do your taxes or fix your car.

There are no serious scars on his face or wrinkles under his eyes, and he doesn’t have one of those crooked, telltale noses that says he’s been in a few ring wars. His fingers are all pretty straight, and if you passed him on the street, you wouldn’t look at him twice.

He looks young and educated, someone you might meet at a stockholders meeting.

So how did this guy become head trainer of one of the best fighters in the world? Aren’t trainers suppose to look like Mick from the Rocky movies? You know, the gravelly voice, the cauliflower ear, maybe a stogie stuck in the corner of his mouth. A real trainer should be older than dirt and he should wear tired shoes and a watch cap. He should be someone who could tell you how he almost won the middleweight title back in 1959, but he got cut in the 13th round when he was fighting Kid Savage at The Garden, but damn, he was so close. If they just could have stopped the cut from bleeding.

That’s not Joe Santiago.

Bet a few eyebrows popped up when he suddenly took over the responsibility of getting Cotto ready to fight Joshua Clottey this past June. Wasn’t Santiago a nutritionist or something? So how did he get this job?

Well, he pretty much inherited it.

When Cotto’s uncle/trainer, Evangelista Cotto threw a cinder block through the car window of Cotto’s new Jaguar after the two had an argument and threw a few punches back in Puerto Rico earlier this year, their relationship became a little strained. The uncle was let go, camp was moved to Tampa and Santiago was handed the franchise.

Santiago passed his first test when Cotto beat Clottey despite a bad cut he suffered in the early rounds. But there were some problems in the corner that night.

“Sometimes in the corner we were a little late getting in and getting out and being where we should be between rounds,“ Santiago said on a recent conference call. “We had different people going in there and at times, it was difficult to work.“

With the biggest fight in Cotto’s life just up ahead, they need to smooth out those rough edges.

The franchise will earn about $10 million on Nov. 14 when Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) defends his WBO welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, though the fight should carry an asterisk since Pacquiao’s corner demanded they fight at a catch weight of 145 pounds instead of the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.

But Cotto and his camp don’t seem too concerned about the catch weight. Cotto weighed 146 for his last fight, that gutsy win over Joshua Clottey.

So what about Santiago. Is he in over his head?

“I have known (Cotto) for seven years and I know they talked about bringing in well-known trainers,” Santiago said from their training camp back at the Fight Factory in Tampa where they trained for the Clottey fight. “But I think the fact that I have known him for a long time and he feels comfortable with me gave me an advantage over all those guys. I think it‘s a question of getting everybody on the right page and I think we’ve done that.“

While Santiago is still learning his way around as a head trainer, Pacquiao will be sitting in his corner listening to Freddie Roach, one of the most respected trainers in the game. But Santiago said he doesn’t feel intimidated.

“I have a lot of respect for what Freddie Roach has done, but it has nothing to do with us,“ Santiago said. "It’s the fighters that are going to do the fighting. They have their work to do and we have our work to do. As long as our guy wins, we are going to get recognized for it.”

Promoter Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, said Roach, who has talked about a first-round knockout, is a great trainer, but he’s also a great psychologist.

“A lot of what Freddie says is to get in camp Cotto’s head,“ Arum said on the same conference call. “There is nothing wrong with that. That’s boxing. The fight could go a lot of different ways, and that’s why it’s going to be a great fight.“

Any predictions from Cotto’s camp?

“On the 15th, we will be at 145 pounds, no question,” Santiago said. “On the 14th, it’s going to be a great night. And on the 15th, we are going to celebrate with the country of Puerto Rico.”

Pacquiao works out at Wildcard


*click the image to view more.

Six-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao worked out Monday with chief trainer Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood during his first day training since arriving in the United States on Saturday. Pacquiao is preparing for his upcoming “FIREPOWER” welterweight championship fight against three-time world champion and the pride of Puerto Rico Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao vs Cotto is promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate, and will take place November 14 at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It will also be available on pay per view.

Source: fightnews.com

Fight still on even if Cotto is 2lbs overweight

Even if Miguel Cotto comes in over the catch weight for his Nov. 14 showdown with Manny Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach would still agree to push on with the fight.

Of course, on one condition.

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion from Puerto Rico has to be just two pounds over at 145. Anything more than that, and the 12-round title bout would be called off.

“That’s the highest we could go (147 pounds). I would call the fight off if he comes in weighing more than that," said Roach, now back in the comforts of his Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, California after a month-long stay in the Philippines for the first part of Pacquiao’s training camp for his Nov. 14 slugfest with the 28-year old Cotto.

“We’ll let that fight happen, but I think 147 pounds is our limit."

Floyd Mayweather Jr. came up with that devious plan in his recent comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez as he came in two pounds heavier than the agreed catch weight of 144.

Although the unbeaten American shelled out $600,000 ($300,000 per pound over) as penalty for being overweight, Mayweather was spared from draining his body to meet the catch weight, and thus, came out fresh and the stronger fighter between the two.

In contrast, Marquez had to add weight (from 135 pounds to 144) in his first foray in the welterweight class, resulting in a spectacular, one-sided win for the 32-year old Mayweather.

Cotto has not fought below the welterweight limit (147 pounds) since 2006 and needed to go two pounds below to make the fight possible.

In contrast, Pacquiao will be fighting as a welterweight for the second time in a year. He first fought at 147 when he retired the great Oscar De La Hoya in their “Dream Match" last December.

Under the terms of the contract, Roach said Cotto is bound to pay Pacquiao $1 million for every pound over the 145 catch weight.

The WBO could also strip Cotto of his welterweight title in case he comes in overweight.

Prior to departing for the U.S. for the last two weeks of training camp, Pacquiao already weighs in at 146.

Roach said he plans to have the boxing champion comes in at 140-142 pounds during weigh-in, and then be at 148 or 149 on fight night.

In contrast, Roach expects Cotto to be 160 by fight night.

“The bigger he is, the better for us," said Roach. – GMANews.TV

Source: gmanews.tv

Watching Manny Pacquiao train in the Philippines

The next time somebody says that it’s a small world please ignore him. Take it from me, having just done a whirlwind tour to the Philippines, then to New York, followed by a trip to Tampa, it’s still a very big world.

I recently visited the training camps of both pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines, and WBO titleholder champion Miguel Cotto in Florida. Since my first visit was to Baguio in the northern part of Luzon, where Manny is training, I will tell you about my impressions of Manny’s preparations in this article. In my next column, I’ll do the same about Miguel’s training base in Tampa.

To get to Baguio, one must first fly to Manila, the country’s capital. Philippine Airlines has a regular daily flight direct to Manila that includes a one-hour stop in Vancouver, Canada. Its rates are reasonable and the service is excellent.

The plane arrives in Manila at approximately 5 a.m., and the drive to Baguio takes four to five hours, depending on traffic. Only part of the drive is on a regular highway, after which the road continues through one small town after another with traffic moving very slowly. About one hour before arriving in Baguio, the scenery becomes spectacular. Green mountains and valley vistas highlight beautiful scenic views of the China Sea.

Baguio itself is a mountain town 5,000 feet above sea level. It was built by the United States after taking control of the Philippines from Spain after the Spanish American War. Our government constructed Camp John Hay, a beautiful recreational area with huge pine trees, a great golf course and other amenities. It served as a rest and recreation area for U.S. servicemen in Asia until 1990, when it was transferred to the Filipino government.

Camp John Hay now houses the Manor, a luxury hotel constructed entirely from Canadian logs. This is a very popular summer vacation resort for the Manila elite. Freddie Roach, Manny’s trainer and Alex Ariza, his conditioning guru, were both ensconced at the Manor when I arrived.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, chose to stay in a hotel in town which housed the gym in which he was training. If Freddie’s hotel rated five stars, which it does, Manny’s hotel was so awful it would not even get one star. If there was a minus category, it would rate a minus five. But there is no accounting for taste. Manny was happy as a clam at his hotel and refused constant requests to move to the more luxurious Manor Hotel where the rest of us stayed.

The gym that Manny trained in was not much different from the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California, so I could see right away why Manny and Freddie felt so comfortable training there. The residents of Baguio respected the rules with regards to private workouts, enabling Manny to train in relative solitude. On the other hand, the morning runs were quite different. Manny would start at five in the morning and soon, hundreds of runners would materialize out of the darkness and run with Manny up and down the hills and roads. It was quite a scene.

Manny’s workout at the gym can only be described as awesome. In more than 40 years as a boxing promoter, working with Hall of Fame fighters like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, and Roberto Duran, I’ve never anything like it. His training sessions go on for about four hours without a break. After the usual warming-up exercises, Manny boxes most days with two or more sparring partners, then hits the mitts with Freddie for at least 10 more rounds.

This display of energy and stamina exhausts anyone watching, Manny doesn’t stop. He skips rope and works the heavy and light bags continuously for more than an hour. Only then does Manny finally stand still, which allows his Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez to pound his midsection with a bamboo pole for about twenty more minutes. The brutal workout finally concludes more than four hours after it starts.

In the sparring sessions, Manny trots out his entire arsenal of tactics and weapons. I was amazed once again to see him attack from one side and then the other. When his sparring mate reacts, Manny’s no longer there but is either right in front of his opponent or on the other side entirely. This unique tactic of disappearing in plain sight is the “Siegfried and Roy” weapon in Manny’s arsenal.

The shear athleticism that Manny brings to his workouts reminds me of the great martial artist Bruce Lee. The more one reflects on Manny and his ring performances, the clearer it becomes that he is the Bruce Lee of boxing. This athletic style is unique in boxing to Manny. In more than four decades of promoting fights, I have never seen anyone like Manny Pacquiao and his Bruce Lee style of boxing.

The mitt sessions with Freddie were also revealing. While Manny hits the mitts Freddie coaches him in moves he will undoubtedly use when he faces Cotto. It is fascinating to watch the teacher and pupil converse while Manny pounds on Freddie’s leather pads.

Three years ago, the mitt session would have consisted of Freddie giving instruction to Manny. Over time Manny the pupil, having learned so much from Freddie, takes an active and important part in the dialogue which sets out the plan Manny will use in fight night against Cotto. Watching the two of them interact now is like being at a boxing ballet, so well attuned are they to each other.

After three days in Baguio I headed down to Manila to catch my plane home. It left at 5 p.m. Sunday and arrived in Las Vegas at about 6 p.m. Sunday. Somewhere, somehow, I picked up a day which seems only fair since I lost one when I flew to the Philippines.

I also came away with the impression that Manny is getting better, improving all the time. Bottom line, Manny is getting into great shape as he prepares to give us another Pacquiao-Bruce Lee type of performance. He knows that in Cotto he faces his toughest foe ever, a real tough, determined opponent.

In my next column I will discuss Cotto’s training and just what he is doing to counteract the typhoon that is Manny Pacquiao.

Source: lasvegassun.com

October 22, 2009

Pacquiao vs Cotto Face Off with Max Kellerman Round 1 HBO

Get the latest catch the quickies news about "Pacquiao vs Cotto" right now i consider myself as one of the biggest avid fan of Manny Pacquiao. Blogging about his current status, latest insights, boxing news is like pure fun for me. Now HBO release this Face off between two brave men Pacquiao and Cotto. Unveil the truth behind their intention of fighting in the ring.
HBO videos, HBO, Pacquiao vs Cotto Fight, Pacquiao vs Cotto Boxing Updates, Pacquiao vs Cotto, Pacquiao vs Cotto News

Manny Pacquiao said: I love to listen music, love song, i'm so romantic. My first tatoo, I tatoo my own, here in my ahh when i was 13 years old. I do like needle I do my own

Manny Pacquiao is better speaking Scottish


Manny Pacquiao is better speaking Scottish

October 21, 2009

Grateful For Pacquiao Vs Cotto

Although I'm grateful for Manny Pacquiao's upcoming clash with Miguel Cotto, I honestly believe that a bout with Shane Mosley would have been a much more explosive fight. Shane's the bigger man and a much more legitimate challenger in Pacquiao's pool of available fighters. He is widely recognized as the top champion in the welterweight division after his destructive win over Antonio Margarito, the same guy who handed Miguel Cotto his first loss.

That being said, it can be argued that the beating Cotto took from Margarito is in question after it was discovered that Margarito's handwraps were sprinkled with Plaster of Paris prior to his battle with Mosley. That fact alone leaves much to be debated and Cotto could almost be considered an undefeated fighter.

So even though it's not Shane Mosley, I still find myself excited over the prospect of Pacquiao slugging it out with Cotto in the squared circle. What's not to like? Pacquiao, who started his career at flyweight (106 pounds), will be fighting a true welterweight in Cotto, who's still in his prime, with a championship belt at stake. Adding more intrigue to the bout, Pacquiao is gunning for a seventh world title in his seventh weight division, a feat that no man has ever accomplished in boxing. Meanwhile, Cotto will be stating his case that contrary to what some people belive, he is not damaged goods after the brutal TKO loss that Margarito handed him.

The real excitement of this bout, however, is the fact that both of these guys have continued to take on tough challenges. Pacquiao fought the best there was in the lower weight classes, including the Mexican triumvirate of Morales, Barrera, and Marquez, on his way to the top. His most impressive performances have come recently, scoring victories over the legendary Oscar Dela Hoya, who many thought would win easily easily, and Ricky Hatton, who was once considered the top dog of the junior welterweight division. For his part, Cotto has also faced the best in the jr. welterweight and welterweight divisions. He defeated Shane Mosley in a close and difficult battle, stopped a prime Zab Judah, who was once considered to have the fastest hands in boxing, and also earned victories over former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey and former jr. welterweight champions Paulie Malignaggi and Ricardo Torres, who decked him twice before Cotto ultimately knocked him out.

What we have here is a legitimate contest where everyone can make a decent argument as to who can win and why he should win. We've got ourselves two of the elite fighters in the sport today that will march into the ring and lay it all on the line and hopefully, give us a fight of epic proportions that will reverberate for the years to come.

For that, we fight fans should be grateful.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: FightHype would like to welcome the talents of Kenneth Ragpala to the team.
Grateful For Pacquiao Vs Cotto source: fighthype

October 20, 2009

Mayweather Fight PPV Buys and Pacquiao vs. Cotto

Mayweather Fight PPV Buys and Pacquiao vs. Cotto

With news that the Floyd Mayweather Jr/ Juan Manuel Marquez managed to reel in some 1 million pay per view buys last week, online bookies are licking their chops over the potential betting volume that could spill in from the much anticipated Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight coming this November 14.

"It's all relevant," explains Don Shapiro of Gambling911.com. "You have this type of demand for a fight, the volume increases in terms of overall betting."

Pacquiao vs. Cotto should draw an even bigger audience for both PPV and online betting shops. PACQUIAO vs. COTTO will take place Saturday, November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev., and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT..It has a suggested retail price of $54.95.

Despite a fight many viewed as a mismatch between the bigger and faster Mayweather and the smaller and slower lightweight champion Marquez moving up in weight, the fight was a giant success on pay-per-view -- especially considering it went head-to-head with a UFC pay-per-view card. Many industry experts had expected a pay-per-view buy rate in the 600,000 to 700,000 range, according to ESPN.com.

The fight generated $52 million in domestic pay-per-view revenue and is only the fifth time in boxing PPV history that a nonheavyweight event has reached seven figures.

Whom you will bet in Pacquiao vs Cotto fight Part 2

WHO YOU LIKE? COTTO VS PACQUIAO (PART 2). Plus, Mayweather vs Marquez. Recorded Thursday, September 10 at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY. PRE-FIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE for Cotto vs Pacquiao featuring Bert Sugar (ESPN) and Bob Arum (Top Rank). Whom you will bet in Pacquiao vs Cotto fight Part 2

Whom you will bet in Pacquiao vs Cotto fight


Whom you will bet in Pacquiao vs Cotto fight

ESPN Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto

ESPN Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Video

Pacquiao Vs Cotto Fight update Tecate brings to Las Vegas


MONTERREY, N.L. MEXICO (Oct. 13, 2009) – Tecate, cerveza con carácter, announces the launch of a regional marketing campaign designed to bring boxing fans closer to the Nov. 14 encounter between Filipino star Manny Pacquiao (49-3, 37 KO’s) and three-time world champion Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KO’s) of Puerto Rico. The welterweight world title bout will be broadcast on HBO Pay-Per-View® from the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET.

“We have previously collaborated with Top Rank only in Mexico and are excited to give fans on this side of the border an opportunity to be a part of what is being coined the biggest fight of the year,” said Daniel Cuellar, sponsorship and media director for Tecate in Mexico. “Both boxers have a distinctive fighter spirit and embody boldness, passion, and character. This will surely resonate not only with our adult consumers, but also with boxing fans worldwide. We are thrilled to support this event and help create awareness through our campaign.”

Tecate is supporting the fight with an ad campaign that includes TV, radio and out-of-home. At retail, stores across the Western region will feature mass displays and POS materials, as well as commemorative 24 oz cans featuring Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.

To ensure boxing fans don’t let the economy keep them from enjoying the fight at home, Tecate will offer a $25 mail-in discount for the HBO PPV event with the purchase of an 18-pack of Tecate or Tecate Light. This offer will be valid only in select states across the country, including Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Leading up to the fight, Tecate will invite fans to a meet-and-greet with their favorite fighters, where they will sign autographs and take photos at the “Tecate Mobile Boxing Ring” in Las Vegas.

During fight weekend, Tecate will continue to turn this event into an experience by giving consumers over 21, the opportunity to win seat upgrades and witness the fight next to some of today’s hottest celebrities.

Holyfield breaks down Pacquiao vs Cotto and MORE

Former 4 time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield returns home to 8CountNews. Recently Evander made an appearance with "Iron" Mike Tyson on the Oprah Winfrey show. The two legends were there to set an example on how we as people should forgive one another. Tyson, on national television apologized to Evander for the 1997 infamous ear biting incident. Holyfield shares with the 8CountNews readers his thoughts on Tyson's apology, and his thoughts on Tyson's career as a whole. The former 4 time world heavyweight champ also talks about his career, and additional side projects that are important to him. Evander has a new project called "Going Green" where he aims his sights on global warming.

Additionaly, Holyfield breaks down the upcoming Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto fight coming up in November. Holyfield predicts that Pacquiao defeat Miguel Cotto due to speed and defense. Don't miss what else one of the greatest fighters of our time had to say in this exclusive 8CountNews Podcast!

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto - Official Update

TAMPA, FLA (October 19, 2009) -- With less than four weeks to go until FIREPOWER: MANNY PACQUIAO vs. MIGUEL COTTO, the World Welterweight Championship extravaganza, the major players in the most anticipated fight of the year will begin to make themselves available to the media.

From their Tampa-based training camp, Cotto’s head trainer JOE SANTIAGO and strength and conditioning coach PHIL LANDMAN, along with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, will host a Media Conference
Call, Tomorrow! Tuesday, October 20, beginning at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT to discuss Cotto’s conditioning and training as he prepares for the biggest and most important fight of his career.

Firepower: Pacquiao vs. Cotto will take place Saturday, November 14 at the soldout MGM Grand in Las Vegas , Nev and will be produced and distributed Live on HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Show Me Da Manny Episode 5 Video

Show Me Da Manny Episode 5 Video

Show Me Da Manny Episode 5 Video< - GMA Network brings back their forte in comedy with 'Show Me Da Money- featuring no less than world-renowned boxing champ Manny Pacquiao - who will be delivering his punch lines in his first-ever comedy show - and primetime queen Marian Rivera, who is out to unveil her funny side.

Show Me Da Manny Episode 4 Video

Show Me Da Manny Episode 4 Video

Show Me Da Manny Episode 4 Video - GMA Network brings back their forte in comedy with 'Show Me Da Money- featuring no less than world-renowned boxing champ Manny Pacquiao - who will be delivering his punch lines in his first-ever comedy show - and primetime queen Marian Rivera, who is out to unveil her funny side.


October 19, 2009

Miguel Cotto trains 100% condition for Pacquiao's KO


Miguel Cotto is now at his very crucial training in Tampa, Florida USA. At the Tampa Fight Factory Gym, Miguel continue to gain more practice and it is an 8 weeks of training.

Many of Miguel’s Fans had come and watch in a ring located in the middle of the field. As he do his regular training on the gym. Together with his trainer, Joe Santiago, he must do an intensive exercise and sparring session in order for him to defend his title to the pound for pound boxer in the whole world Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

Here are some of his training video in Tampa, Florida.





Show Me Da Manny with Marian Rivera Episode 3 Videos

Show Me Da Manny Episode 3 Video

GMA Network brings back their forte in comedy with 'Show Me Da Money- featuring no less than world-renowned boxing champ Manny Pacquiao - who will be delivering his punch lines in his first-ever comedy show - and primetime queen Marian Rivera, who is out to unveil her funny side.




Show Me Da Manny Episode 2 Video

Show Me Da Manny Episode 2 Video

Show Me Da Manny Episode 2 Video. Get ready to rumble as the wackiest situational comedy hits the screen with the world-renowned boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, who is ready to deliver his punch lines in his first-ever comedy show. Joining Manny in his KiliTV debut is prime time queen Marian Rivera, who is out to unveil her funny side.




Manny Pacquiao Showbiz Images


Show Me Da Manny Episode 1 Video

Show Me Da Manny Episode 1 Video

Show Me Da Manny Episode 1 Video. What happens when 'Pound-for-Pound' King Manny Pacquiao team up with the Queen of Primetime TV Marian Rivera? The result - a totally hilarious show that is sure to tickle the hearts of Filipinos anywhere.



Source: http://sports.inquirer.net | http://sports.espn.go.com | www.philboxing.com | www.boxingscene.com | www.examiner.com | www.eastsideboxing.com | www.hbo.com/boxing