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Cotto trains ahead of Pacquiao

Cotto trains ahead of Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - His fight with Manny Pacquiao is still 11 weeks away and a handful of kinks have yet to be ironed out, but that has not stopped Miguel Cotto from plunging into training mode.

The Puerto Rican WBO welterweight champ started sweating it out on Monday, running at the Freire de Cidra Stadium in his hometown of Caguas, and capped his first practice by working on the heavy bags, according to Examiner.com's Ricardo Lois.

Cotto is scheduled to face Pacquiao on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas in a fight that is not only several months away but also a couple of issues from being formalized. Most of the kinks center on the catch weight, with Cotto saying he will only stake his title only if the match is pegged at 147 pounds.

Promoter Bob Arum announced that the fight would be at a 145 lb catch weight.

Cotto breezed through the initial hurdles set for him by trainer Joe Santiago.

"I feel good to be starting," Cotto told Carlos Gonzalez of Primera Hora. "I am going to take things little by little, working three days a week. I needed to be in the gym again."

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is busy honoring numerous commitments in the country.

Team Pacquiao has already announced an eight-week camp for the Cotto bout. And part of that camp could be spent away from trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

Arum has advised Pacquiao, an early 2-1 favorite in betting, to spend the first half of his training outside the United States for tax considerations.

Meanwhile, Roger Mayweather, trainer and uncle of returning former world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., has been arrested and charged with two felonies by the Las Vegas Police Department.

Roger, who was freed Monday after posting a $13,000 bail, was accused of coercion and battery with strangulation by professional female boxer Melissa St. Vil.

source: inquirer.net

Pacquiao Taking it Easy Way To The Top

I was going to write a well documented article on the marketability and quality of many young boxing talents around the globe, from countries such as Britain, USA, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Then I realized, hey, I need the hits. So, I’m going to have a bit of a rant about Pacquiao. Why is he building a legacy out of nothing. Yes, the non boxing fans will be fooled by his opponents disadvantages but experts such as myself certainly are not.

De La Hoya was shot. Dead at the weight and Roach knew it. That’s why he chose to fight him. Hatton was under prepared and past his peak and was vulnerable to big shots. Marquez, arguably beat the Filipino twice, in two bouts which PacMan Marquez did not win. So, you can see why I am not rushing to put Pacquiao at the top of Boxingnews24’s p4p list. I’d sooner have Jerry Hackney on it. Of course, Pacquiao is a good boxer, but that’s as far as I’ll go.

He is preparing to fight Cotto, who, as a matter of fact is also being forced to shed the weight and come in two pounds under the maximum welterweight limit which the bout is taking place at. That’s fair enough, however, Cotto has been forced to place his welterweight title on the line because Pacquiao wants to win his 7th title in as many divisions. Maybe this works in Pac land but for everyone else this is daylight robbery.

Ricky Hatton Speaks

It has been three months since Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs) lost inside two rounds to Manny Pacquiao at the MGM in Las Vegas. Until now, the 30-year-old former IBF, WBA and IBO light welterweight and WBA welterweight champion has been tight lipped about his boxing future and discussion about the devastating loss to Pacquiao in May. He has shunned all media requests for interview and discussion about his boxing future but today in the UK gave his fans some insight into his thoughts about the Pacquiao fight and his future with a full length interview on Sky Sports News. He stated, “There has been so much written about me in recent weeks that has been untrue that I thought it was about time I started doing some interviews and clearing up the issues I am reading about on a daily basis.”

On the Manny Pacquiao defeat, Hatton was quite open and frank about his preparation for the fight and stated, “To be honest when I walked to the ring on the night of the fight I knew I had left my best preparation in the gym three weeks previous. Before I went to the US to finish my training my weight was spot on and I felt great but when I arrived I think I had left everything in the gym in the UK. I knew my sparring in Las Vegas had not gone well and when I entered the ring I remember saying to myself that all I needed was one big shot and I could take out Manny and that was my hope. I knew it was going to be a big ask and by the time the first knockdown came it was Pacquiao that had landed fifty eight punches on me and I just couldn’t get into the rhythm I wanted to. I had my hands held low and everything was all wrong. It was a devastating loss and I still haven’t watched the fight and not sure when I will be ready to see the fight. It went from my best training camp in the UK to my worst ever camp when I overdid it in the last three weeks. That is the only things that niggles me about the fight and calling it a day. I know with better preparation I could have done better.”

When asked about his future in boxing he added, “I must admit when I see young lads get knocked out now it sends a shiver down my spine. I haven’t decided whether to carry on boxing or not but I know that I am going to have a good long rest from the sport before deciding either way. I have been doing this professional game of boxing now for 13-years and I have crammed 47 fights in that 13-years and they have been some tough fights. I have never been a master of defence and so those 47 fights have been exactly that – tough fights. I just think for the time being I have just had enough of it, for the time being. I am just going to enjoy the time with the family and my son Campbell and put my feet up. If one day I wake up and think I am ready to get the gloves back on, then I will return, but likewise-if that date doesn’t come, I won’t return and I know I have only been beaten by the two best pound for pound fighters in the world by Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio and there is no shame in that. I have won 5 world titles in two weight divisions and had a post war record crowd of 56,000 at the City of Manchester Stadium so I can hold my head up high. I may give it another go after a good rest but I will have to say watch this space and wait and see. At the moment I am not thinking about boxing and just getting on with my promoting.”

When questioned about a possible match with new WBA 140 pound champion Amir Khan he stated, “I am delighted for Amir–he has really turned his career around after a bad defeat and his performance was deserved for all his efforts. He is a wonderful talent and is on the start of his career. If I do decide to continue then this is a fight that would be a big night for British boxing, but it is well documented about my problems with Frank Warren and it would be a non starter unless I promoted it and not Frank. It all depends on whether I decide to continue boxing again however.”

Pacquiao Wants Cotto’s WBO Title to Be On the Line For the Fight

Manny Pacquiao is hoping that Miguel Cotto’s WBO welterweight title will be on the line for their November 14th bout at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. For Pacquiao and his legion of loyal boxing fans, the title is important because it will somehow give Pacquiao more validity as a great fighter because it will – if Pacquiao wins – be his 7th world title victory. Cotto, however, doesn’t want to have to pay the sanctioning fees to, which is what he’d have to do if his title was going to be on the line.

The sanctioning fees would be in the neighborhood of $300,000, so it’s hard to blame Cotto for not wanting to dish out that kind of money for this fight. Additionally, the fight is being held at a 145 pound catch weight instead of the normal 147 pound limit for a welterweight bout, meaning that Cotto might be weaker than he normally is for a fight because of the extra water weight he’ll have to take off to get down to 145.

It seems logical that he wouldn’t want to have to put his title on the line if he’s being forced to strip off weight that’s below the normal welterweight limit. The World Boxing Organization president Franciso Valcarcel is fine with the title being on the line for the 145 pound catch weight.

However, that doesn’t solve the problem of the sanction fees. Cotto doesn’t want to fork over that kind of money, whereas Pacquiao has no problems with paying it. His, though, will be a reduced amount of only $150,000. Pacquiao is the one that wants the title. Hence he sees no problems with paying the sanction fees for it to be on the line.

But, unless Cotto or his promoter Bob Arum springs for the bigger sum, Pacquiao will have to be satisfied with just fighting Cotto without the title. It’s hard to say what the hang up is about the title being on the line, because you really can’t call it a title fight if the bout is being held at a lesser weight.

The WBO president seems to be taking an odd look at this. If Pacquiao wants to fight for the title, then he should agree to take the fight at 147 and not push for a lower weight and still want the title on the line. That’s a bit unfair and I can’t blame Cotto one bit for not wanting to pay the sanctioning fees. Let Pacquiao come up to the normal weight, and then they can talk about sanctioning fees.

Hopefully, Arum doesn’t try to push Cotto into making this a title fight. It seems unfair to the Puerto Rican star to have his title on the line if it’s not going to be at the full weight. It just seems wrong. The belt wouldn’t change anything whether Pacquiao won the title or not.

It isn’t as if the public really cares whether Pacquiao has won one title or ten. Their main focus is that he’s fought good opponents and not the weaker, weight drained variety. This is why Pacquiao blew it in the first place when negotiating for the fight.

He should have agreed to fight Cotto at the full 147 welterweight limit if he wanted the title to be on the line. You can’t make a champion agree to come in at a lower weight, a move that benefits Pacquiao, in an effort to fight for their title. That’s really a joke as far as I’m concerned and makes it seem as if Cotto is being set up to fail.

Pacquiao Wants Cotto’s WBO Title to Be On the Line For the Fight

Pacquiao doesn't need Cotto or his belt

Pacquiao doesn't need Cotto or his belt

Truth be told Manny Pacquiao does not need Miguel Cotto, nor his belt. Just based on both fighters' recent history, it should be Cotto crawling on all fours wanting to fight Pacquiao to revive his slumping career.

I don't know whether Cotto is posturing or is simply stubborn when he said he wouldn't put up his WBO welterweight belt against Pacquiao even if he had to vacate it. Fighting words from the gallant Puerto Rican, but why would Pacquiao care?

If that's the case then Cotto isn't really interested in the biggest payday and break of his career after all. If I was a Team Pacquiao adviser, I'd simply tell Manny to walk and explore his many other options.

Mosley is willing and waiting in the wings and would even go down to 140 and take 40% of the pot just to dance with Manny. Of course there's still the option of paying Marquez step-aside money as Floyd Mayweather Jr. himself suggested and get right down to business with "Money May". Or he can stay in his division and fight the winner of Timothy Bradley and Nate Campbell next week at the Agua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs. Call me T.I. because fact of the matter is Manny, "you can have whatever you like". Such are the rewards of being the best and most popular boxer in the planet. When Cotto actually locates his heart after Antonio Margarito beat the crap out of him and fighting the last four rounds of his controversial win against Joshua Clottey on skates, then he can start acting like a diva.

Really? He will vacate his title just so Pacquiao wouldn't be able to get a shot at it? That's simply disrespectful in my book. You wouldn't even give a much smaller person a shot at a belt he very well deserves if he beats you just because of two almost meaningless pounds? Even when it means you are to get the biggest payday of your career? Really?

Pacquiao did not invent title fights at a catch weight, in fact great boxers like Sugar Ray Leonard have done it before him in the past. The welterweight limit is from 141-147 pounds, the 147 is just the maximum weight they can come in at the weigh-ins. Realistically, Pacquiao is really that small compared to Cotto so the two pounds only makes it sensible. Just a year ago, even Bob Arum himself said imagining Pacquiao in the ring with Cotto was ludicrous and he simply could not see it happening. That was then, this is now. And now all of a sudden it's ridiculous for Pacquiao to ask for a title-fight for asking Cotto to come down 2 pounds?

Let's put things in proper perspective. Pacquiao does not need Cotto right now. Actually, Cotto is fortunate that he is getting all this attention and publicity after his ho-hum victories and devastating loss to Margarito. A lot of people even consider him damaged goods and actually lost to Clottey. That's not to say I agree with that, I personally feel Cotto is still one of the toughest fights for Pacquiao out there but it doesn't mean it's the best fight for him necessarily especially if it would be a beltless fight and if Cotto would go out of his way just to not make it a title-fight. Pacquiao can fight Mosley who is a better sell for American veiwers and Pay-Per-View buyers anyway. You also finally get to see Pacquiao fight an African-American boxer, one of the best at that, as some people have been clamoring for. I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record but Pacquiao got options... Pacquiao got options....Pac-paca-pac-pa-pac-pac got chiki-chiki op-tions... Pacquiao got op-o-o-options. Broken record, scratch, scribble, dice and transform it, whatever it takes to send the message. Got it? Good. (By the way shout out to my boy DJ QBert, one of the best skratch DJs to have ever lived)

Perhaps somebody whispered something behind Cotto's ear for him to be confident of whatever happens at the moment. It's almost as if he is willing to just finish up his contract with Top Rank against whoever and jump ship to Golden Boy where promised greener pastures await. It makes sense. De la Hoya could have very well guaranteed Cotto a shot at Mayweather or a rematch with Mosley with some serious dough in tow. Nobody really believes that all Cotto and De la Hoya did was a round of golf a couple of weeks ago.

That's besides the point however. Last time I checked, Pacquiao hasn't signed any papers to fight Cotto yet. Cotto is a good opponent but there are better options for Pacquiao out there if Cotto insists on playing hard-to-get. He can go for Mosley's belts at 143 if he wants to rather than negotiate with a fighter people consider as "damaged goods".

Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao questions, no answers, no title....no fight

After all the punch and grab over whether or not this fight would actually happen, finally a deal was struck and the announcement was made. Bob Arum stated that the fight was agreed upon by both parties and that November 14th would be the defining moment in the careers of two of the sports most prominent warriors.

After all the celebration for the official announcement, there seems to be a few key issues that stand in the way, and some close to the situation have began to wonder whether or not we actually have a fight.

It's hard to believe that we don't until you stumble across one major detail......Neither signature has touched the contracts yet!

When Bob Arum was quoted last week as saying that "it should be done this week or early next", I knew there was more to the mix than what we were being told. It's one thing to have a verbal agreement over the phone from thousands of miles away (Cotto in Puerto Rico and Pacquiao in the Philippines) but it's another story when guys get to see things face to face and learn that some of the details were not completely addressed.

Seems there wasn't a complete understanding for whether or not the title would be on the line, and apparently, all the issues surrounding the economics have yet to be hashed out as well.

Arum was recently quoted as saying that sanctioning fees could tally up to $400K, however, research has revealed that $340K is the magic number, with both fighters forking over $150K a piece, and Arum contributing $40K as the promoter.

Many have jumped on Cotto's back for failing to pay his portion of the sanctioning fees, but few have stopped to notice that Pacquiao has yet to pay his either, and there is no clear indication that he will. Sounds odd in theory, but the only reason I would think he has failed to do so is because other aspects of the contract have yet to be resolved, as we know that he's more than game to carry out his end of the bargain.

The next few days will be very pivotal, but I guess Major League Baseball's World series being in October was a good thing. That's the reason Arum wanted to push the fight back to November as opposed to Pacquiao's October 17th request. Looks like now that extra month will be spent entirely on re-negotiating a fight that we were told was already complete.

Whatever the case may be....fellas....get 'er done!

Pacquiao visit highlights STAR day

MANILA, Philippines - It was near pandemonium the moment Manny Pacquiao stepped out of his black Hummer.

Work stopped and everybody cheered when the world’s No. 1 boxer dropped by The STAR office in Manila’s Port Area as what he described as “the country’s No. 1 newspaper” celebrated its 23rd anniversary yesterday.

The 30-year-old boxing icon was mobbed as he inched his way through the editorial section. People lined up along the hallways leading to the fourth floor of the building where a program and more fans awaited him.

It was his first visit to the newspaper’s main office since more than 12 years ago when he was still a rising star. That time he arrived in a Mitsubishi L300 van and left with a few copies of his fight photos.

Times have changed.

This time, he rode a Hummer, tailed by a couple of SUVs, police motorcycle escorts and bodyguards. He smiled as he stepped out amid loud cheers of “Man-ny! Man-ny!” in his long-sleeved shirt, black pants and leather shoes.

“I have come back to celebrate with you,” said Pacquiao, sharing the stage with The STAR editor-in-chief Isaac Belmonte, president/CEO Miguel Belmonte, director Kevin Belmonte and executive vice president Grace Glory Go.

Everybody cheered as Pacquiao, ever smiling, spoke.

“I salute every editor, every writer, every worker, every leader at Philippine STAR. What you have are not just words but dedication to truth, convictions of integrity and passion for excellence,” he said in a prepared speech.

“Your words are coupled with action. The role you play is very important to the lives of every Filipino. And I’m happy to share this moment with you. Through your support I got to where I am now,” continued the boxer.

He mentioned the newspaper’s sports columnist Quinito Henson, who played emcee, as one of the very first, very few who believed in him.

“The ring became the breeding ground of my dreams. Boxing became the platform of my victories. And all along The Philippine STAR was there to chronicle my journey. I thank Quinito for seeing and believing in my potentials,” he said, calling The STAR his partner, too.

“I believe that all of us are partners in progress. We are partners in serving the Filipino people. And as partners, we have different roles to play. We are not here just to entertain but inspire. We are not here just to make people watch but make people act.”

Pacquiao, who stayed more than an hour, even borrowed words from Mother Teresa.

“You can do what I cannot do, I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things. That is the power of partnership,” he said in his speech.

“In closing, let me congratulate you for being the country’s number one newspaper. I greet you with all my heart on your 23rd anniversary. Mabuhay ang Philippine STAR,” he said.

“Parang SONA (It’s like the State of the Nation Address),” Pacquiao said, and the room burst into laughter.

Then he went back to the editorial section and stayed a while, signing autographs and having pictures taken with the employees. A few female fans got away with kisses on his cheek.

“Ang bango-bango mo, Manny (You smell so good),” said one giggling fan.

Through it all, he smiled, obviously enjoying himself.

“I’m happy when I make people happy,” he said.

Pacquiao mulls initial training in Cebu

Pacquiao mulls initial training in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines -- In preparation for his November clash with welterweight star Miguel Cotto, IBO junior welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is reportedly planning to kick off his training in Cebu City.

In a TV interview, Pacquiao said he will be holding initial workouts in the famous southern city before flying to the US to train at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. He added that he is eyeing to wrap up his preparations in Marbel, South Cotabato. 

If his plans push through, this would mark the first time Pacquiao has trained in the Philippines since his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera in 2007. He has consistently trained in Roach’s Gym since 2008. 

Pacquiao’s bout with Cotto will be reportedly staged on Nov. 14.

Pacquiao vs Cotto Pressure Raised, WBO Title at Stake

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Filipino boxing hero and world pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao has insisted that his “Fire Power” showdown with Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas be for Cotto’s welterweight title and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says he “has no problem with that, let’s have it done.”

Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin “Jeng” Gacal told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he had spoken to both Arum and WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel and told them that Pacquiao wants the Cotto fight where the Puerto Rican had agreed to a catch-weight of 145 pounds to be a title fight and that both men had agreed.

Arum had earlier been quoted as saying the Pacquiao-Cotto fight would not be for the WBO 147 pound belt because apparently the fighters , particularly Cotto, wanted to save on the WBO sanction fees. At the same time boxing writer Michael Marley quoted Arum as saying “no one cares in the US about the belt.”

But after Gacal conveyed Pacquiao’s demands to Arum, the Top Rank promoter told Gacal he was ready to make it a battle for Cotto’s belt.

Gacal quoted Valcarcel as s aying “all or nothing” in reference to the fight, insisting that Cotto’s title be on the line.

Well known ring physician Dr. Allan Recto told us he had spoken to the WBO president Valcarcel who informed him that the sanction fee Pacquiao would have to pay amounts to $150,000 but gave no indication of how much the champion, Cotto, would be assessed.

Valcarcel also told Dr. Recto that Arum had told him before that “he was willing to pay the whole amount – for everybody.”

The WBO president said Pacquiao has “to write the WBO a letter of request. Then he talks to Bob Arum and Bob will inform me. Arum is willing to do it, you know. Now after that we can push Miguel Cotto to do it. We can both (Arum and Valcarcel) pressure Cotto to do it.”

A victory over Cotto in a WBO world welterweight title fight will reinforce Pacquiao's incredible legacy and establish the certified Philippine hero and a hero of Asia as perhaps the greatest fighter of all-time with an incredible seven world titles.

Floyd trainer hails Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines -- While Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues to verbally lambaste Manny Pacquiao, his uncle and trainer is slowly becoming a believer of the Filipino ring icon.

Roger Mayweather initially thought Pacquiao would get smothered by much-bigger foes Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. But the current pound-for-pound king proved him wrong.

"I did think that Ricky Hatton would whoop Pacquiao. Obviously, I was wrong," Mayweather told fightfan.com.

Mayweather, much like his nephew and his brother Floyd Sr., is known for his penchant for trash-talking -- a widely acknowledged trait of the Mayweather boxing clan.

But this time, he has some good words for Pacquiao, who is slated to face his fourth "big" opponent in welterweight star Miguel Cotto this November.

"He's (Pacquiao) got some serious balls. Fighting Miguel Cotto… De La Hoya… Ricky Hatton. All of those guys are much bigger than he is," the corner man said.

Pacquiao, who debuted as a flyweight (112 lbs.), has fought his last three fights in the lightweight (135 lbs.), welterweight (147 lbs.) and junior welterweight (140 lbs.) divisions against David Diaz, De La Hoya and Hatton, respectively.

Mayweather, however, is not completely sold on Pacquiao, saying he is not banking on the General Santos City-based southpaw to beat Cotto.

"I don't think he's going to beat Cotto," he said. "He's fighting a guy who can make the weight, and who's a pretty good puncher. I've got to see him beat Cotto… I've got to see it with my own eyes."

And if Pacquiao rolls over Cotto like he did with De La Hoya and Hatton?

"I'll be amazed," Mayweather quipped.

Roach draws up fight plan

MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach is already in the “planning stage” as far as Manny Pacquiao’s coming fight with Miguel Cotto is concerned.

The three-time Trainer of the Year told The Las Vegas Review Journal yesterday that he plans to visit the Philippines next month just to make sure that Pacquiao is on track heading to the big Nov. 14 showdown with the reigning WBO welterweight champion.

Roach wants Pacquiao to train from eight to 10 weeks for the Cotto fight, and Day One at the Wild Card Gym should start on the second week of September or just after the press tour that will take the fighters from New York to Puerto Rico.

Even before Pacquiao goes to the US, Roach wants the reigning pound-for-pound champion to start flexing his muscles back home, getting rid of those excess pounds so by the time he reports to the gym they won’t have to start from scratch.

Meanwhile, Roach will start doing his homework in his Los Angeles home. “I know Cotto pretty well. I haven’t really studied him yet. I have a pretty good idea how we want to fight him, but until I sit down, watch the tapes and talk to Manny, we’re still in the planning stage,” Roach told the Review Journal.

The fight is pegged at a catchweight of 145 lb, two pounds short of the welterweight limit, and it remains uncertain if the 27-year-old Cotto will stake his title. Reports said WBO wants him to, but others say it just won’t happen.

Bob Arum said Cotto doesn’t want to stake his title because he doesn’t want to pay the sanction fee, whether it’s $150,000 or so much more than that. A lot of people are hoping that Cotto does put the crown on the line.

“I’ll go (to the Philippines) sometime next month and we’ll get started. For this fight, speed is going to be important. I think if you get Cotto in a fast-paced fight, he’ll tire. So we want to come out quick and set a fast pace. Speed is our biggest asset.”

Pacquiao fought Oscar dela Hoya at 147 lb last December, showing up for the weigh-in at 142 and climbing the ring at 148 1/2. Dela Hoya, who was knocked out inside nine rounds, weighed in at 145 and showed up for the fight at 147.

But Cotto is not Dela Hoya.

“He’s a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger. But I think Manny’s the better boxer, and Manny’s defense is the best it’s been. I think Pacquiao will stop him along the way,” said Roach.

Pacquiao Vs Cotto is a Non Title Bout

How True Pacquiao Vs Cotto is a Non Title Bout?

On November 14th, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will meet at a catchweight limit of 145 pounds in what will no doubt be one of the biggest boxing attraction for year 2009.

Since the weight limit for a welterweight bout’s official weight-in is 147lbs, then 145lbs is very well within the welterweight limit. Hence this fight is in the welterweight division.

Since Miguel Cotto is supposedly the WBO welterweight champion, then the WBO welterweight belt is supposedly on the line for this fight right?

Well…not quite… yet. Until they pay…

Recently there are some articles that were published mentioning that the Cotto vs. Pacquiao fight may not be a championship bout because they didn’t want to pay the WBO sanctioning fees.

While we agree that it is easier from the avid die-hard fans’ perspective to recognize an individual champion, with the frequency of title defenses, this is not a model that allows worthy contenders to fight for a title in a timely manner. But for the casual boxing fans, this makes them more confused…If you ask a casual fan who is the heavyweight champion of the world is, they’ll have no clue. Because there are three of them!

In recent years, and increasing number of ludicrous title fights have taken place; regular champions, interim championships, title eliminators, final eliminators, and Inter-continental, Oriental-Pacific and other a-b-c-d-e-f-g title fights. Today, many weight divisions suffer from the Alphabet Syndrome. There has not been a real champion. A number of factors have kept the division in turmoil, because there are forces that contribute to that confusion. A tournament might not settle every question; it does not always happen whenever an elimination bout took place. Nor the champ always fights the top contender or the best opponents out there.

More sanctioning bodies mean more opportunities for boxers, which is why we rarely hear the boxers themselves complaining about too many sanctioning bodies.

But it is the likes of the alphabet soup titles that are milking the sport by raking in sanctioning fees. Individual boxer’s views on sanctioning bodies would certainly vary depending on whose opinion you were seeking. The chance for a lower ranked fighter to proclaim himself a world champion would supposedly give a certain appeal, and hopefully potential financial benefits.

Some group of dudes can group together, form a sanctioning body, and call themselves “Intergalactic Pugilistic Council” or something to that effect; recognize a certain guy as their “Champion of the whole galaxy” (which could sound more prestigious than champion of the world right? à Not!) and then ask that recognized champion, his opponents and the promoters to pay them “sanctioning fees” whenever their champion fights because he should be defending the title, for the championship of the galaxy! If they don’t pay sanctioning fees, they’ll strip off the title from their champ! They’d say “Pay up or you’re no longer champion!” Sounds like good business eh?

Casual boxing fans or even people that have slight idea about boxing championship, think that a champion should lose his championship if he was beaten by a better fighter.

That may be happening with the Ring Magazine’s Lineal Championships, but with regards to these alphabet titles (WBO, IBF, WBC, WBA, etc., etc.,)…That’s not always the case…

Amidst the politics, the money and multiple sanctioning bodies giving out this title and that… make casual boxing fans more confused. What more when a certain champion is no longer champion and his title is no longer on the line for his up and coming fight simply because they didn’t pay? Wouldn’t that make casual fans even more confused? Would the fact that the champion is stripped off his title because of not paying sanctioning fees create more interest and attract more boxing fans or quite the opposite?

Remember, boxing is a good business if and only if there are more boxing fans!

And championships are held supposedly to attract more followers of the sport. Ever wonder why more people watch the NBA finals than the regular games? Or the Superbowl Finals? Or the World Cup Finals? Or the event for the gold medal? Why? Simply because it’s the CHAMPIONSHIP being participated supposedly by the best in the sport!

What does a championship bout could mean to Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao?

Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao will be scheduled to fight 12rounds anyways, and they will surely get their millions too even without the title on the line. These are two real warriors who don’t need belts to prove their worth. They have proven time and again that they are real champions. It’s just so happens that the titles are there up for grabs, and it doesn’t hurt to have those shiny things around the waist.

Do you really think the pound for pound best fighter in the world need the WBO welterweight belt to prove he is the best? He is already the best! Manny Pacquiao already captured 4 lineal titles in 4 different weight divisions! And nobody in history has ever done anything like that!

Would Miguel Cotto’s stock be lessening if he was striped off the WBO title because of not paying the sanction fee? Not at all! He is still Miguel Cotto, the champ who has beaten Carlos Quintana, Zab Judah, Paulile Malignaggi, Joshuah Clottey, Ricardo Torres and many other really tough guys! And now people wonder if Margarito could’ve really beaten him without that hardening plaster in his gloves?

And what does a WBO welterweight championship between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquio mean to boxing? Or better yet, what could this mean to Mr. Bob Arum, the sole promoter of this fight? boxing-pacquiao-vs-cotto.blogspot.com

Well… a lot! For boxing fans, this is about history. This is about watching Manny Pacquiao attempt something that seemed to be impossible back then, a record breaking 7 world titles in 7 different weight divisions. Millions of fighters in the world would not even have 1 world title in their lifetime, how great can a person be if he person can capture seven! And that’s not all…in seven different weight divisions! This is about witnessing Manny Pacquiao, a little guy who started boxing at 106lbs, would face yet again, a bigger, stronger guy, trying to capture a title at 147lbs.

This is about Miguel Cotto defending his championship title against the pound for pound best fighter in the world! This is about the champ fighting the champ!

And it would be a boxing fans’ dream to witness something like that and tell the story for the next generations to come of the momentous championship that was Cotto vs. Pacquiao.

If this will be a championship bout…

For Bob Arum, this is about sparking people’s interest in boxing. This is about attracting more boxing fans to witness history in the making, which could mean more pay-per-view sales! This is about getting more customers and keeping those customers so they can come back for more.

This is about attracting more advertisers, putting in more sponsorship, and more millions in this sport of boxing. Heck! A championship event is the advertisers’ dream event!

This is about making more extra millions of dollars out of this mega event!

That could also mean bigger income for Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao from their revenue split!

Again, if this is a championship bout…

Therefore, why can’t they make it into one?!

C’mon! Put some sweet and some spice in this event! Pay the sanctioning fees and make everybody happy!

HBO featured Miguel Cotto's Greatest Hits

Take a look in Miguel Cotto Boxing History, winning boxing career & Puertorican Cotto's Greatest Hits! Miguel Cotto is currently shedding weight against Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao will be a disadvantage to his strong punches. Miguel Cotto is not a counter puncher even if he is, Cotto's style will be an easy target for Manny Pacma by KO in the middle round 4 or round 5. Manny Pacquiao has the edge in speed and right timing of release punches plus with his new found power in his right arm with massive blow that hits British boxer Ricky Hatton. It will be difficult for Manny Pacquiao fight for Cotto beacause stamina and chin will put him to the real fist pound for pound test.

What how Miguel Cotto dominate the ring of boxing


Miguel Cotto will defenitly defeat Manny Pacquiao because Manny never faught a figther with such power and he is scarred he wants Miguel Cotto at 143 and the figth is at 145, Cotto can win but a great chance of losing. Miguel Cotto is been doing the hardest training and getting better and improved version of powerful Tito Trinidad. Cotto is smarter in the ring and outside of it. Surely Cotto will not have a good night against Manny Pacquiao. However who did Pacquiao recently Knock Out? Ricky Hatton who as we know has a weak guard and no blocking or movement ability during their fight. You can't even compare them. Know which side are you? Cotto or Pacquiao?

Pacquiao-Cotto Contract on Hold While Bob Arum is on Vacation

Pacquiao-Cotto Contract on Hold While Bob Arum is on Vacation


There seems to be a news blackout with regards to the signing of the fight contract between Pacquiao and Cotto as Bob Arum is currently vacationing in Europe. The camp of Pacquiao is suddenly talking of a Pacquiao-Mosley fight.
The Pacquiao-Cotto boxing match will remain uncertain until Top Rank’s honcho Bob Arum returns from a European vacation.
For now, it’s all speculation. No confirmation of any fight detail is expected until after Arum comes back any day next week.
Before traveling to the US for a photo shoot with Kobe Bryant and Maria Sharapova, Manny Pacquiao said in a TV News report that he is only 80% sure the Pacquiao-Cotto fight will happen.
The pound-for pond king returned to the Philippines from a photo session with the equally famous sports celebrities without seeing Bob Arum, hence no decision on the fight contract was made during the week.
It seems that news reporters where Arum is vacationing somewhere in Europe are prevented from getting a short statement from the popular boxing promoter with a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign posted on the door of his hotel suite.
In news reports yesterday, Shane Mosley’s name is again being floated as Pacquiao’s opponent this year as the Cotto camp could not decide on the weight Pacquiao wants for the fight.
Philstar.com reports:

Manny Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, yesterday said if Miguel Cotto insists on the catch weight of 145 lb, the Filipino boxing icon might be forced to consider Mosley as his next opponent.
“We will not agree to 145 pounds. And if Cotto insists, we’ll go for Mosley,” said Gacal from Davao City.
Still the date and venue for the fight have not yet been finalized. “Regarding the date, maybe we can give in to what Bob Arum wants although Manny really wants to fight in October. But there’s the baseball thing so maybe we can agree on November,” said Gacal.

On the weight issue, “Manny will be giving up too much if he agrees to fight Cotto at 145. We want him at 143 and if he insists otherwise, then we’ll look at Mosley if Mosley is still available,” said the Filipino lawyer.

source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/275915

Pacquiao-Cotto Match Hangs on Catch weight and Purse Issues

Pacquiao-Cotto Match Hangs on Catch weight and Purse Issues
Pacquiao-Cotto Match Hangs on Catch weight and Purse Issues
The Pacquiao-Cotto boxing match has yet to be finalized with the catch weight and purse issues still hanging in the air. Cotto insists that he will not go below 145 while Pacquiao says he is fighting Cotto at 143.
The much talked about boxing match between Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico hangs on two issues- catch weight and fight purse.
Yesterday Cotto said he is sticking to his decision to fight the pound-for-pound king at 145, no more, no less.
Pacquiao, on the other hand wants it at 143, although his trainer, Freddie Roach appears to be agreeable to 144. But Cotto remain steadfast in his decision which was reached earlier in consultation with his nutritionist.
Boxing fans believe that the two popular boxers will eventually meet halfway at 144. This will not matter most with Pacquiao but it will be a big issue for Cotto and his nutritionist.
The Pacquiao-Cotto match will most likely take place in Las Vegas, Nevada possibly on November 14, 2009. The fight contract though has not been signed and sealed.
Miguel Cotto is fresh from his ‘not so impressive’ victory over Joshua Clottey of Ghana last month at the Madison Square Garden in New York, while Manny Pacquiao won over Ricky Hatton by KO last May 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

source:http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/275865

Cotto insists on 145 lbs vs Pacquiao

Cotto insists on 145 lbs vs Pacquiao

Miguel Cotto remains steadfast in his position that before a mega buck fight with Manny Pacquiao gets signed, sealed, and delivered for Nov 14, it has to be at a catch weight of 145 lbs.

“Mi peticion es la misma, no cambia (My petition is the same, no change),” Cotto told Hiram Alberto Torraca of the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia over the weekend when asked whether his standpoint has changed.

Pacquiao had said last week that while he believes that the fight is 80 percent done, the revenue sharing and the catch weight have yet to be agreed upon by the two camps, stressing that he doesn’t only deserve the lion’s share of the money but is unconstrained in demanding a catch weight of 143 lbs owing to his stature.

Still, a ranking official of Top Rank believes these are all part of the normal things that happen in the buildup to a super fight featuring Pacquiao, boxing No. 1 attraction, and Cotto, the Puerto Rican star who holds the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

Pacquiao Did To Cotto What He Did To Hatton

How Shocked Would You Be If Pacquiao Did To Cotto What He Did To Hatton

Though the fight has not been officially signed and sealed yet, the word over at ESPN.com is that the talked of Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight scheduled for November in Las Vegas is almost certainly going to happen. Promoter Bob Arum has said the fight will almost definitely be made and that an agreed upon weight for the fight has been all but reached, with a reported limit of 145-pounds being set.

So, now that we can pretty much go ahead and look forward to this most intriguing of fights, we can also start to think about who will win - "Pac-Man" or "Junito.."

It seems strange, but only a few months ago fight experts were pretty much agreed that guys like Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton would be much too big for Pacquiao, and that the former 106-pounder was nuts taking on natural 140 and 147-pounders. But, as we know, Manny destroyed both "The Golden Boy" and "The Hitman," the latter especially. The question I'd like to ask now is, can Pacquiao possibly do a Hatton-type number on the formidable Cotto?

If the talked of weight of 145-pounds is the final poundage that the fight goes ahead at, Cotto, though he will have to push himself that much harder in training camp, shouldn't be overly drained or weakened come fight time. As such, "Pac-Man" might just be facing his most physically strong opponent yet, and therefore the very notion of him KO'ing the Puerto Rican the way he did Hatton will be seen as a preposterous one in the eyes of some fans. But no-one of note predicted Pacquiao icing tough guy Hatton as quickly as he did either.

Style-wise, Cotto - a natural lefty who fights mainly out of an orthodox stance but also has a tendency to switch during battle - could give the Filipino southpaw a real handful also. Strong with both hands and the possessor of a fine boxing brain, it's hardly likely Cotto will approach the fight in the same reckless, march-right-in, hands-held-low way Hatton did. And it must be admitted that Hatton's foolish tactics - all the more surprising as they were after all the pre-fight talk we were given about Floyd Mayweather Senior making Hatton a defensive-minded boxer - helped Pacquiao look as devastating as he did. But could the 30-year-old claimant of the pound-for-pound title KO Cotto just as ruthlessly anyway?

Cotto, who appeared somewhat easy to hit last time out against Joshua Clottey, is no defensive wizard and after a number of tough fights he isn't getting any younger (yes, he's two years younger than Manny, who also is not getting any younger, but Pacquiao looks the fresher fighter overall). And though the demons from the shocking stoppage loss to Antonio Margarito have almost certainly been banished, we still don't know how much of a physical price Cotto paid as a result of the hammering he took in July 2008.

If Pacquiao were to ice Cotto in less than 2 or 3-rounds the way he did Hatton, you can bet your money some people out there will still refuse to give "Pac-Man" the credit he deserves by saying Cotto WAS past his best and that he was in the ring with Pacquiao at the right time - just as they said, after May 2nd, that Hatton was ready to be taken. But those fans who are not afraid to give credit where it's due - should Pacquiao actually KO Cotto in stunning fashion - will be calling the Filipino one of the greatest of all-time; if they aren't doing so already.

It would be a mighty shock if Pacquiao KO'd Cotto fast. But maybe we should be used to "Pac-Man" sending us shockwaves by now!