Pacquiao-Cotto Fight

Hollywood’s top celebrities watch Pacquiao-Cotto fight

2009-11-15T18:28:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao’s 12-round annihilation of Miguel Cotto on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) gathered some of Hollywood’s top celebrities along with past and current athletic superstars.

Oscar-nominated actor Mickey Rourke and Mark Wahlberg were among those who watched as Pacquiao dismantled Cotto and completed his mission of winning a record seventh division title. Both actors are known Pacquiao fans with Rourke being a former student of Freddie Roach, the Filipino ring icon’s American trainer.

Manny Pacquiao salutes the crowd that features top Hollywood and sports stars after wresting the WBO welterweight belt from Miguel Cotto Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday in Manila.) AP
Also at ringside were veteran actor Joe Pesci, socialite Paris Hilton, R&B artist Sean “P. Diddy" Combs, comedian Will Ferrell and Jeremy Piven, star of HBO’s hit series “Entourage".

Some of the finest athletes also dropped by to witness the showdown dubbed “Firepower."

Former boxing champions Roberto Duran and Tommy “The Hitman" Hearns, reigning International Boxing Organization light heavyweight titlist Chad Dawson, undisputed light middleweight king and a current middleweight contender Winky Wright, Shane Mosley, New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, Derek Jeter of the World Series champs New York Yankees, and basketball legend Magic Johnson were also seen at ringside.

Philippine Vice President Noli De Castro, Deputy National Security Adviser and former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit" Singson and Mayor Bing Leonardia were among local politicians who trooped to Las Vegas to cheer for Pacquiao.

Kapuso singing group La Divas – Maricris Garcia, Aicelle Santos and Jonalyn Viray – sang the Lupang Hinirang followed by Ednita Nazario who sang Puerto Rico’s National Anthem. Fil-Am Ramiel of the American Idol fame sang the Star Spangled Banner before ring announcer Michael Buffer introduced both fighters.

Pacquiao reportedly earned $13 million (P611,000,000) from the megafight while Cotto pocketed $7 million just to have his face rearranged by the seven-division champion.

Undercard

Eight undercard bouts took place before the Pacquiao-Cotto showdown with two Filipino boxers, a relative of the deposed champion and an aspiring rabbi winning their respective matches.

Abner Cotto, cousin of the former WBO welterweight king, opened up the card with a victory over Lupe Guzman in their lightweight bout while Richie Mepranum, one of the two Filipino boxers in the undercard, won over Ernie Marquez by split decision.

Rodrigo Garcia defeated Martin Guerra by unanimous decision while Eden Sonsona, another boxer from the Philippines, scored a technical knockout victory over Eilon Kedem. Alfonso Gomez needed six rounds to beat Jesus Soto-Krass while Matt Korobov bested James Winchester in their middleweight division match.

Belarus-born Yuri Foreman of Israel, an aspiring rabbi, snatched the World Boxing Association super welterweight championship belt from Daniel Santos when he defeated the Puerto Rican via unanimous decision.

Julio Cesar Chavez outpointed Troy Rowland for the final undercard bout. – GMANews.TV

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Result

2009-11-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to
Manny PACMAN Pacquiao

for winning against Miguel Cotto!!!

True enough,
the BEST MAN wins!!!

(12th Round TKO)

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: The Official Weigh In

2009-11-13T18:59:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – Challenger Manny Pacquiao weighed in just one pound lighter than Miguel Cotto as the Filipino was greeted by deafening cheers from his supporters on the eve of Saturday's WBO welterweight title fight.

Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 knockouts), tipped the scales at 144 pounds in front of a boisterous crowd of about 6,500 at the MGM Grand Hotel's Garden Arena.

Puerto Rican Cotto, 34-1 (27 KOs), was right on the limit for the scheduled 12-round bout which will be fought at a contracted weight of 145 pounds.

Although Cotto has won a world title every year since 2004 and will be competing in his natural division, Pacquiao is widely viewed as the favorite.

The Filipino southpaw, who has never previously fought above light-welterweight, will be bidding to win a seventh world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class.

The atmosphere was electric as the two fighters made their way on to a raised stage for Friday's televised weigh-in where former boxing great Roberto Duran and undefeated WBO super bantamweight Juan Manuel Lopez were among those attending.

Shouts of "Manny, Manny" and "Cotto, Cotto" echoed before the tracksuit-clad boxers finally emerged and Pacquiao lived up to his billing as the people's champion by blowing kisses to the fans before he stepped on to the scales.

Cotto, who also wore headphones over a balaclava, then followed. A natural 147-pounder, he told the crowd he had no problem making the weight limit.

"I'm pretty healthy and my strength is too much for tomorrow," the 29-year-old said.

The Puerto Rican will be fighting for the first time since he retained his WBO title with a split decision win over Ghana's Joshua Clottey in June.

Pacquiao, 30, last fought in May when he delivered a stunning second round knockout of Britain's Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand to claim the IBO light welterweight crown.

(Editing by Julian Linden)

This article is from news.yahoo.com

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The Yummy Manny "PACMAN" Pacquiao

2009-11-12T22:41:00.000-08:00

Suddenly, Manila’s fashionable gay men were asking each other: ‘Would you do Manny?’ The answer: ‘Yes’

WHEN ERIC PINEDA first sat down with Manny Pacquiao in 2004, just when the boxer was about to make it big, he did not find it easy to spot the diamond in the GenSan boy’s rough coating.

“He was just wearing jogging pants, a jacket and a beanie cap,” recalls Pineda, a veteran publicist, political and marketing consultant, who is white-haired and speaks with the husky, imposing voice of a longtime sports commentator.

He is now the business manager of Pacquiao, after the boxer and Rod Nazario, the man who hired Pineda to sell Manny as a product endorser, had a falling out a few years back. He told Manny in those early days, “You win your fight with Morales and your whole world will change, 360 degrees.”

And that was what happened. After Pacquiao won his second bout with Morales with a TKO in Las Vegas in 2006, there was no stopping the fast and furious pace of the Pacquiao phenomenon. He was fighting in the biggest boxing venues in the world, knocking out Oscar dela Hoya in 2008, declared the number one “pound-for-pound” boxer in the world by boxing bible Ring Magazine, stopping for photo ops with the likes of Mark Wahlberg, and being followed by TMZ.

New and improved

Clearly, the “’siyano hip-hop” look Manny sported in ’94 is now but a blurry memory tucked in the farthest nook of his walk-in closet. These days he is making the rounds of parties and press appearances either in a bold colored argyle sweater and a matching painter’s cap ala Pharell Williams, or speaking to fans in England in a windowpane-patterned gray Giorgio Armani suit paired with spanking new leather shoes in tan.

Observers say people began seeing a new and improved Manny when he moved the parting of his hair from the Palito-style middle to the more proper and gentlemanly left.

Suddenly, Manila’s fashionable gay men were asking each other: “Would you do Manny?” The answer: “Yes.”

After all, while he obviously doesn’t look like a fashion model, one could say he embodies the modern GQ archetype: A successful man in a well-made suit, an athletic body underneath, supple skin thanks to years of training and discipline, and for that bit of edge, a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee perfectly framing a smile that is pleasant, naughty and aware of where he is in the world order.

Pacquiao was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the world’s most influential people of 2009. He also joins the likes of Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant in this year’s Celebrity 100 List in Forbes Magazine, which reports that he earned $40 million from the second half of 2008 to the first half of 2009 alone, making him the sixth highest paid athlete in the world.

Just recently, he appeared in the latest Nike TVC where he shared screen time with Bryant, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova. You can’t get any bigger than that.

On Philippine shores, his name these days is only associated with the top brands: McDonalds, San Miguel Beer, Ginebra and Smart. Other major endorsements run the gamut from flavored energy drinks to pain relief tablets.

Snazzy style

He is our very own Million-Dollar Man, and he is playing it to the hilt. But the snazzy personal style didn’t happen overnight, or because a stylist was made to join his entourage.

Eric and his wife Macy, a publicist in Manila, began by giving Manny clothes as gifts, stuff he could wear to appearances and functions.

“We tried to convince him that if you look at your contemporaries in his category, all of them wear suits. So dahan-dahan nasanay naman, simula sa jeans muna, then long sleeves; slowly the suit came into the picture.”

The suit has another layer of attraction for Manny: He had recently seen “The Godfather 2” and thought Al Pacino’s wardrobe was something he could adopt. Hence, the grey windowpane prints, the occasional vests over a crisp white shirt, finished off with a derby hat. He sometimes shops with his entourage or with family, going to stores like Banana Republic for casuals and relaxed suits, Salvatore Ferragamo and Armani for the more formal outfits.

Shopping haunts

He likes going to the Metro Park Mall in LA and scouring the Ed Hardy stores there, also True Religion, Rock and Republic and Seven for All Mankind. For shoes, he prefers the ones with narrow square tips, from Louis Vuitton or Ferragamo.

But the Pacman’s accessory-of-the-moment are clearly the hats. He recently bought $2,000 worth of hats in LA, from the fedoras made popular by Justin Timberlake to painter’s caps and the raffia styles that reminds Manny of home.

“Buri ’yan,” he would say. “Gumagawa kami niyan sa GenSan.”

If there is anything left from what the Pinedas call Manny’s “hip-hopper” days, it’s his fascination for bling.

“As most Asians and Filipinos, you associate your success with the watch you wear, so when he won the Barrera fight, he bought his first Rolex watch, a Daytona with a mother-of-pearl face,” says Pineda.

This was followed by another Rolex after the last Morales match, a bezel diamond-studded piece. Recently, Pineda reports, Manny has taken to wearing a Patek Philippe for more formal occasions. Manny also has an 18k gold necklace with a pendant shaped like two boxing gloves, also diamond-studded, a gift from one of his sponsors.

These days, when in the Philippines, Manny shuttles between his palatial home in General Santos and the family home in Brentville in Santa Rosa, Laguna, a property the Pacquiaos acquired because of its proximity to the Brent International School where Manny’s two sons are enrolled.

When work demands that he be mostly in Manila, for tapings of his show “Pinoy Records,” for example, and the Robin Padilla-headlined teleserye “Totoy Bato,” he mostly stays at the Renaissance Hotel where he and his entourage of 10 to 15 people (which includes his lawyer, bodyguards, personal masseur) occupy top-money suites.

Bullet-proof cars

Team Pacquiao drives around the city in a couple of bullet-proof vehicles: A Hummer 2 and an Escalade. Pineda says his ward is really not a diehard car fan, anyway.

“For him it’s just a way to get him from point A to point B,” he says.

Still, the right car is part of the star package. “When we started working, I asked him to buy a new car. ‘Manny Pacquiao ka eh.’ He bought a brand new Pajero which he uses when he’s in Manila. And then he bought a big trailer, a Porsche Cayenne na binili sa US tapos inuwi dito, a Mercedes SL 500 sportscar. He wanted to buy a Lamborghini but I advised him not to. ’Di mo kailangan yan, baka maaksidente ka pa.’”

Clearly, he is more keen on acquiring real estate property. Apart from the Gensan and Brentville homes, the Pacquiaos, says the Pinedas, have several other properties: A townhouse near Medical City in Ortigas, a house in BF Homes Parañaque and another in Davao, all bought within the past four years.

The house in LA is already in its finishing touches, with wife Jinkee being very hands-on when it comes to the choice in furniture, in consultation with an American interior designer. The house, a 4,500-sq m property located in an upscale neighborhood dotted with celebrity homes, is reported to have cost $2.17 million and was bought in March this year.

While the Pacquiaos are clearly learning the ropes of living big, Pineda insists his ward’s character hasn’t changed much. His idea of a party is still a big celebration with all of his friends where everything is happening all at once: Drinking, darts, billiards, singing, dancing, card games.

“He is still as grounded as when I first met him,” says Pineda.

Giving back

And the guy knows how to give back. He has consistently partnered with the PCSO and Pagcor for charity projects. He is building a village called Pacquiao Heights in General Santos which will have factories that will give jobs and benefit the people of Saranggani.

Indeed, the poor boy from Gensan who dropped out of school at a very young age to help his mother sell bread has done very well for himself. He hangs out with Hollywood stars, shakes hands with state leaders and tycoons, shops in the best stores, and dines in the best restaurants.

How does Manny Pacquiao order in a place like, say, the upscale Nuvo at Manila’s Greenbelt restaurant row?

“I would usually order for him,” says Pineda. “Alam ko naman ang gusto niya eh, basta may beef, chicken, fish. No pork.”

Pacquiao may not be the best person to peruse a fine dining menu, but the guy certainly knows how to reward excellent service. The last time Team Pacquiao checked out of the Renaissance Hotel in Makati, the staff bid their very important guest goodbye with bigger smiles than usual.

The tip Manny left them: P100,000. In style parlance, that’s what you call a flourish.

Reprinted from Filipino Style, California-based magazine for Fil-Americans.

This article is from lifestyle.inquirer.net

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: "I respect Cotto's team," says Manny Pacquiao

2009-11-11T20:31:00.000-08:00

MANILA, Philippines – Las Vegas, the world-famous US city known for its bright lights and a plethora of gambling and entertainment venues, and universally regarded as the capital of big-time boxing in the planet, has long been a home for Manny Pacquiao.

In fact, “Sin City” has played host to Pacquiao’s last five fights — all of them high-magnitude bouts. The Filipino won them all, decisioning Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, and brutally knocking out David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

And now for the sixth-straight time, the bustling city will once again be Pacquiao’s battleground as he chases boxing immortality against WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Pacquiao, who is gunning for a record seventh world title in as many weight divisions, set foot on the main lobby of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino yesterday and was welcomed with chants of “Manny, Manny!” from a packed crowd.

The Filipino spitfire has been installed as a -350 favorite as of this posting, meaning one must wager $350 to win a hundred bucks.

Cotto, the burly Puerto Rican banger who’s out to derail the Pacquiao freight train, arrived about an hour later with his own following. He enters Las Vegas as the underdog — albeit a heavy one — with those rooting for him needing to bet just $100 to net a cool $270.

But unlike Pacquiao, Cotto will be seeing action in a high-profile Las Vegas bout for only the second time since figuring in a brutal affair against Antonio Margarito two years ago. That fight, also staged at the MGM Grand, saw Margarito beat Cotto to a pulp for a merciless 11th round technical-knockout victory.

At the final press conference for Pacquiao-Cotto today, Las Vegas feted both fighters whose face-off at the end of the week is expected to assemble an audience composed of high-rollers, politicians and Hollywood personalities.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman graced the event and, in a simple ceremony, presented to Pacquiao and Cotto their “Keys to the City.”

“This is the most important fight in my career. It will make history in Philippine boxing. And it will be a big honor for my family, country and myself,” said Pacquiao, who also wished his foe luck as he had done in his previous fights.

“I respect Cotto’s team. They are nice and friendly. On Saturday, may the best man win,” he added.

Cotto, for his part, assured a great night of boxing for fans

“I am pretty happy and comfortable to be here. I trained a lot for this fight. It will be a great night not only for the Latinos but to the Puerto Ricans too.”

With Las Vegas showing its appreciation for two great warriors, one can expect Pacquiao and Cotto to willingly return the favor when they meet in the ring.

This article is from philstar.com

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: “I’m not worried about my weight,” says Cotto

2009-11-11T02:13:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS— The lull in between the official welcome laid out by the MGM Grand for the two boxers facing off on Nov. 14 spoke volumes about how this was going to be more Manny Pacquiao’s show than it will be Miguel Cotto’s.

But it’s not like Miguel Cotto has no plans of ruining the storyline.

Pacquiao walked the red carpet of the MGM Grand lobby to deafening cheers and exploding flashbulbs and made his way up a makeshift ring adorned with a centerpiece golden lion statue to a reception fit for a king, a reception that surprised even the boxer-celebrity who is accustomed to crowds mobbing his every public move.

“I am surprised and happy that a lot of people came [to welcome me],” Pacquiao told reporters from both print and broadcast that tried to squirm their way in front of him to capture a sound bite or two even as photographers and cameramen jostled for prime shots at the world’s reigning pound-for-pound king.

After answers to a couple of questions, Pacquiao would turn his back and face the throng that had gathered at the hotel lobby as early as an hour or two before his late arrival to wave at fans, who would respond by shrieking “Manny! Manny!” with fervor.

Pacquiao faces Cotto on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand’s garden Arena, where the Filipino ring icon will attempt to become the first boxer to win world titles in seven different weight classes. And while Pacquiao has spoken several times about trying to win one for the victims of a string of violent storms that hit the Philippines, or writing about a page in boxing history, he insists he has nothing against the man who will be out to stop him.

“It’s nothing personal, I’m just doing my job to try and make people happy,” he explained.

And then, after a whirlwind of quickie interviews, Pacquiao left—and almost simultaneously, so did the air inside the hotel lobby. The moment the Filipino ring icon hit the exit, life was sucked out of the event organized by the promoting Top Rank, with the crowd—which had swelled to a couple of hundred—thinning to less than a third of its original size.

This was the audience Cotto was left to work with.

Although there was still boisterous cheering the moment Cotto arrived about half an hour later for his public appearance, the noise was seemingly amplified only by the echoes of a few rabid supporters in a relatively emptied lobby.

Not that Cotto minded.

“Everything Manny has, everything he gets, he has earned,” Cotto told reporters with the stoic nonchalance of a person who is familiar with the throng his opponent can attract, the ones that went off looking for the nearest lunch venue after Pacquiao had left the scene.

“He has earned the right to enjoy it all.”

While Cotto has accepted that he cannot do anything about the gulf in popularity between him and his upcoming foe, he knows he is in control of the most important aspect of this whole event—fight night.

And for all the adoring worshippers that collect at his feet with every step, Manny Pacquiao, Cotto said, will be left to fend for himself once the two boxers are let loose in the middle of the ring on Nov. 14.

“Nobody can come in there to help Manny,” Cotto told reporters present. “Once the fight starts, there is only going to be me, Manny and the referee. No one else will be there in the ring. Nobody can help Manny or give him something to hit me with.”

Pacquiao arrived at the venue wearing a brown coat over a green shirt. And although he came late for the event, there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air, one that caught fire each time television cameras panned to groups carrying Philippine flags or fight-related shirts and souvenirs.

He waltzed through interviews with his usual canned responses of doing his best for his countrymen and fighting hard enough to cement his legacy.

“If I win a seventh title in another weight, it will be history,” said Pacquiao. “This is a very important fight for me and I am very focused for this fight.”

For his part, Cotto said he wasn’t worried about Pacquiao’s speed, the overwhelming factor that has placed the General Santos City native as the odds-on favorite in possibly every proposition cooked up by sports bookies, because his camp has come up with solutions to negate that.

“We’ve studied him and we’re prepared for his speed,” said Cotto. “I have hand speed like Manny.”

“But can Manny's power equal Miguel Cotto's on Saturday night? I am very calm. I have been doing this for many years,” Cotto said in an interview with Reuters.

Cotto also dismissed claims that he was struggling to make the weight. Although the Puerto Rican’s cheeks looked more hollowed out than usual, there was none of the signs, indeed, of a person crash-dieting to make a certain weight limit.

He had a light spring in his step and he wasn’t cranky at all. “I’m not worried about my weight,” he said. “I’m eating well.”

This article is from sports.inquirer.net

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Can Pacquiao make a Boxing History?

2009-11-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao will be looking to make history Saturday night when he takes on Miguel Cotto in a welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The 29-year-old Filipino superstar, who made a grand entrance along with his opponent at the scene of the fight Tuesday afternoon to begin final preparations, hopes to become the first boxer to win titles in seven weight divisions. He has held title belts from 112 pounds to 140 pounds.

Saturday's bout (HBO pay-per-view, 9:30 p.m. ET) is considered a welterweight fight, even though it will be fought at a catch weight of 145 pounds, 2 pounds below the welterweight limit.

Cotto, however, has no intention of allowing himself to become Pacquiao's seventh victim. It is Cotto's WBO belt they're fighting for, and the three-time champion, known for his powerful body punching, has held a title every year since 2004.

"If he thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent," Cotto said in a recent conference call. "If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."

Yet despite the fact that Cotto, also 29, from Puerto Rico, is a natural welterweight, and Pacquiao started his career in 1995 at 108 pounds, Pacquiao comes in as a heavy favorite. He's listed at -350, meaning you need to place $350 to win $100.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) is coming off a spectacular second-round knockout of Briton Ricky Hatton last May, while Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) fought through a bad cut over his eye to win a split decision against African Joshua Clottey a month later.

The only loss of Cotto's career came in a brutal beating at the hands of Antonio Margarito in July 2008. But there's a cloud over Margarito's victory since he was discovered before his next fight to have hardened plaster in his gloves, was subsequently KO'd by Shane Mosley, and then suspended from fighting in the USA for at least a year.

Cotto is undeterred by the odds against him.

"I don't know anything about the betting business," he said. "I am just here to try and bring my best every day … and I am working to beat Manny. If the people bet for Manny, it's all right with me. All the people that are betting for Manny Pacquiao are not going to change the result of this fight."

Pacquiao's success against Mexican fighters has been well-documented. He was tagged as "The Mexican Assassin" after beating the best Mexican fighters of his era, including legends Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Berrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Cotto, however, says all that success means nothing against a fighter from Puerto Rico, which has its own proud boxing history, from world champions Wilfredo Benitez, Esteban DeJesus and Wilfredo Gomez to Carlos Ortiz and Felix "Tito" Trinidad.

"Different fighters and different styles, they had their moments with him," Cotto said of Pacquiao's Mexican opponents.

"It is going to be totally different with me. I have prepared myself for anything and everything that he brings. No matter who talks, or whoever says he is going to win, I know I am very confident that I am going to come out with a victory that night."

SOURCE

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: “...it could be like the three-round war between Hagler and Hearns,” says veteran promoter Bob Arum

2009-11-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Could Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto recreate 8 minutes of ring mayhem as Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns did 24 years ago ?

Promoter Bob Arum thinks it is possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This article is from blogs.telegraph.co.uk

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Live and Free Viewing

2009-11-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

Davao City -- Comvalenyos are in for a treat-yet again! The much-anticipated Pacquiao-Cotto fight on November 15 will be seen live and free at the municipal gymnasiums all over Compostela Valley.

Gov. Arturo "Chiongkee" Uy bared this was made possible with the support of Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya, League of the Municipalities under Mayor Reynaldo Navarro, and Cong. "Way Kurat" Zamora and Cong. Bobong Amatong.

New Bataan, Mawab, Mabini, Laak, Maragusan, Monkayo, and Compostela will air the super fight at their respective municipal gyms. Nabunturan will air it live at the Assumption gym, Maco at Binuangan gym, and Pantukan at Cebulida gym.

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: Roach and Pacquiao are "Inseparable"

2009-11-08T16:29:00.000-08:00

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach seem inseparable after almost a decade of enduring professional relationship. Pacquiao will see action on November 14 against Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight crown

'Inseparable, that's how he'll always be Inseparable, just you and me its so wonderful To know you'll always be around me'.

So goes the lyrics in a song title Inseparable made popular by song artist Natalie Cole. The song best describes the trainer-boxer professional relationship of Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao.

The father and son relationship between the two popular sports figures dates back eight years ago when Manny Pacquiao barged into Wild Card Gym to train for his fight with African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba as a last minute substitute opponent. The Filipino boxer won after brief coaching by Freddie Roach.

The first win of Pacquiao under Roach guidance marked the beginning of a long business and professional relationship. After the convincing win by Pacquiao against Ledwaba, Roach started to concentrate on the Filipino boxer's weak points while continuing to develop the areas where the fighter excelled. Roach knew that Pacquiao's left hand is exceptionally strong. He wasted no time in enhancing Pacquiao's formidable left hand by developing techniques that would complement its strength and power.

Roach biggest achievement in guiding Pacquiao's career is his skillful transformation of Pacquiao's right hand from a weakling to a powerful working tool that complemented Pacquiao's formidable left hand. Boxing critics say that Roach was particularly successful in this transformation after long years of constant practice.

A few years after Roach able stewardship, Pacquiao conquered the boxing world with his victories over the world's greatest boxers including Erick Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Oscar de la Hoya, Barrera and Ricky Hatton, among others.

These victories have made this 'father and son' team multi millionaires and recipient of top sports awards from prestigious award-giving bodies.

On many occasions, their 'father and son' relationship had been subjected to a series of tests and each time, the tandem would stand united and become even more stronger.

New York Times reports:

Pacquiao, 30, viewed his trainer as a second father, even with the boundaries. Where he playfully spat water on other members of his team, or slapped them from behind, he never ventured there with Roach. Whenever Alex Ariza, his conditioning coach, tried to put new methods in place, Pacquiao always asked, “What does Freddie think?”

Critics say that the secret to their 'blooming relationship' is the respect that each one of them show as boxer and trainer. People around them and even the intrusive press have tried to test their relationship by sowing intrigues and malice in their enduring partnership but each time, they will emerge stronger and more closer to each other like father and son.

Geg Bishop of New York Times says: ”Inside the ring, they remain inseparable, but less father and son, more peers bonded by mutual respect. Outside, they must confront endless politics, the complex web of advisers and employees required for Pacquiao to make movies, records and boxing history.

“It’s magic,” said the promoter Bob Arum, the chairman of Top Rank Boxing. “Made in heaven.

They’re so in tune with each other, it’s like watching a ballet.”, Bishop added.

Inseparable? They look like they are...for now.

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will face his opponent Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico on November 14 at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao is aiming for his seventh win in seven different weight classes to become the first boxer in history to attain such world record.

Also at stake is Miguel Cotto's WBO welterweight crown.

The fight will be televised worldwide and is available on pay-per-view.

This article is from www.digitaljournal.com

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"I want to fight the best fighters." says Manny Pacquiao

2009-11-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Update : Cotto's Weight Alert

2009-11-07T07:19:00.001-08:00

HOLLYWOOD – Alex Ariza has long been in the business of body conditioning and thus, knows exactly when an athlete is already in his proper frame of health.

One look at reigning welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at this point in time, and Ariza can clearly say the 28-year old warrior from Caguas, Puerto Rico is having an issue going down to 145 pounds.

“Personally, I think he’s having a hard time losing weight," Ariza said. “He looked a little gaunt."

But Ariza based it on how he sees Cotto, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion, in newspaper clippings and TV interviews.

“And also I only hear things about it, on how hard he’s been working out lately the way he has never worked out before," he added.

A natural welterweight, Cotto’s camp has been evading questions surrounding his current weight, insisting the champion would be able to meet the catch weight of 145lbs. The former Olympian has never fought below 147 pounds since 2006, and under the contract he signed for the Pacquiao fight, a pound in excess of the catch weight is equal to a $1 million penalty.

In contrast, Pacquiao appeared to be in control of his weight. Ariza said the Pacman currently weighs 149 pounds, although he goes down to 146 by the time he is over with his two-hour daily training at the Wild Card gym.

Pacquiao’s conditioning coach from Colombia said the ring idol from General Santos City will carry a weight of 144 or 145 during Friday’s official weigh-in, and then be at 149 on the night of the fight itself.

“That’s his natural weight (149) right now. He’s so fast for that. What you’re now seeing are pure muscles," said Ariza, adding that the world pound-for-pound king only has a six percent body fat.

Ariza also has high respect for Cotto’s conditioning coach Phil Landman, adding the key to the fight would boil down to who has the better trainer.

“It will go down as to who you have in the corner, and I have Freddie Roach with me. Unlike Cotto who only has some “average Joe" on his side," said Ariza in an obvious jibe against Joe Santiago, the former nutritionist turned trainer of the WBO title holder.

SOURCE

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Freddie Roach says, “Manny’s happy. He’s in a good mood and we’re right on schedule."

2009-11-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD – Manny Pacquiao would endure anything for flag and country.

That’s why a little pain while performing abdominal exercises, at the end part of his training on Thursday (Friday in Manila), is nothing as long as you have millions of your countrymen supporting you.

“Sakripisyo. Konting tiis," Pacquiao, who grimaces in pain, repeatedly said while doing the work out with help of assistant trainer Nonoy Neri.

For Pacquiao, the eight weeks of hard training comes to an end on Saturday (Nov. 14) next week when he finally meets Miguel Cotto in the ring and vies for the Puerto Rican’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title at the MGM Grand.

Now in the final phase of a two-month preparation that kicked off in the mountains of the Cordilleras and about to end in the sunny but cool weather of Los Angeles’ Wild Card gym, the 30-year old Filipino admitted that he already feels great and ready against an opponent who only had a single loss to show in 35 professional fights.

“We’re doing great in training. I already feel strong for the 12-round fight," said the boxing superstar as he concluded another round of sparring (six rounds) against Urbano Antillon and Rey Beltran.

So far, Pacquiao already sparred a total of 144 rounds, with a total of eight more scheduled on Saturday and possibly, Monday, before his entourage leave for Las Vegas.

Buboy Fernandez, the other Filipino trainer of Pacquiao, said they’ve already reached their total target of sparring rounds, but wouldn’t mind going beyond that.

“Lahat-lahat siguro around 152 to 156 rounds ang aabutin dahil may scheduled na two sparring days pa," said the jolly Filipino trainer.

Pacquiao, the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, said that the reigning WBO welterweight champion Cotto is the bigger and stronger fighter between them.

“He also punches hard. But I am confident about myself because I know I have been training very hard." he added. “I am ready to fight and I promise to do my best to win."

Three-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach agreed. “Manny’s happy. He’s in a good mood and we’re right on schedule."

As usual, Roach noted that his famous ward again played a little bit during training.
“But when he wanted to turn it on, his form was there."

Pacquiao began the day by running for 25 minutes at the La Brea Park, just a block away from his high-end apartment at The Palazzo, and then ended it with a 10-minute interview by the HBO crew at the Wild Card gym shortly after training. – GMANews.TV

This article is from www.gmanews.tv

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Miguel Cotto's Prediction

2009-11-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

WBO champion Miguel Cotto has dismissed claims that Manny Pacquiao will be stronger when the pair clash on November 14 in Las Vegas.

The Puerto Rican was calm and confident as he played down the threat of the Filipino superstar who is searching for his record breaking seventh world titles in seven divisions.

“He’s coming from a lower division,” said Cotto. “If they think they have more power than Miguel Cotto, they’re wrong.”

Pacquiao has demonstrated his hand speed and strength with his devastating second round knockout of Ricky Hatton in May, but Cotto maintained he is ready for whatever comes at him.

“I’m prepared for anything he can bring…I’m prepared for all that he can show me,” said Cotto whose only defeat was marred in controversy after suffering a head-butt followed by an investigation into opponent Antonio Margarito’s hand-wraps.

Cotto bounced back from the defeat, going on to outbox Britain’s Michael Jennings and win a close points decision in a hard fought battle against Joshua Clottey. As for how he will handle Pacquiao, Cotto underplayed the possibility of a KO victory.

“I never come out to knock out any fighter, but if I hit him pretty good, I’m going for it.” said the champion who has knocked out 27 of his 35 opponents.

For Cotto, success against Pac-Man would propel him to the top of the boxing pecking order and make him a household name. Despite being the underdog he remains positive he can achieve this: “I’m very confident that I’m going to come out with a victory that night.”

SOURCE

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Pacquiao-Cotto bout a 50-50 affair, says Rourke

2009-11-06T01:02:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD – Mickey Rourke has been a disciple of trainer par excellence Freddie Roach and is known to be chummy with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

But when asked of his thoughts about Pacquiao’s 12-round title fight against Miguel Cotto for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt, the American actor and Academy award nominee said things are going to be even.

“It’s 50-50," Rourke shot back when pressed on who he favored to win the bout.

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, right, poses with actor Mickey Rourke after a media workout in Los Angeles, Wednesday (Tthursday in Manila). Pacquiao will face Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto in a welterweight boxing match in Las Vegas on Nov 14. AP

A one-time boxer in the early 90s who had no less than Roach for trainer, Rourke came over at the Wild Card gym here coinciding with the two-hour long media workout of the 30-year old Pacquiao.

The 57-year old Rourke, whose portrayal of Randy “The Ram" Robinson in the 2008 movie “The Wrestler" earned him an Oscar Best Actor nomination, shook hands and had a pleasant conversation with Roach, and later on, had a photo op with Pacquiao while the pound-for-pound king was in training.

But he appeared less gracious when his thoughts about the WBO championship fight were raised.

Rourke said Pacquiao beating Cotto is not as easy as learning A-B-C.

“I don’t think Cotto would be a walk in the park," said the veteran actor. “He’s gonna be strong. Cotto is the bigger fighter and a very good fighter."

However, one thing going for Manny, according to him, is the Filipino superstar’s vaunted speed.

“Speed would be able to offset Cotto’s power. Speed is more important than power. Manny has got to stay away from Cotto’s range since he (Cotto) can bang with both hands," Rourke said.

Rourke knows where he’s speaking from.

After briefly staying away from acting in 1991, Rourke relived his love for the sport of prizefighting by turning pro under Roach’s watchful eyes.

He was undefeated in eight fights with two of them ending up in draw.

“I would have lost if I haven’t had Freddie, coz my training habit wasn’t that good," he said of his short-lived boxing career.

Rourke would quit boxing soon after, giving to Roach all his equipment that can still be found now at the Wild Card gym.

“He’s my best friend. I wouldn’t be here now (Wild Card gym). He’s the one who brought me here," said Roach in acknowledging all the help Rourke did while the three-time Trainer of the Year was still starting off with his famous sweatshop at Vine St.

Given the chance, Rourke said he’s more than willing to accept a role should a Hollywood movie on Pacquiao be made.

And he already had an idea on who is he going to play.

“I would do the Freddie roach story but I would have to wait 20 years from now," he said, teasing Roach as being too old for him to play. – GMANews.TV

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MANNY PACQUIAO: TIME Magazine's Asia edition cover

2009-11-06T00:02:00.000-08:00

MANILA - The Philippines' most successful boxer Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao is on the cover of TIME Magazine's Asia edition, boxing website fightnews.com reported.

Pacquiao, who is aiming for an unprecedented seventh title in seven weight divisions, is featured by the prestigious magazine in a five-page story.

The story will also be included in the magazine's global editions, the boxing news site said.

The magazine will be out on newsstands starting this weekend.

"I absolutely had no idea that when I started my career in boxing, to provide a better life for myself and my family, that I would now be where I am today and on the cover of TIME Magazine," the news site quoted Pacquiao as saying.

The Filipino said being featured in the magazine is the "most humbling experience" in his boxing career.

He said "it is a great honor for me to be the face of my people and let everyone know we are a small but mighty country."

Pacquiao is set to face Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 14 (November 15, Sunday, in Manila).

The Filipino boxer would clinch his seventh title in seven different weight divisions if he wins against the Puerto Rican.

Pacquiao has defeated several boxing greats, including "Golden Boy" Oscar de la Hoya. He may also get to face American Floyd Mayweather if he wins against Cotto.

After taking on de la Hoya on December 2008, Pacquiao knocked down Britain's Ricky Hatton last May.

Pacquiao has won titles in the junior welterweight, lightweight, super featherweight, featherweight, super bantamweight and flyweight divisions.

This article is from www.abs-cbnnews.com

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Prediction by Mickey Rourke

2009-11-05T07:21:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD – Mickey Rourke has been a disciple of trainer par excellence Freddie Roach and is known chummy with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

But when asked of his thoughts about Pacquiao’s 12-round title fight against Miguel Cotto for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt, the American actor and Academy award nominee said things are going to be even.

“It’s 50-50," Rourke shot back when pressed on who he favored to win the bout.

A one-time boxer in the early 90s who had no less than Roach for trainer, Rourke came over at the Wild Card gym here coinciding with the two-hour long media workout of the 30-year old Pacquiao.

The 57-year old Rourke, whose portrayal of Randy “The Ram" Robinson in the 2008 movie “The Wrestler" earned him an Oscar Best Actor nomination, shook hands and had a pleasant conversation with Roach, and later on, had a photo op with Pacquiao while the pound-for-pound king was in training.

But he appeared less gracious when his thoughts about the WBO championship fight were raised.

Rourke said Pacquiao beating Cotto is not as easy as learning A-B-C.

“I don’t think Cotto would be a walk in the park," said the veteran actor. “He’s gonna be strong. Cotto is the bigger fighter and a very good fighter."

However, one thing going for Manny, according to him, is the Filipino superstar’s vaunted speed.

“Speed would be able to offset Cotto’s power. Speed is more important than power. Manny has got to stay away from Cotto’s range since he (Cotto) can bang with both hands," Rourke said.

Rourke knows where he’s speaking from.

After briefly staying away from acting in 1991, Rourke relived his love for the sport of prizefighting by turning pro under Roach’s watchful eyes.

He was undefeated in eight fights with two of them ending up in draw.

“I would have lost if I haven’t had Freddie, coz my training habit wasn’t that good," he said of his short-lived boxing career.

Rourke would quit boxing soon after, giving to Roach all his equipment that can still be found now at the Wild Card gym.

“He’s my best friend. I wouldn’t be here now (Wild Card gym). He’s the one who brought me here," said Roach in acknowledging all the help Rourke did while the three-time Trainer of the Year was still starting off with his famous sweatshop at Vine St.

Given the chance, Rourke said he’s more than willing to accept a role should a Hollywood movie on Pacquiao be made.

And he already had an idea on who is he going to play.

“I would do the Freddie roach story but I would have to wait 20 years from now," he said, teasing Roach as being too old for him to play.SOURCE

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Miguel Cotto is dead serious in his preparation for the biggest fight of his life

2009-11-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

MANILA – Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto may be the co-headliner with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in the Nov. 14 “Firepower” bout, but Floyd Mayweather’s name surfaces every now and then as boxing fans wonder if a Pacquiao-Mayweather match will ever push through.

Pacquiao said it might not happen because Mayweather thinks it is all about the money, the Associated Press and Los Angeles Times reported.

His adviser Mike Koncz, meantime, told abs-cbnNEWS.com that it could take place “if the economics of the fight is right.”

American trainer Freddie Roach told DoghouseBoxing.com that he would want Pacquiao to take on Mayweather, adding that it is about what fans would definitely want to see.

Cotto, for his part, also shared his two cents on the matter.

“He can fight Mayweather as many times as he wants after I beat him,” Cotto told Agence France-Presse.

The Puerto Rican will put his WBO welterweight championship belt on the line when he faces Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The boxers will also fight for the WBC diamond belt.

Toughest guy

Despite his pronouncements that he will prevail over Pacquiao, Cotto still made known that he respects the Filipino boxing superstar because of what he has achieved.

“He has earned everything he has," stated Cotto. “Manny looked good against Oscar De La Hoya and (Ricky) Hatton. But I'm not Oscar or Hatton. Manny chose the right time to fight Oscar.”

Cotto, meanwhile, reminded that he only has 1 loss (34-1, with 27 knockouts) while Pacquiao has 3 defeats (49-3-2, with 27 KOs).

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

Dead-set

Cotto earlier told ABS-CBN News that his training camp for “Firepower” was probably the best he has ever had.

“The communication between team members, all the focus I have for this fight make this the best ever,” he said.

In his media day at the Pound-4-Pound Gym in Los Angeles, California, Cotto reportedly looked “dead serious in his preparation for the biggest fight of his life,” according to PhilBoxing.com.

He did not even clown around with the Latino media. In addition, the welterweight champion looked “extremely fit.”

Cotto and Pacquiao have agreed to fight at a catch weight of 145 lbs. – With reports from Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com, Ed de la Vega, PhilBoxing.com, and Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

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“Cotto likes tattoos, so we’re going to put more tattoos, this time on his face," says Freddie Roach

2009-11-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD – Proof of how confident Freddie Roach is that Manny Pacquiao will knock out Miguel Cotto in their Nov. 14 gig for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown, the celebrated trainer is ready to part ways with his hard-earned $3,000 money as bet for a win by the Filipino ring icon.

Roach said it could be a knockout as early as the first round or late in the ninth or 10th round.

“I put a thousand ($1,000) on the first round. I put a thousand on nine and 10," said Roach point blank after supervising Pacquiao’s sparring session Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) when he went eight rounds with Urbano Antillon and Rey Beltran at the Wild Card gym here.

Roach never doubted Pacquiao is also going to demolish Cotto the way he did previously against Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales and David Diaz, to name a few.

And while he initially sees it as a decision win for the Filipino boxing champion, Roach has since made up his stand and predicted it to be by KO.

He even boldly declared that Pacquiao, who later in the night appeared in the popular show Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, can take the reigning WBO welterweight title holder inside one round.

“He (Cotto) gets hit early and if we hurt him early, we’re going to take him down," said Roach of their fight plan.

Roach even mentioned Cotto’s penchant of getting peeved when hit early on, proof of how thoroughly he has studied the Puerto Rican ever since the fight was formally sealed in July.

“If Cotto gets hit early, there will be fouls and there will be low blows. These will be premeditated, so I don’t think the referee have to wait a second time (before disqualifying) him," said the three-time Trainer of the Year.

When showed of a semi-naked Cotto whose well-chiseled body bore a lot of tattoos, Roach vows to add more of them.

“He likes tattoos, so we’re going to put more tattoos, this time on his face," he said smiling.

Further reinforcing Roach’s belief on a Pacquiao win had been the way the 30-year old pound-for-pound king is conducting himself in training camp, now on its final week.

The 49-year old Roach said training is back to normal for Pacquiao following the series of distractions that hounded the camp early on when it was held in Manila.

“I’m happy with everything and he’s where I want him to be," said Roach, who bared the Filipino will spar six more rounds on Thursday and finally four on Saturday before heading to Las Vegas two days later.

But Roach said Pacquiao should be wise enough to avoid engaging Cotto on the ropes, saying “our fight is in the middle of the ring."

“We have to do a good job of staying out of the ropes. Foot speed and hand speed, then picked him apart," said Roach.

Unlike him who doesn’t want to engage Cotto should the champion goes beyond 145 pounds, Roach said Pacquiao is more than willing to fight him at any weight, at any time. “Manny will fight (Cotto) at any weight. Manny will fight King Kong." – GMANews.TV

This article is from www.gmanews.tv/

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Prediction : Miguel Cotto will win says Joe Santiago

2009-11-04T06:31:00.001-08:00

HOLLYWOOD - Miguel Cotto’s camp declared that making the weight won’t be a problem for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion with his potentially explosive title showdown with Manny Pacquiao just around the corner.

The weight issue is actually of no concern for Cotto’s camp that trainer Joe Santiago is already predicting a victory for his Puerto Rican ward’s scheduled Nov. 14 slugfest against Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“We don’t doubt that Miguel is going to win this fight," said Santiago during Cotto’s media workout Tuesday (Wednesday Manilatime) at the Pound4Pound gym. “No matter what happens, we will win. We’ll have a big victory on the 14th (of November)."

Cotto’s chief trainer said the Filipino ring icon is definitely not cut out to fight at the 147 limit, where the Puerto Rican is definitely the man to beat.

At the most, Pacquiao’s perfect fighting weight is at super-featherweight, according to Santiago.

“Manny Pacquiao is a strong fighter at 130 pounds. He’s still not good in our division (147). No one is as big and strong as Miguel Cotto," said Santiago through his interpreter Brian Perez, the hefty, bosom buddy of the WBO title holder.

Pacquiao and Cotto will duke it out in a high-profile 12-round title bout, dubbed “Firepower" Saturday (Sunday Manila time) next week in a showdown to be fought at a catch weight of 145 pounds.

Cotto, a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, has not fought below 147 pounds in the last three years, although he is considered as one of the elite fighters in the said division today.

In contrast, Pacquiao is fighting as a welterweight only for the second time in his illustrious career. His first attempt at the 147-pound class, however, ended up to be an enormous success as he had no less than the great Oscar De La Hoya for a victim, forcing the legendary “Golden Boy" from quitting on his stool just before the start of the ninth round, an embarrassing moment that eventually led to his retirement.

But Santiago would have none of the stuff, stressing that the De La Hoya Pacquiao had beaten was already at the end of his colorful career.

The Puerto Rican trainer even downplayed Pacquiao’s second round destruction of former two-time junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton in his last fight six months ago, pointing out that the popular Briton “doesn’t have any defense."

“Miguel Cotto is a different fighter," said Santiago in comparing his ward to the last two fighters Pacquiao defeated.

“He (Cotto) is at his prime and at his peak. So it’s going to be an interesting fight.

SOURCE

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MIGUEL COTTO Focuses on Things That Matter Most

2009-11-03T20:34:00.000-08:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* * *

Eddie Alinea is also the editor of The Philippine Gazette.

This article is from philboxing.com

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MIGUEL COTTO UPDATES

2009-11-03T20:24:00.000-08:00

HOLLYWOOD—Miguel Cotto is set to hit California on Tuesday for a media workout in a popular Los Angeles boxing gym, where he is expected to showcase the result of several weeks of training.

Team Cotto has already packed up its training camp in Tampa, Florida, and is now in Las Vegas, where he will defend his WBO welterweight crown against Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand.

The media workout will take place around noon at the Pound4Pound gym on La Cienega Boulevard.

And based on comments coming out of Team Cotto, the 29-year-old Puerto Rican may give sports journalists a peek into how he plans to attack Pacquiao’s weakness—one that was supposedly spotted during the Filipino’s fight against Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.

“The same way that Freddie says he has seen weaknesses in Miguel, we know the weaknesses of Manny,” Cotto trainer Joe Santiago told Fightnews.com on Monday.

“If there’s any doubt, just review the eighth round of his second fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.”

Marquez opened up a cut over Pacquiao’s eye with a straight right and then rocked the reigning pound-for-pound king with a left hook, Cotto’s pet punch.

“Not that you can compare Marquez to Cotto,” Santiago added in the interview. “There’s no comparison. Cotto has more tools. He’s a versatile fighter who knows boxing.”

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) will have his own media workout the following day at the Wild Card gym. He is scheduled to spar on Tuesday with Ray Beltran, Rasheed Holloway and Shane Porter.

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, is expected to cut the number of sparring rounds for his ward as he tapers off going into the final 10 days of training.

The six-division champion, who has thus far logged 130 rounds of sparring, spent Tuesday doing 16 rounds with the mitts with Roach.

Wright picks Cotto

Meanwhile, WBO super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez, former champion and Cotto victim Carlos Quintana and former light middleweight titlist Winky Wright all told Boxingscene.com that the Puerto Rican should have no problem dealing with Pacquiao in the fight dubbed “Firepower.”

However, Lopez, a rising star in the boxing ranks, said that if Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) performs the way he did against Joshua Clottey— who the Puerto Rican barely survived—Pacquiao may end up celebrating another big win.

“In his last fight, Cotto was a little tired at the end, and because Manny throws a lot of punches, that could make [Miguel] tired,” Lopez said. “If that happens, he will have problems.”

This article is from sports.inquirer.net
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Filipino Lawmakers Support Manny Pacquiao

2009-11-03T20:02:00.000-08:00

MANILA, NOVEMBER 4, 2009 (STAR) Lawmakers and other public officials planning to watch live the much-awaited bout between Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas should be sensitive to the plight of Filipinos still reeling from the devastation caused by the recent severe weather disturbances, a Palace spokesman said yesterday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo issued the statement following reports that at least 20 congressmen are expected to watch the fight that could cost thousands of dollars per head depending on the air fare and hotel accommodations.

She said the Palace is joining the rest of the people in wishing Pacquiao victory over his opponent.

Pacquiao is slated to challenge Cotto for the latter’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt on Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fajardo said she was not aware of any member of the Cabinet watching the fight. It was not also clear whether First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, a huge Pacquiao fan, would go to Las Vegas.

“I think they (lawmakers and other public officials) are mature and responsible individuals and they know what their priorities are, like pending bills,” she said. “They should know if they have to leave the country or not.”

“We can support Manny Pacquiao in other ways. We don’t need to go there (Las Vegas) to give our moral support,” she said.

Fajardo said their respective constituents would be the first to judge the actions of their representatives.

“I’d like to believe that they should be sensitive, especially with regard to their constituents, especially that the elections are approaching,” she said.

She stressed that unlike Cabinet officials, members of Congress are not required to seek permission from Malacañang when traveling abroad.

“Everyone also has the right and to go abroad and to watch Manny Pacquiao if they want to. For as long as they do not neglect their work here or in their respective agencies,” she said.

“I’m not saying they should stay. As I said it is their decision, not ours,” she said.

“But we just wish Manny Pacquiao well and we’re praying for him. We hope that he knows that his countrymen are all supporting him,” Fajardo said. – Paolo Romero

This article is from www.newsflash.org

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Fighter Biography : Miguel Cotto

2009-11-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

At the age of 28, Miguel is an eight-year pro. The WBO welterweight world champion, he won the title in February, 2009, and has made one successful defense.

He is Puerto Rico's brightest star and biggest draw in the ring, has fought and beaten some of the sport's biggest names, and already had a Hall of Fame career.

Miguel is coming off a 12 round decision win against former IBF welterweight world champion Joshua Clottey in his last fight in June, 2009.

After the fight, Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com [excerpts]: "There's nothing quite like the atmosphere and excitement of a Cotto fight at hallowed Madison Square Garden on the eve of the annual National Puerto Rican Day parade. It's always a festive scene, and for the fourth time in the past five years, Cotto headlined on the weekend and gave his fans something to cheer about. Most of the heavily Puerto Rican crowd of 17,734 was staunchly in Cotto's corner, cheering wildly for him as he made the first defense of the vacant welterweight belt he picked up with a dominant fifth-round knockout of England's Michael Jennings at the Garden in February.

"But this time, Cotto was facing Clottey, a far more dangerous, durable and quality opponent. Clottey is world-class and had given up his own version of the 147-pound crown to make the fight possible rather than face a mandatory challenger. The result was an excellent, high-level fight between two of the best in the star-studded weight class.

"Cotto, two fights removed from his 11-round knockout loss to Antonio Margarito (whom many believe faced Cotto with loaded hand wraps and cheated his way to victory) last summer, overcame a scenario similar to the one he faced in that fight. Like Margarito, Clottey is a rough, physical fighter. The fight played out in a similar fashion to Margarito-Cotto in that Cotto was a bit dominant early until Clottey got rolling in the middle rounds and began imposing himself on Cotto, who was cut and fading slightly. But this time, Cotto hung in like a champ.

"Cotto overcame a brutal gash in his left eyebrow from an accidental head butt in the third round. The blood flowed freely from the cut for most of the rest of the fight and certainly had an impact on Cotto's ability to see Clottey's right hand coming. After the fight, Cotto needed six stitches in a cut below his eye and 14 in the bad one above his eye.

"Clottey can complain that he was robbed all he wants, and some contrary fans and writers can join the chorus, but the reason he didn't win is because of his own shortcomings, not poor judging. Cotto fought all three minutes of the rounds and fought smart. Can't say the same for Clottey, and it cost him dearly."

Fightwriter.com's Graham Houston reported [excerpts]: "A split decision was to be expected after such a well-contested bout, but to me there was no doubt that Cotto deserved the win.

"It is true that Clottey was moving forward in the later rounds, and he looked the stronger man—but walking in with gloves up, following an opponent around the ring and not throwing punches, doesn't win rounds.

"The fight was there for the taking, but Clottey didn't drive himself forward with the extra effort that was needed.

"Cotto won with superior tactics. He moved, stopped to punch and moved again. Clottey, after looking so good at numerous stages of the fight, just seemed to lose the plot.

"Cotto's movement in the later rounds wasn't allowing Clottey to get set to punch. Although Clottey blocked many blows on his high guard, he wasn't firing off his own shots. Cotto was outsmarting him and outpointing him.

"With a number of close rounds, divergent scores were understandable. Cotto's 10-8 opening round, when his stiff left jab sat down an off-balance Clottey, in the end didn't prove to be his margin of victory—he would have won even without scoring the fight's sole knockdown.

"Clottey did some excellent scoring with the left hook to the body and left uppercut through the middle, and he also enjoyed success with the jab and straight right hand.

"Cotto overall was the busier man, though, and his combinations to the body and use of the jab enabled him to snatch rounds when Clottey fell into his move-in-without-punching pattern.

"After 11 gruelling rounds it was Cotto who provided the eye-catching finish."

Miguel is also a former WBA welterweight world champion—he won that title in December, 2006, and made four successful title defenses.

He won the WBO junior welterweight world title at the age of 23 in September, 2004, and made six successful title defenses before vacating the title to move up in weight.

He is experienced against top opposition and has fought current or former world champions Joshua Clottey (W12), Antonio Margarito (TKOby11), Shane Mosley (W12), Zab Judah (TKO11), Carlos Quintana (TKO5), Paulie Malignaggi (W12), Ricardo Torres (KO7), DeMarcus Corley (TKO5), Randall Bailey (TKO6), Carlos Maussa (TKO8), and Cesar Bazan (TKO11). He has also beaten previously undefeated contender Kelson Pinto (TKO6), as well as veteran contenders Muhammad Abdulaev (TKO9), Victoriano Sosa (TKO4) and Lovemore Ndou (W12).

SOURCE

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Miguel Cotto is Ready to Fight

2009-11-03T05:21:00.001-08:00

HOLLYWOOD – World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Miguel Cotto gets to show how ready he is for his Nov. 14 showdown against Manny Pacquiao by holding a media workout in this district of movies and stars Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).

The 28-year old Puerto Rican is arriving here from Las Vegas, Nevada where he had already been staying as early as the other day.

Cotto is scheduled to work out at the Pound4Pound gym in La Cienega Boulevard in El Segundo, California, where an open forum will first be held before the champion does his thing in the ring along with trainer Joe Santiago.

The Caguas, Puerto Rico native already broke camp in Tampa, Florida last week and arrived in Las Vegas the other day, two weeks before his highly-anticipated Nov. 14 showdown with the Filipino boxing superstar.

Reports coming from Las Vegas had it that Cotto appeared drained as he try to meet the 145-pound catch weight agreed upon for the welterweight bout dubbed “Firepower" promoted by Top Rank.

Under the fight contract, Cotto is bound to pay $1 million for every pound excess of the agreed catch weight. This will be the first time the Puerto Rican will be fighting below the welterweight limit (147 pounds) since 2006.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, holds his own public workout the following day (Wednesday, Thursday in Manila) at the Wild Card gym here, where he is in his final phase of an eight-week training that began at the Shape-Up gym in Baguio City, Philippines.

As Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) does his media workout, the 30-year old Filipino ring idol (49-3, 37 KOs) will be sparring with regular sparmates Shawn Porter, Rey Beltran and Rashad Holloway also at the famed sweatshop owned by trainer Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao has already sparred close to 130 rounds and is expected to complete their target of 150 by the time his team departs for Las Vegas Monday next week.

Despite being a 2-1 underdog, two world champions are predicting a big win for Cotto.

Compatriots Juan Manuel Lopez and Carlos Quintana have it on record that the Puerto Rican native will be able to pull off an upset.

“Miguel has all the tools to beat Pacquiao," said Lopez, the reigning WBO super-bantamweight champion, in an interview by Primera Hora, a Puerto Rico-based newspaper.

The undefeated champion, however, stressed that should Cotto gets tired the way he did in his last fight against Joshua Clottey during their WBO championship at the Madison Square Garden, he can be in for a big trouble.

“In his last fight, Cotto was a bit tired in the end, and because Manny throws a lot of punches, that could make him tired. And if that happens, he will have problems," said Lopez.

But Quintana, whom Cotto beat via a fifth round technical knockout in a 2007 title fight, believes the champion’s strength will be too much to offset Pacquiao’s speed.

“Miguel is a welterweight with a lot of power and fast hands. Miguel has to make his fight. I don’t think Pacquiao will exchange punches with Cotto, who will win by either decision or knockout," he said.

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Caastillo's Impressed with Pacquiao

2009-11-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Jose Luis Castillo, who is one of Manny Pacquiao's sparring partners for the November 14th showdown with Miguel Cotto, is very impressed so far. Castillo believes that Manny is bigger and faster than Floyd Mayweather Jr. Castillo lost two close decisions to Mayweather during the early part of the decade when both were at 135lbs. Castillo also says Manny is a much harder puncher.

According to Jose Luis Castillo, Filipino warrior Manny Pacquiao is faster than Floyd Mayweather Jr. Castillo gave Mayweather two of the hardest fights in his career. There are many who think Castillo may have won the first encounter. Castillo was recruited as a sparring partner for Pacquiao's training camp in Baguio City. The Mexican fighter's body punching style was used to prepare Pacquiao for the November 14 bout with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach told doghouseboxing.com that Castillo informed him that Manny is a faster fighter than Mayweather. It's interesting because Castillo and Mayweather fought at 135-pounds. That would mean Pacquiao is a faster at 147 than Mayweather was at 135. Pacquiao vs Mayweather is the biggest fight in boxing and there is a heavy debate on which of the two fighters is actually faster. Castillo also told him that Pacquiao is a much harder puncher.

"I will tell you this, Jose Luis Castillo who fought Mayweather twice, told me that Manny is much faster and hits way harder. That was after just sparring with Manny for a couple of days," Roach said.

Roach does not buy the "size matters" logic when it comes to certain people picking Cotto to beat his fighter. He doesn't think size will play a role in the contest.

"They are a half inch apart [in height]. When you look at the pictures of them together, they look very similar in height and weight. But the thing is, Oscar was too big, Hatton was too strong, I’ve heard all those excuses before. Strength and height does not win fights, ability wins fights. Manny is a better boxer than Cotto," Roach said.

source

Fighter Biography : Manny Pacquiao

2009-11-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

At the age of 30, Manny is a 14-year pro—he made his debut at 16. He has been fighting at the top levels of competition and given some of the most sensational performances in the ring in recent years.

A certain future Hall of Famer, Manny was voted the "2008 Fighter of the Year" by the Boxing Writers Association of America. He also won the BWAA award in 2006, as well as The Ring's 2006 and 2008 "Fighter of the Year."

Manny is also recognized by most observers as the best fighter at any weight in the ring today—the best "Pound for Pound."

He is a national hero in his native Philippines—the entire country of over 96 million people comes to a virtual standstill to watch whenever he fights.

Manny is coming off of an electrifying second-round knockout win against former IBF jr. welterweight and WBA welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton in his last fight on May 2.

The Associated Press' Tim Dahlberg reported from ringside:

"He didn't just beat Hatton. Didn't just knock him out.

"He demolished a world class fighter who had never lost at his natural weight of 140 pounds, and he did it with such precision and ease that the talk afterward wasn't whether Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but whether he might be one of the best ever.

"A right hook—a punch most southpaws don't even have—started it all, dropping Hatton midway through the first round. A left cross that may be one of the greatest single punches ever thrown in a big fight ended it with a dramatic flourish.

"When it was over, Hatton was sprawled motionless on his back in the center of the ring. Pacquiao and his corner were celebrating and the sellout crowd was trying to digest what they had just seen.

"Boxing has a new king in an unassuming fighter so good that he won his last four fights in four different weight classes."

Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com:

"With one thunderous left hand, Manny Pacquiao smashed his way into boxing immortality.

"Anyone doubt his pound-for-pound No. 1 perch now? Shoot, anyone doubt his place as one of boxing's best ever?

"The Filipino icon destroyed Ricky Hatton in two crushing rounds to make boxing history before 16,262 at the sold out and electric MGM Grand Garden Arena....

"It's something those of us who saw it shouldn't soon forget because it may be a long time until we see something like this again.

"In stunningly disposing of Hatton in ruthless fashion, Pacquiao matched Oscar De La Hoya's record of winning titles in six weight divisions. But more important, by adding Hatton's lineal junior welterweight championship to his growing collection, Pacquiao added a fourth lineal title, the first fighter to do that in boxing history. (Granted, there are more divisions now than there were back in the era of fighters such as Sugar Ray Robinson.)

"In plain terms, PacMan has been 'the man' in four divisions, the clear champion in a morass of titleholders at flyweight, featherweight, junior lightweight and now junior welterweight. Toss in belts at junior featherweight and lightweight—and wins against elite opponents—and you have a great fighter.

"It was almost laughable how easy it was for Pacquiao, who was fighting at junior welterweight for the first time in his career after dropping down from welterweight, where he fought in December and destroyed and retired De La Hoya.

"It also happened to be Pacquiao's fourth consecutive win in a fourth different division. It seems as though there is nothing he can't do."

In his previous fight on December 6, 2008, Manny scored the biggest win of his career—a dominant eighth-round TKO against former jr. lightweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, two-time super welterweight, and middleweight world champion Oscar De La Hoya—the biggest name in the sport over the last two decades and a certain future Hall of Famer himself.

Against De La Hoya, Manny was considered a huge underdog by most observers—and the fight a mismatch—because of their extreme difference in size. Boxing's conventional wisdom says that "A good big man beats a good small man."

After the fight, Dan Rafael wrote:

"Pacquiao stunningly administered a beat down of epic proportions. De La Hoya...was never in the fight for a moment.

"Pacquiao...won his third fight of the year in his third weight division, including winning two titles. The victory makes Pacquiao something of a modern-day Henry Armstrong, the all-time great pound-for-pound legend who over the course of 10 months from October, 1937, to August, 1938, claimed, in order, the world featherweight, welterweight and lightweight championships—when there were only eight divisions."

Manny had made his mark in boxing history, however, even before beating De La Hoya.

He has held world titles in four weight divisions—he won the WBC flyweight world title two weeks before his 20 birthday in December, 1998, the IBF jr. featherweight world title at 22 in 2001.

Manny won the WBC super featherweight world title in March, 2008, with a 12 round decision victory in the rematch against defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez. It was one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the year, and one of the most exciting.

He won the WBC lightweight world title in June, 2008, with a ninth-round TKO against defending champion David Diaz.

Manny's nickname is "PacMan." His webpage address is mannypacquiao.ph.

SOURCE

HBO 24/7 Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Part 1

2009-11-01T22:30:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Cotto's Hunger is Rising

2009-11-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

Trainer Joe Santiago says the hunger of Miguel Cotto is rising. He wants to prove his worth on November 14 when he defends his WBO welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Santiago says size will matter when Pacquiao tries to take his fighter's title.

"Pacquiao is a fighter who is from 130, 135-pounds, invading the welterweight division. He has done great things in boxing that can't be taken away from him. But he has never faced a natural fighter at 147 who is young and in his prime like Cotto," said Santiago to Primera Hora. "Miguel is very hungry for this fight and want to show not only the people of Puerto Rico but the world that he is the best pound for pound the world."

They have several strategies mapped out to fight Pacquiao's speed and tricky southpaw style. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach claims to have found the crack's in Cotto's style. Santiago sends a message to Roach - "we found Pacquiao's cracks."

"In the same way that Freddie may have seen the weaknesses of Miguel, we know the weaknesses of Manny. If he doubts it, review the eighth round in the second fight with Juan Manuel Marquez," said Santiago.

"Not to compare Marquez with Cotto. There is no comparison. Cotto has more resources. He is a versatile fighter who knows boxing, know how to fight back, and can make adjustments on the fly. And during his career, as in the fight with Joshua Clottey, he overcome adversity to prevail."

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight News : Cotto Ends Training Camp

2009-10-31T05:34:00.000-07:00

Miguel Cotto has again taken one step ahead of Manny Pacquiao as the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion already broke training camp in Tampa, Florida and is now headed towards Las Vegas.

The 28-year old Puerto Rican held the final day of training at his camp Friday and is now looking forward to departing for the “Sin City", about two weeks before meeting Pacquiao inside the ring in one of the year’s biggest fights.

WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico Top Rank photo

Cotto also began training three weeks ahead of Pacquiao.

Chief trainer Joe Santiago was very much satisfied with the way Cotto’s camp turned out the past eight weeks. “We’ve had the perfect camp. Miguel is determined and focus. We are about to head out for Las Vegas."

In contrast, Pacquiao is still training at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles and won’t be heading for Las Vegas until Nov. 9.

The Filipino boxing champion didn’t arrive in L.A. until last week after spending the first part of his training camp at the Shape-Up gym in Baguio City.

Trainer Freddie Roach said the 30-year old pound-for-pound king is almost 95 percent ready for the bout, saying that his ward “is jus getting better and better."

Roach added, “he’s punching so much harder than he used to."

But in what has been a growing word of animosity between Roach and Cotto’s team, Santiago said they are not taking seriously what Pacquiao’s trainer had been preaching about.

“We do not pay attention to whatever Freddie Roach is saying. We are focused on one person – Pacquiao. Roach is trying to play mind games with us, but it’s not working," said Santiago.

Team Cotto is expected to be in Las Vegas on Sunday. Except for Tuesday (Nov. 3) when the 2000 Sydney Olympian travels to Los Angeles for a press workout, Cotto will be training on a daily basis.

“It’s been a while since Miguel has had this kind of drive, determination and focus," added Santiago, who replaced Cotto’s uncle Evangelista, as the champion’s trainer.

And if Pacquiao is punching so much harder this time, Cotto is now also throwing punches by the volume, according to conditioning coach Phil Landman.

“During sparring I count every punch. For the Clottey fight, Miguel averaged 45 punches per round. Here in Tampa while training for Pacquiao, Miguel has averaged 65 punches a round," noted Landman.

“This is a very good number. Miguel is ready, prepared to fight and will win."

SOURCE : GMANEWS.TV

MANNY "Pacman" PACQUIAO Training Updates

2009-10-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has labelled his charge one of the "top five boxers of all time" as he prepares to face Miguel Cotto in his latest bout.

The Filipino meets Cotto on November 14 - a fight which will see the 'Pac Man' bid for his seventh world title at a sixth different weight.

Roach said: "Fighting Miguel Cotto for a seventh world title is going to be unbelievable because Manny is a throwback. He is like a Henry Armstrong type. You don't have fighters like that today that move up in weight like this to win championships in all of these different weight divisions.

"He is carrying his punch and his power with him along with his speed. He is just getting better and better in the ring. This is just one of the greatest achievements ever. He is passing people like Sugar Ray Leonard who was a six-time world champion, Tommy Hearns. He is in the level of the top five fighters of all time of any era."

The Puerto Rican's WBO welterweight belt will be at stake in Las Vegas, although the fighters have agreed a catchweight of 145lbs for the fight - 2lbs below the welter limit.

However, Pacquiao, who previously fought Oscar De La Hoya in a non-title fight at welterweight in 2008, will struggle to go up to the next weight - junior-middle - according to Roach.

Asked if Pacquiao could fight at an even higher weight, Roach replied: "I don't think so. For him to fight at 147lbs we have to feed him five times a day to keep the weight on him.

"I think this will be our final stop but you never know. If something comes at 154 (junior middleweight), maybe we'll go there."

The forthcoming fight has been touted as Pacquiao's toughest to date, but Roach is not so sure and is predicting his man will win by way of knockout.

"I don't know if it is his biggest challenge," he said. "We have fought some great fighters like (Erik) Morales, (Juan Manuel) Marquez and Oscar De La Hoya.

"He's a very good fighter and he is champion of the world. Manny is moving up a weight class but we fought Oscar at this weight. I am very confident in my guy and we are 100 per cent ready for the fight.

"With the power he is punching with right now at this weight, I feel that Manny is going to knock Cotto out. I look forward to the win."

Assessing Cotto's style, Roach added: "Miguel has a good left hook but I don't think he is the strongest that we have faced. (Ricky) Hatton was supposed to be stronger than us also. I have no worries about that because that doesn't win fights. Boxing ability wins fights and Manny is a better boxer than him, so we'll show it on the 14th.

"We are just taking the style of our opponents and making adjustments and he is improving all the time and we are making those adjustments for Cotto's style and his big left hook.

"He is going to be seven-time world champion and he is still learning, still evolving. He is very hungry to improve."

This article is from www.sportinglife.com

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MANNY "Pacman" PACQUIAO as Champion of Peace

2009-10-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (October 28, 2009) – Boxing’s No. 1 pound for pound fighter will be honored as a champion of peace. MANNY “PacMan” PACQUIAO has been named a 2009 Gusi Peace Prize laureate, the only athlete in the elite group of 19 awardees from 16 different nations. Established 22 years ago by Ambassador Barry Gusi and his wife, Dr. Evelyn Gusi, the Gusi Peace Prize is awarded annually to distinguished individuals or groups worldwide with exemplary contributions to peace and human rights representing fields of science, medicine, academe, politics, business, humanities, philanthropy, journalism, religion, international relations and others. This year’s sole honoree from the U.S. will be Congressman Bob Filner, who represents California’s 51st congressional district. The 2009 laureates will be formally recognized at an awards dinner in Manila on November 24..

“I am truly humbled by this incredible honor and I would like to thank the Gusi family and the foundation,” said Pacquiao. “To be included in such a group of accomplished humanitarians is beyond anything I ever dreamed of. They are inspirational. The one lesson my countrymen have taught the world during the recent typhoons is never to give up. Help each other and rebuild. Nothing is impossible when we work together whether it’s curing the sick, feeding the hungry or nourishing the souls and minds with education.”

This article is from www.eastsideboxing.com

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight HBO 24/7 Special Part 1 Review

2009-10-28T02:21:00.001-07:00

Here's a review of HBO 24/7 Special of Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto Fight by Cliff Rold of BoxingScene.com.

It feels like only weeks since the last journey though reality TV waters…mostly because it has been. Unlike the last time out, the hype this time surrounds a fight that isn’t a foregone conclusion, isn’t just a showcase.

Narrator Liev Schreiber’s voice over plays as the image of Yankee Stadium in unveiled. “…in the bowels of a modern sports temple,” we are introduced to the warriors at the heart of what will be the most viewed, and anticipated, fight for the rest of 2009. They share the same space but, at least for the cameras, don’t look much in each other’s directions. Highlights of one man’s highs, and another’s highs and lows, lead to clips of their press conference on the New York diamond.

“This is Pacquiao-Cotto, 24/7.”

Cue the music and real-timish review.

Raindrops fall over Baguio City as the World Jr. Welterweight champion, Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KO) does his roadwork fish-style. A typhoon in the Philippines makes hitting the asphalt untenable so laps in the pool are the order of the day. It is reminiscent of Rocky III in that Pacquiao is struggling because he’s not much of a swimmer.

It’s hard to imagine this ending with a montage of Pacquiao looking Michael Phelps in the days before the fight, pulling Paulie in the pool while Apollo chuckles but, hey, one can hope.

The typhoon, of course, is no laughing matter. The haunting images evoke Katrina as citizens float down rivers which shouldn’t be, struggling to survive the wrath of Typhoon Parma (or Pepeng) amidst 28 inches of rain. Pacquiao’s choice to train at home, rather than in Los Angeles, is explored and Pacquiao states what would be the only thing he can, balancing his feelings for his nation and his need to prepare. “I feel bad. My sympathy to those people who are suffering in the storm. Right now I’m very focused and I don’t want to think about anything aside from boxing.”

Trainer Freddy Roach smiles uncomfortably describing how he’d liked to have had camp in Canada nut but was overruled because ‘it rains too much’ in Vancouver. A view of the Pacquiao entourage reveals the usual cast of characters from Pacquiao’s last two 24/7 outings, including a hair dresser…because ‘pound for pound’ can’t have split ends.

Roach laughs off the size of the crew and the episode segues to highlights of Pacquiao’s last victory, the second round decapitation of then-140 lb. king Ricky Hatton which made him the first fighter in history to capture lineal World titles in four weight classes. “I hate to say this about a World champion,” Roach states, “but he wasn’t that good.”

Pacquiao certainly made it look that way.

Dramatic drums and some singing in Spanish carry us to the camp of WBO Welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KO). Schreiber describes that Cotto started training a full month ahead of Pacquiao, establishing the seriousness of the stoic Cotto before setting the storyline for why he needs to be serious.

Clips of some of Cotto’s 34 victories play out over the narration with images of leather landed against Zab Judah and Shane Mosley leading to a big Cotto “Whoo!” The festive music gets all dramatic as attention turns to Cotto’s lone loss at the hands of Antonio Margarito last summer. Cotto’s late, willful surrender in the contest is replayed and Cotto gives a reasoned reaction to that end. “Stop the fight for my benefit, for the benefit of my kids.”

Cotto’s father reflects on the struggle of seeing his son battered. The sport’s biggest controversy in 2009, the discovery of attempted altered hand wraps on Margarito prior to the Mexican’s loss to Mosley earlier this year moves to center stage. Schreiber asks, “How long had Margarito been fighting dirty? Had he broken the rules when he gave the brutal beating to Cotto?”

Fair questions.

Cotto simply states that there are people who know how long it went on. He’s had more to say in the press previously and has opined that he believes Margarito was dirty against him. History will probably never get a clear answer.

The cameras join Cotto for lunch and introduce Cotto’s trainer, Joe Santiago. Mitt work plays as the messy divorce of Cotto and uncle/trainer Evangelista Cotto is described. “The success of any relationship is the communication and Joe and me have great communication.”

The typhoon has settled as attention is returned to Camp Pacquiao. Roach heads out for his morning walk…culminating at Starbucks. There’s something oddly perverse about this image as the show plays out. Amidst the devastation wreaked upon the land, Starbucks still stands. During a montage of the masses devastated by, among other things, brutal landslides, Schreiber tones in that “disasters like this take the most from those who have the least.”

Starbucks still stands.

Images of refugee camps, families displaced by the flooding, are almost too tough to watch. Members of Team Pacquiao head into disaster areas to lend moral support. The smiles of the people say how much such small gestures can mean.

Cotto’s final training day in Puerto Rico before leaving for Tampa, Florida features an open workout and chance for viewers to see that, like Pacquiao, Cotto is a national idol. Next we get a trip to the tattoo parlor where Cotto is touching up his ninth piece of ink as his children and wife look on.

Family time at the tat house…whod’a thunk.

Cotto’s marital struggles are briefly touched upon as the Welterweight titlist describes that he hasn’t “always been the best husband” (easy to understand given the, um, beauty of the island) but that he and his wife are working on reconciliation after a three year separation. A family dinner leads to farewell hugs.

Back in Baguio City, U.S. military assistance is landing while Pacquiao is able to return to normal roadwork. Former World Lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo arrives for sparring. Watching these two go at it could well be an episode in itself and, if they ever release these shows on DVD’s, the full sessions should be an extra feature.

The well reported, almost tabloid-esque, turmoil alleged in the camp of Pacquiao is alluded to with the physical confrontation between business advisor Michael Koncz and conditioning coach Alex Ariza a topic of chatter. Roach seems to laugh it off and Koncz downplays it while the cameras show stern faces around the gym to heighten the sense of drama, even danger, for Pacquiao.

Whatever.

Seriously, can anyone imagine if 24/7 had been around when Muhammad Ali was at his height? How about the time he got caught pawning off the wrong woman as his wife in Manila? That would have been good TV. Ali following it up by beating Frazier in the greatest Heavyweight fight ever was even better.

The lush climate of Tampa is the next stop and Team Cotto, in a rented mansion, is barbecuing and goofing at poolside while camp elders sip red spirits. The team heads “Renaissance Dogs” style into the gym. 76-year old cutman Joe Chavez is shown in his workout gear and, dear Lord, everyone should want to look like that at his age.

Dude is ripped for his age.

Cotto and crew express their focus and excitement at the success of camp so far. Santiago states, “Nothing else is on our minds besides Manny Pacquiao on November 14th.” Cotto speaks with measured calm. “(Pacquiao’s) just another fighter whose come to my division and challenge me for my title, you know. The night of the (fight), I’m going to be prepared for him and I’m pretty sure I’m going to beat Manny Pacquiao.”

Schreiber: “The fight is 21 days away.”

The episode finishes back in the Philippines where rain is pouring again as a new typhoon, Ramil, prepares to land. Roach is arguing to get out of Baguio and head to Manila but Pacquiao is resistant. He agrees and then relents the next morning, leading to Roach threatening to leave without the fighter, in front of a local politician. “I got pissed off enough to tell Manny, ‘you know what, if you don’t want me to be part of this, I quit.’ But he called and asked me to please calm down, so I did.”

The move shows off where Roach comes from in his school of thought. Mentored by the legendary trainer Eddie Futch, a man who more than once was said to threaten his fighters during fights that he’d sit out if they didn’t get it together, Roach’s ploy was classic. It all wraps up with Roach speaking to Koncz about how urgent the need to leave is.

Author’s note: Pacquiao is already in Los Angeles to finish training camp so don’t let the drama overwhelm the senses.

Final Thoughts: This was a fascinating start to the series. The tragedy in the Philippines added a weight and drama, a reality, this show often lacks in its various incarnations. It was impressive work by the documentary crew, balanced well against the Pacquiao camp issues and training story, never feeling exploitative. On the other side of the ledger, Cotto is hard to gimmick. He comes across as a fighter’s fighter going about his business.

If this show failed, and it has three episodes to correct it, it was in the lack of perspective given to Pacquiao’s career. It was a similar problem in the 24/7’s for his bouts with Oscar De La Hoya and Hatton. The full scope of what Pacquiao has done, and is attempting to do, is not being fully conveyed. Pacquiao’s status as a ‘pound for pound’ leader was mentioned. Not once in the show was it noted that Pacquiao is challenging Cotto for a title in a seventh weight class, a feat never seen even in this watered down era of ‘belts for all.’

This author has some problems with the catch weight stipulation for this bout, noted on air at 145 lbs. It can mitigate the fullness of the accomplishment if Pacquiao wins in November, as does the fact that there are multiple Welterweight title claimants. However, it would still be an accomplishment. Cotto is, at worst, the second or third best active Welterweight in the world with a victory over one man with a case for the top spot, Mosley, and a range of competition within the division former lineal king Floyd Mayweather has yet to face.

When this decade began, Pacquiao was 21 years old and just months removed from the lineal World title at 112 lbs. Ten years later, he is challenging for a piece of the Welterweight crown and is favored to win.

Boxing has a richness of history which is second to no other sport. No Flyweight champion had ever risen to win the Featherweight crown before Pacquiao. No former Featherweight champion, even with an unnecessary catch weight, has tested the peak of the Welterweight division like this since Henry Armstrong.

Being that this is essentially a hype show, a commercial engagement, it fails the viewer in not making those points. A couple camp members getting saucy is interesting stuff but there are available, non-soap opera, elements available to make the fight feel special.

And that’s what this is all about ultimately. On November 14th, the world should be getting one hell of a fight. Grade: B+

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: Pacquiao is No. 1 in Yahoo Sports October Ranking

2009-10-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

Folyd Mayweather jr. suffered a first round defeat against Manny Pacquiao in their much anticipated fight of 2010. His defeat however happened outside the ring as Yahoo Sports placed him on second place in its monthly rating for the month of October Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao won over Floyd Mayweather in the Yahoo Sports monthly ranking placing the pound-for-pound king on top of the list and pushed Mayweather down to second place in the popular monthly rating by Yahoo Sports.

Pacquiao garnered 13 votes out of the 25 first place votes from the elite panel of boxing writers. Mayweather, who was last month's top boxer got 12 votes.

Third placer was Paul Williams who maintained his third rating for September while Shane Mosley was fourth in the new ranking. Juan Manuel Marquez, who fought Mayweather earlier climbed one notch to number five from his sixth position last month.

Miguel Cotto who is fighting Manny Pacquiao on November 14 also climbed one notch higher that his previous monthly ranking. He is now ranked number six in the Yahoo October list.

Bernard Hopkins slid farther down to seventh place from his fourth ranking last month. Chad Dawson, who will collide with Glen Johnson on November 7 in Hartford got 57 points to take the eighth slot.

Arthur Abraham who is fighting in January against Andre Dirrell is ranked number nine while Wladimir Klichtchko who fought Rusian Chagaev last June 20, got 33 points for the tenth and last slot.

The voting panel is composed of:

Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports; Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News; Paul Upham, Seconds Out; Michael Katz, Gaming Today; Keith Idec, Herald News, New Jersey; Santos Perez, Miami Herald; Kieran Mulvaney, Reuters; Scott Fyfe, Sunday Post, Scotland; Gunnar Meinhardt, Die Welt; Michael Rosenthal, RingTV; Scott Mallon, Asian Boxing News; Marty Mulcahey, MaxBoxing; Dougie Fisher, RingTV; Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports; Raul Alzaga, Primera Hora; T.K. Stewart, BoxingScene; Andrew Eisele, About.com; Tim Smith, New York Daily News; David Mayo, Grand Rapids Press; Dave Cokin, ESPN Radio 1100, Las Vegas; Thomas Hauser, Seconds Out; Lee Groves, MaxBoxing; Ron Borges, Boston Herald; Thomas Gerbasi, BoxingScene; Steve Cofield, Yahoo! Sports.

The Yahoo Sports ranking is done every month by a voting panel composed of elite panel of boxing writers who represent different sports news organizations led by Yahoo Sports.

This article is from www.digitaljournal.com

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: Mike Koncz Predictions

2009-10-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

MANILA – Canadian adviser Mike Koncz has joined American trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Alex Ariza in declaring that Manny Pacquiao will certainly knockout WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in the “Firepower” bout on November 14 in Las Vegas.

Koncz, however, thinks the KO will not come soon in the fight, contrary to what Roach has predicted.

“I believe it will happen but I don’t believe it will happen as quickly as in the [Ricky] Hatton fight,” Koncz told abs-cbnNEWS.com last week.

Pacquiao became the IBO/Ring Magazine light welterweight champion in May after stunning Britain’s Hatton with a 2nd round KO in the “Battle of the East and West.”

Roach told PhilBoxing.com that Pacquiao would KO Cotto in Round 1 if the Puerto Rican “doesn’t run.” Ariza, meantime, said the Filipino boxing superstar can KO Cotto “if he lands a shot” because of the immense power of Pacquiao’s punch.

“You know Cotto's a fighter in his prime. He's one of the best body punchers in the business, very strong,” Koncz said of the WBO welterweight champ.

“Certainly I believe Manny will prevail in the fight because his foot speed and his hand speed are just gonna be too much for Cotto,” he continued.

“But the knockout, I think so but I don’t think so [it will happen] until the later rounds.”

Pacquiao went to the United States Saturday night to wrap up his training there. Koncz said the pound-for-pound king will train in Los Angeles, California for two weeks.

Team Pacquiao will proceed to Las Vegas, Nevada on the Sunday before the fight to continue training.

A “very hectic schedule” awaits Pacquiao in Las Vegas, Koncz noted, as he is set to fulfill “contractual obligations” such as promoting the bout. – Report by Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com

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HBO 24/7 Returns : A Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Exclusive

2009-10-25T04:50:00.001-07:00

Part 1 of Pacquiao-Cotto Bout an HBO 24/7 exclusive is now available on HBO.com.

Making his third '24/7" appearance, Pacquiao is expected to surround himself with a familiar contingent of family and friends as he trains with trusted longtime associate Freddy Roach. HBO reality series newcomer Cotto, who never ducks a challenge, is taking on his biggest fight yet with trainer Joe Santiago as they seek to set a strategy to unseat the widely regarded pound-for-pound champ.

Click on the link below to watch it online...

PART 1

There’s Too Much Distractions Says Roach

2009-10-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao took his 10-round sparring session lightly on Saturday, prompting trainer Freddie Roach to give an unscheduled “pep talk” during the pound-for-pound king’s final workout in the country leading to the November 14 battle with Miguel Cotto.

“He was just playing around too much,” said Roach. “This is the reason why I don’t like training in Manila because there’s just too much distractions.” “I was telling him not to lose focus,” said Roach.

While things such as Saturday’s incident had happened a few times in the past, Roach still was a tad worried that Pacquiao didn’t do what he had expected him to do to his sparring partners – super-welterweight Shawn Porter and super-lightweight Urbano Antillon – before a sizable crowd at a gym in Mandaluyong owned and operated by ex-world champion Gerry Penalosa.

There were flashes of brilliance of course from Pacquiao, but it wasn’t the kind of thing that Roach wanted to see from somebody who is a few weeks away from the toughest fight of his life.

To remedy the problem, Roach said he will make a major change in the roster of sparring partners.

Porter will be retained but Roach said Raymund Serrano and Ray Beltran will be tapped to work with Pacquiao beginning this Tuesday, the second day of Pacquiao’s training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.

“Manny’s become too friendly with his sparring partners,” said Roach.

Expected to be cut are Antillon, Jose Luis Castillo, and Danny Escobar, who joined Porter in Pacquiao’s Baguio City training camp for several weeks.

Despite the so-so showing, Roach remains upbeat they can get the job done.

“As far as his physical shape is concerned, no problem. I just like him to be mentally tough and focused,” added Roach.

Pacquiao had to fulfill a bevy of commitments right after the workout but he still managed to spend some time with his four kids — Queen Elizabeth, Princess, Jimuel, and Michael — before going to work.

“I will miss them a lot,” said Pacquiao, who was scheduled to take a late Saturday night flight to Los Angeles.

SOURCE

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : A HBO 24/7 Special

2009-10-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

HBO 24/7 will be releasing their HBO 24/7 special this coming Saturday, October 24. Read the article below (written by Bobby Cassidy for newsday.com) to know what to expect from the Firepower scheduled on November 14 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas.

We caught a two-for-one lunch deal with HBO's Ross Greenburg this week. No, it wasn't one of those two-for-one type of restaurants. We're talking about the conversation, not the cuisine.

The talk centered around HBO's 24/7 franchise and how the network is now venturing into NASCAR. So to read the NASCAR portion of this post, you will have to click here and visit our Trading Paint blog. For a preview of the upcoming 24/7 Pacquiao-Cotto series, stay right here.

The Pacquiao-Cotto series debuts on Saturday and starts with Miguel getting his ninth tattoo and then saying goodbye to his wife and children in Puerto Rico. He heads to training camp in Tampa. But the real drama occurs in the Philippines, which were ravaged by typhoons and flooding while Pac Man was training in the mountains.

"Manila was under water," said Greenburg. "There were 25 inches of rain and in the midst of all of this, here's Manny Pacquiao training for a fight..."

Pause for effect.

"And we had the only cameras there," added Greenburg.

So compelling was the storm footage that Greenburg sent some over to CNN, which is a sister company.

Pacquiao selected Baguio -- six hours north of Manila by car -- as the site of his training camp because he could do road work in the mountains. But the rains made it nearly impossible to run, so instead, HBO has nice shots of him swimming in an indoor pool while it's storming outside.

Also, according to reports from the Philippines, Pac Man's entourage has grown, which always makes things entertaining.

Joining us for lunch was HBO's Ray Stallone, who said that the ratings for 24/7 continue to rise. "Anytime [Floyd] Mayweather is involved, we see a spike in ratings," said Stallone. "And it's going up in the 18 to 35 demographic. That's so heartening. These are our new fans."

There are a certain generation of people who are forever hooked on boxing because they watched the "Friday Night Fights," with their dad in the 1950s. Perhaps 24/7 has the same impact. Greenburg hears from all kinds of individuals who watch the series, including a lot of celebrities. One of them, NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson, will soon have his own 24/7 experience.

Greenburg first hatched the idea for 24/7 prior to the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Arturo Gatti fight. But HBO decided to wait for a mega fight and thus the series debuted with the Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya showdown.

"Ross knew the future of boxing was not KO Nation," said Stallone.

The unequivocal star of the series has been Money Mayweather.

"In my mind, he and his family launched the show," said Greenburg. "That's what everyone was talking about around the water cooler, the Mayweathers."

So the ultimate 24/7 could end up being Mayweather-Pacquiao, a megafight that should be next if Pacquiao gets past Cotto. Despite the politics that can often cripple boxing, Greenburg feels that fight is too big not to make.

"I think it has to happen," he said. "You knew Leonard had to fight Hearns at some point. You knew Tyson had to fight Spinks at some point. When two fighters are on a collision course, the collision has to happen."

Cotto is comfortable at 147 pounds

2009-10-22T02:28:00.000-07:00

In boxing, the attributes of a fighter’s physical strength and his knockout power are not necessarily one and the same.

Thomas Hearns, for instance, remains the prototype of a boxer who possessed one-punch knockout power yet often lacked the formidable body strength of his more muscle-bound opponents. Think of the electrifying knockouts he recorded against Pipino Cuevas and Roberto Duran — and by contrast, later in his career, the way Hearns was bullied on the inside on the way to losing a 12-round decision to Iran Barkley.

Other boxers from the same mold were, in reverse chronological order, the light heavyweight great Bob Foster and the hall-of-fame flyweight Jimmy Wilde.

The quintessential boxer with exceptional physical strength but modest knockout power against top-level opposition was probably Randall “Tex” Cobb, as illustrated by his inability to finish off an exhausted Earnie Shavers in 1980 (on the undercard of Hearns-Cuevas, coincidentally).

Also in this category were Evander Holyfield and fellow heavyweight Larry Holmes, who famously said: “I didn’t have the hardest punch in the world, but my punches were sharp and they were crisp — and if you took too many of them, you would be knocked out.”

In the most hotly anticipated fight of 2009, welterweight Miguel Cotto likely will have to synthesize those two qualities — strength and knockout ability — to score an upset victory against Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand.

Cotto, comfortable among the sport’s elite at 147 pounds for the past couple of years, steps down slightly to a “catch weight” of 145 for the bout. Cotto’s best hope is that his natural size advantage could neutralize the firepower of Pacquiao, who made his name in the sport’s lighter weight divisions before moving up to face bigger opponents such as Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

Dominant victories against those two men solidified Pacquiao’s reputation as perhaps the most crowd-pleasing and talented fighter in the sport.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has hyped the Nov. 14 showdown as potentially the No. 1 fight of the year (this is accurate) and even of the decade (well, it’s a good fight, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves).

For the ninth consecutive fight, Cotto is working with strength and conditioning coach Phil Landman, a fitness and nutrition expert from South Africa. Cotto began working with Landman when he moved up from the junior welterweight division to fight Carlos Quintana in 2006.

Cotto and Landman are preparing for the bout in Tampa, Fla., under head trainer Joe Santiago.

Landman is confident Cotto can put all of his skills together against Pacquiao.

“The best things with Miguel are with his strength and his speed, and the work we have done has shown, especially since he came up to the welterweight division,” Landman said. “We work on things in the gym to improve on his overall power and overall strength, and toward the end of the camp we will focus more on functional stuff, which is funneling that power and speed to work for him in that fight.

“That, along with conditioning, which I think will contribute to all of those things coming together to create a better puncher as well as a better boxer.”

Cotto, who owns the WBO welterweight belt, is coming off a split-decision victory against Joshua Clottey in June at Madison Square Garden. It was a brutal fight in which Cotto dropped Clottey in the first round, sustained a bad cut by his left eye via a head butt in Round 3, and weathered a furious rally by Clottey in the later rounds.

Team Cotto has dismissed concerns that the Clottey bout and his 2008 loss to Antonio Margarito, another savage fight, have taken a toll on Cotto.

“I commend him for coming in and fighting a tough guy like Clottey,” Landman said. “Getting a cut like he did in the third round, he never thought about quitting and he toughed it out for 12 rounds and he won the fight. I think you have to look at it from that perspective and give him credit for it.”

Arum used the opportunity to introduce another wrinkle to the buildup to Cotto-Pacquiao, which when it’s all said and done will feature more subplots than a Trollope novel: The fight could serve as a sort of acid test of Clottey’s abilities.

A tough welterweight, Clottey, who fights Quintana on Dec. 5 in Atlantic City, has yet to establish a foothold among boxing’s most respected world champions. If Cotto does beat Pacquiao, Clottey’s stock would surely rise.

“I would like to say that Clottey is one of the best welterweights out there,” Arum said. “For Miguel to come back after suffering that cut and to come back and pull out a victory, I think it shows that Miguel is back, but it also shows an absolutely brilliant performance.”

This is an article written by Jeff Haney for the LasVegasSun.com

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Update : La Diva to Sing RP Anthem

2009-10-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

MANILA – Three artists, not just one, will sing the country’s national anthem in Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s much anticipated showdown with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The people’s champ confirmed to abs-cbnNEWS.com in an exclusive interview that “La Diva,” dubbed as the Destiny’s Child of the Philippines,” will sing “Lupang Hinirang” in the Pacquiao-Cotto “Firepower” clash.

The pop girl group is composed of “Pinoy Pop Superstar” champions Jonalyn Viray (soprano), Aicelle Santos (alto) and Maricris Garcia (mezzo-soprano).

Viray is the 1st grand champion of the singing contest, while Garcia is the 3rd Pinoy Pop Superstar champion. Santos, on the other hand, was a runner-up in the second season.

Pacquiao said the three auditioned in the early part of this year. Other artists from networks ABS-CBN and GMA 7 also took part in the audition, he said. The boxer cited Jolina Magdangal as one of those who wanted to sing the national anthem.

The Filipino boxing icon was particularly impressed by the “La Diva” when he saw them perform. He added that he believes “La Diva” will do justice in singing “Lupang Hinirang” next month.

The boxing champion also admitted that he was told that international singers Charice and Lea Salonga were interested in singing the national anthem for the fight.

"Pero hindi ko naman sila nakausap. Kung nakausap ko, siguro sila. Pero ‘yong ‘La Diva’ kasi, na-oo-han ko na. Mahirap naman at baka masabi wala akong isang salita," Pacquiao explained.

According to law

To avoid any controversy like what happened to Nievera when he sang “Lupang Hinirang” in Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton bout on May 2, Pacman assured that the trio group will sing the national anthem according to what the law prescribes.

The National Historical Institute (NHI) lambasted Nievera for his alleged "wrong" rendition of the "Lupang Hinirang."

Critics said Nievera sang the first part of the song too slowly and should not have belted out the last words of the song.

The NHI said this constituted a violation of Section 37 of Republic Act 8491 or the 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, which states that the rendition of the national anthem, whether played or sung, should be in accordance with the original musical arrangement of Julian Felipe, which follows a marching-type beat.

Violators may be imprisoned for not more than a year and fined at least P20,000.

SOURCE

Gerry Penalosa's Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Prediction

2009-10-20T08:21:00.001-07:00

MANILA – Filipino veteran prized fighter Gerry Peñalosa is certain that Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao will prevail in his Nov. 14 fight against Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.

He said this after watching Pacquiao hold an intense workout at the Gerry Peñalosa Boxing Gym in Mandaluyong City on Monday.

“He was focused, determined and every inch the champion,” Peñalosa said of the pound-for-pound king in his Oct. 19 “Fearless” column on PhilBoxing.com.

He added that Pacquiao did not even look exhausted after training.

“I am every bit confident that the Pacman will devour Miguel Cotto... Manny might be the smaller guy but he was so fast,” he wrote.

Peñalosa even suggested changing the Pacquiao-Cotto fight title of “Firepower” to “The Quick and the Dead.” He continued, “Pacman is the quick one... can Cotto be the ‘dead’?”

Pacquiao left Baguio City on Sunday to continue his training in Manila as Typhoon “Ramil” is threatening to hit Northern Luzon this week.

Stronger than ever

“The People’s Champ” held a workout of more than two hours on Monday, spending 11 rounds in the mitts with Coach Freddie Roach.

ABS-CBN Correspondent Dyan Castillejo noted Pacquiao’s huge improvement since he began training in Baguio City.

He has new combinations plus great and swift movements. His punches even became stronger, especially his left and right hooks.

Pacquiao is also comfortable with his current weight of 149 lbs. This has also contributed to his ability to throw stronger punches these days.

Roach even told ABS-CBN News that his arm “really hurts” because Pacquiao hits so hard. “Manny will knock this guy out,” he said of his ward.

New exercises

Pacquiao, for his part, said: “Happy ako kasi naramdaman ko na malakas ako.”

He added that the routine of conditioning coach Alex Ariza, which included new exercises, really improved his skills.

He is now eating five times a day and his protein intake has been increased. “Eats a lot of fish, meat, veggies, recovery drinks,” noted Ariza.

Pacquiao is expected to continue training at the Gerry Peñalosa Boxing Gym while he is in Manila.

He said in his “Kumbinasyon” column that he will leave for the United States on Oct. 24 to train at Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.

SOURCE : abs-cbnnews.com

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Updates

2009-10-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

Less than a month from now Manny Pacquiao will be fighting as a welterweight for the second time in his career. When he fought Oscar dela Hoya last December, Pacquiao weighed 142 pounds during the official weigh-in and went up to 148.5 lbs at fight night. Pacquiao was awesome as a welterweight even against the faded but still a 2 to 1 favorite Golden Boy. Will a major title at the 147 pound division be just a mere formality?

Miguel Cotto is the defending WBO welterweight champion but was willing to concede to the catchweight of 145 pounds and purse split just to get a mega-match against the Pacman. But Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach has said that they will be ready even if Cotto will not comply with the contracted weight.

Cotto has shown chinks in his armor in past fights especially the last one where he escaped with a split decision win against Joshua Clottey. But his resolve has been tested many times: he came off the floor to stop Ricardo Torres, outboxed Shane Mosley but lost to Antonio Margarito’s relentless assault. The Puerto Rican is 27 years old and is slightly taller than Pacquiao at 5’7”. He won the WBO junior welterweight title in 2004 and made six title defenses. He has won the WBA and WBO versions of the 147 lb. world title.

Cotto has one of the best left hooks among the present day fighters. This hook is also part of his punishing attack to the midsection. He has a patient stalking style but is an excellent finisher.

The welterweight division had its first world champion in 1888, when Paddy Duffy knocked out William McMillan in 17 rounds. This weight class is one of boxing’s glamour divisions and has a special place in ring history. The man who inspired the term, greatest boxer pound per pound, Sugar Ray Robinson held the world welterweight belt from 1946 to 1951.

Other Hall of Famers who held the welterweight title include Mickey Walker (1922-26), Henry Armstrong (1938-40), Carmen Basilio (1955-56), and Emile Griffith (1960-63). The height of the division’s popularity on network television was from 1979 to 1981 when Sugar Ray Leonard waged timeless battles against Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, and Thomas Hearns.

During the 1990’s, the tradition was continued by Pernell Whitaker, Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, and Oscar dela Hoya.

Manny Pacquiao is once again poised to take a chunk of history. The Philippines has yet to win a major title at welterweight. Two Filipinos have won world title belts under the WBF or World Boxing Foundation : William Magahin (1995) and Dondon Sultan (2006-2007).

Pacquiao will be gunning for an unprecedented seventh world title after winning the WBC flyweight, IBF superbantamweight, Ring Magazine's linear featherweight, WBC and Ring Magazine superfeatherweight, WBC lightweight and IBO and Ring magazine jr. welterweight.

Because of the unpredictability of the Philippine weather, Pacquiao's raining camp has moved to Gerry Peñalosa Boxing Gym at Marketmall in Mandaluyong City. The catchweight issue is something that boxing historians will reassess years from now. But for the moment, there is a blockbuster fight to enjoy. Too bad that Manny Pacquiao won’t be staying as a welterweight for a long time. 2010 is just around the corner and his well publicized political plans may no longer make him fight as much as the Filipinos would want.

This article is from philboxing.com

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: Who will be the referee?

2009-10-19T01:11:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines—The Nevada State Athletic Commission appointed Kenny Bayless the referee for the Nov. 14 bout between Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and reigning WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The match could be the biggest money-earning venture of Pacquiao, with the reigning lightweight king expected to earn more than $12 million as he guns for Cotto’s belt in a bid to become the first boxer to win titles—including linear ones—in seven different weight classes.

With HBO selling pay-per-views at $54.95 and Top Rank chief Bob Arum earlier predicting that the bout, dubbed “Firepower,” will exceed 850,000 buys brought in by Pacquiao’s destruction of Briton Ricky Hatton earlier this year, Pacquiao is looking at the biggest paycheck in his career.

Bayless’ appointment, meanwhile, ends apprehensions within Team Pacquiao that Joe Cortez had the inside track on the super fight. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach had earlier said he was hoping Cortez wouldn’t land the job in the bout dubbed “Firepower” because he is Puerto Rican like Cotto.

Bayless had worked three previous Pacquiao fights—all of them victories. The Nevada native was the third man in the ring when Pacquiao knocked out Erik Morales in 10 rounds in 2006. He also officiated Pacquiao’s close win over Juan Manuel Marquez in their second bout in 2007 and was the referee when the Filipino sensation knocked Hatton out cold last May.

The NSAC also appointed Dave Moretti, Adelaide Byrd and Duane Ford as judges.

Meanwhile, in Baguio City, Roach has increased the boxer’s sparring schedule to nine rounds.

Among those who joined Pacquiao here on Saturday for his fans’ day was 8-year-old Arjean Cadias, who is suffering from cancer.

Cadias had a brief chat with Pacquiao, who later signed the boy’s slum book.

Arum had earlier told Yahoo! Sports that he expected the Pacman to earn more from PPV buys than he did against Hatton because “I think Cotto, as a great Puerto Rican fighter, brings a larger fan base to the US.”

Pacquiao is also getting a bigger split of the pie against Cotto, with reports pegging the percentage as high as 65-35. Pacquiao and Hatton went 50-50 during their bout.

The Pacquiao-Cotto PPV buys are going to be crucial bargaining chips when the Filipino’s camp negotiates for a fight against undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

Schaefer told Boxingscene.com that “if Pacquiao-Cotto sells the same amount of homes or more (as Mayweather-Marquez) then we’ll have things to discuss.”

Mayweather defeated Juan Manuel Marquez last September and was credited as the main draw that resulted in 1 million PPV buys that generated $52 million in PPV revenues. With a report from Frank Cimatu, Inquirer Northern Luzon

This article is from sports.inquirer.net

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Update : Pacquiao Too Sharp for Cotto Says Castillo

2009-10-18T06:41:00.001-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - Former two-time WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo is convinced there’s nobody out there within weight range capable of beating Manny Pacquiao and that includes Floyd Mayweather Jr. whom the Mexican has faced twice.

It goes without saying that Castillo, now working as Pacquiao’s sparmate, is sure the Filipino icon will dispose of Miguel Cotto when they meet at a catchweight limit of 145 pounds for the WBO welterweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 14.

Trainer Freddie Roach shared Castillo’s remarks the other day as he assessed the 35-year-old warrior’s performance in two sparring sessions in Baguio City so far. Castillo flew in from Los Angeles via Hermosillo, Mexico, with another sparmate Danny Escobar and arrived in Baguio City in former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson’s private plane last Sunday.

Castillo’s style resembles Cotto’s and that’s why he was brought in to spar with Pacquiao. He turned pro in 1990 and won his first 18 outings, 13 inside three rounds. In 2000, Castillo wrested the WBC lightweight crown from Stevie Johnston on points then lost it in his fourth defense to Mayweather in a close encounter in April 2002. Castillo was decisioned by Mayweather in a rematch eight months later but regained the vacant WBC title on a 12-round verdict over Juan Lazcano in 2004. Castillo then repulsed challengers Joel Casamayor and Julio Diaz before yielding the throne to Diego Corrales in 2005. He knocked out Corrales in a rematch but was prevented from claiming the WBC belt because he weighed in 3 1/2 pounds over the limit.

Now a welterweight, Castillo has won four in a row, knocking out James Wayka, Roberto Valenzuela, Christian Solano and Carlos Urias and is hoping for another world title crack.

At first, Roach was unsure of what Castillo could bring to the table as a sparmate. But now, he likes what he sees in the rugged Mexican gladiator.

“He’s a genuinely nice guy,” said Roach. “He’s probably doing 70 percent of what he can do. But he’s adjusting and getting more comfortable. He’s looking for a comeback to the big time. I’m willing to help him although I don’t know if I’ll be in his corner for his next fight.”

Roach said Castillo has asked if they could work together in the gym.

“I told him to show up about an hour early before Manny comes to the gym and I could help him out,” said Roach. “That’s no problem for me.”

Roach said while he likes Castillo, he can’t be sure if he’ll draft the Mexican as a sparmate for Pacquiao’s next fight.

“It really depends on whom Manny fights next because I’ll want sparmates who resembles the style of his next opponent,” said Roach. “If it’s Mayweather, I don’t know if Castillo will fit in. But he might. Castillo has fought Mayweather twice so he knows his style and tendencies well. Castillo thinks Manny will beat the heck out of Mayweather because he hits harder and he’s a lot quicker.”

What has impressed Castillo is the uncompromising work ethic in Pacquiao’s training camp.

“Castillo was Julio Cesar Chavez’ long-time sparring partner and it felt good when he told me he’s never been with a team in camp that works harder than us,” said Roach. “That’s saying a lot because Castillo has a lot of experience behind him.”

Roach said it wasn’t difficult to lure Castillo to Baguio City.

“No, it wasn’t hard to get him,” said Roach. “He wanted the opportunity to work with Manny. Everybody does. He’s amazed at how hard we work in the gym, how hard Manny works.”

Roach said Pacquiao’s sparring partners are top-quality. Aside from Castillo, Pacquiao spars with unbeaten junior middleweight Shawn Porter. Escobar is on standby. Another sparmate Urbano Antillon of Mexico was scheduled to fly back to Los Angeles yesterday. When Pacquiao reports for work at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Roach will likely recruit fresh sparmates including British world champion Amir Khan.

Porter, 21, was the US Golden Gloves champion in 2007 and fought over 200 amateur bouts. His pro record is 10-0 with eight KOs. Escobar, 20, is unbeaten in three bouts, all won by knockout in the first round.

In contrast, Cotto has been feasting on inferior sparring partners. He kicked out Francisco (El Gato) Figueroa after a week of sparring and has kept 37-year-old Fred Tukes and 25-year-old Kenny Abril. Figuero, 31, is coming off a knockout loss to Randall Bailey last April. Tukes has a 7-1-1 record, with five KOs, and is unbeaten in his last seven assignments but his age seems to be a liability. Abril has a 9-3-1 mark, with five KOs, and has won his last five. Figueroa, Tukes and Abril are, of course, all southpaws like Pacquiao.

Cotto will have completed 12 weeks of training when he climbs the ring to face Pacquiao. He began his camp in Puerto Rico and is now in Tampa, Florida. A legitimate welterweight, Cotto will trim down to 145 pounds to make the catchweight limit and may be burned out if he overtrains or is unable to naturally bring his weight down.

SOURCE

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Update : Cotto's Training Camp

2009-10-17T16:32:00.001-07:00

TAMPA, Fla. -- A banner high on a distant wall of The Fight Factory Gym depicts Miguel Cotto throwing a jab just above the head of Manny Pacquiao, a bull's-eye over his face.

"On Nov. 14, the world will witness who will be the new king of the ring," read the words on the large poster, beneath which the live version of Cotto is involved in a spirited sparring session with talented southpaw Fred Tukes of Atlanta, with trainer Joe Santiago also in the ring.

"We're a team and we're behind Miguel every single minute, thinking about the fight in Tampa. We have no distractions. Our focus is Manny Pacquiao and that's our target," Santiago said Wednesday.

Santiago said that the 28-year-old Cotto (34-1, 27 knockouts) has been "tirelessly" toiling in Florida for Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), against whom he'll defend his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We did four weeks in [Cotto's native] Puerto Rico, and we'll accomplish eight weeks outside of Puerto Rico -- six in Tampa and two more in Las Vegas, starting on Nov. 1," said Santiago. "We wake up early in the morning to train in the morning workout, and we go to the gym because Manny Pacquiao is our No. 1 target."

In the ring, Cotto's eyes were fixed firmly upon Tukes, whom he pursued from behind a rapier-like jab during the first of three, three-minute rounds with 30 seconds rest in-between.

"I'm working on everything -- my distance, how to take the control of every round," said Cotto, whose full video interview can be seen by clicking here. "I have a plan A, plan B, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to have any problems the night of the fight."

Wearing blue head gear and white gloves, in contrast to Tukes' red head gear and red gloves, Cotto pursued his rival like an animal tracking prey.

"[Santiago] said that he needed for me to give Miguel a lot of movement, try to make him miss and to throw straight left hands at him. I was trying to emulate Pacquiao as much as possible. I think I did a pretty good job ," said Tukes, a muscular, 35-year-old southpaw with a professional record of 8-1-1 that includes five knockouts.

At one point, Cotto trapped Tukes in a neutral corner and fired away. Tukes acknowledged that he "felt every punch."

"If Miguel gets Pacquiao on the ropes, I think that Miguel's body shots are going to be significant," said Tukes. "That overhand left and his straight right hand and his hook that he throws off of the jab -- he's a lot faster than people think that he is."

His rotation complete, Tukes was replaced by a fresher, more youthful Kenny Abril, a gifted 25-year-old brawler-boxer from Rochester, N.Y.

"We both give different looks: Kenny has a lot of head movement, throws good combinations and has pretty fast hands," said Tukes. "And Kenny's a bit more in-your-face, straight up, one-two, spin around, that sort of thing."

As Abril came forward, Cotto again used his jab, only this time to blast his opponent from a distance. Cotto often sent volleys as he circled to the left or to the right.

"Cotto can be a boxer-puncher and switch up virtually at will. Shane Mosley, for example, when he trained for Cotto, he trained for a brawler moreso than a boxer," said Tukes, referring to Cotto's November, 2007, decision over the former world champion from Los Angeles.

"But when Miguel switched it up on him in the later rounds and went into boxing mode," said Tukes, "Shane was like, 'Oh, damn, I didn't train for this.' "

When his three-round session had run its course, Abril offered a similar impression, calling Cotto "just too strong."

"Today, Miguel caught me with a body shot and just recently, the other day, with a nice hook to the head when I went to spin off," said Abril. "Every time I move, his punches are right on point. I move to the left or move to the right, he's always there timing me beautifully."

Abril wore a white head gear and black gloves.

"But Pacquiao won't be wearing protective head gear, so if Miguel catches him like he did me on those days, he's a goner. Pacquiao will be going home early -- straight back to the Philippines. I mean, he'll be out of it," said Abril. "Miguel's really sharp and strong with the body shots -- an amazing fighter."

Abril was similarly effusive concerning Cotto's roadwork.

"He's an amazing runner, which I know because we wake up every morning with him and run with him," said Abril. "He's nonstop. I'm always gasping for air trying to keep up."

When he wasn't sparring, Cotto was being followed around by his promoter, Bob Arum, legendary trainer, Angelo Dundee, or the cameras of HBO's 24/7 series.

Also Watching the sparring from ringside was Miguel Sr., who is among his son's most ardent critics. Yet even the father had to give Miguel Jr. his props.

"I've been telling Miguel what kind of punches he needed to throw, what kind of movement we needed to do, and I was very happy with his progress today -- much better than the last session," said Miguel Sr., a short man with peppered hair.

"Mentally, Miguel's very strong. He's always been there. But that's why he's successful. But on Nov. 14, he'll be much more mentally strong than Pacquiao, and that will be the ultimate in giving my son the advantage."

Source

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Pacquiao Dominates his Sparring Partner

2009-10-17T07:14:00.001-07:00

Entering his fourth week of training, Manny Pacquiao continues to dominate his sparring partner as he beefs up for his November 14 fight against Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao sparred with highly-touted former two-time World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo of Mexico for three rounds then wrapped up his day's session with a four-rounder opposite American Shawn Porter.

This, even as famed boxing coach Freddie Roach stressed that speed and not power will determine the outcome of the "Firepower" match-up between Filipino champ Pacquiao and the Puerto Rican.

Roach, who has been preparing Pacquiao in Baguio City for his toughest fight yet, said he expects Cotto to come out with his guns blazing at the sound of the opening bell at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"I have been closely studying Cotto's fighting style even before the Firepower card was officially announced over a month ago and if we want to beat the Puerto Rican champ we have to take away his advantages," Roach said.

The three-time boxing trainer of the year said their main weapon for the fight would be Manny's lateral speed.

Roach added that Pacquiao will have to rattle Cotto's confidence early in the fight to be able to break down the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champ.

In his anticipated sparring with Castillo, Pacquiao used his vastly improved lateral movements in trying to avoid the Mexican's uppercuts and body shots.

Pacquiao stalled Castillo's aggressive attacks with three to five punch combos and counter left straights.

The 35-year-old Castillo (60-9-1, 52 knockouts) ended his first day of sparring with specks of blood on his left nostril.

Roach, who at first seemed cautious when it comes to having Castillo as Pacquiao's sparring partner, now expressed contentment in having the Mexican inside the gym.

In sparring with Porter, Pacquiao again worked on his footwork and stiff combos while moving out of harm's way.

Roach also denied reports circulating on the Internet that Pacquiao was knocked down in one sparring session last week, adding that no one has come close to flooring Pacquiao in any of their sparring sessions in their Baguio training camp.

Last weekend, Internet forums were deluged with queries and reports Pacquiao got tagged by American sparring partner Porter.

Roach has promised $1,000 for anyone who could put down Pacquiao during sparring.

SOURCE

Pacquiao Training Updates

2009-10-16T00:43:00.000-07:00

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Believe or it not, typhoon "Pepeng" (international codename: Parma) did Manny Pacquiao good.

Pacquiao's conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, said without irony that the strong rains and winds of Pepeng made Pacquiao to relax a bit.

"He has begun to overdo himself again," said Ariza, after giving Pacquiao a punishing obstacle course of exercises using a 20-pound medicine ball, a bench, dumb bells and a barbell handlebar.

He said this series of exercises was to strengthen Pacquiao. This set is given twice a week.

After this, Pacquiao has to do his abs crunches to strengthen his torso because Puerto Rican boxer, Miguel Cotto, whom he will fight for the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on November 14 in Las Vegas, is a body puncher and Pacquiao has to tone that part of his body.

Pacquiao sparred with American lightweight Shawn Porter and former champion Jose Luis Castillo, who was flown here on Sunday by Pacquiao's business partner and friend, former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson.

Pacquiao sparred four rounds first with Porter and three rounds with Castillo, who is known as "El Terrible."

"He was getting better. And stronger," said Porter of Pacquiao.

Ariza said Pacquiao was not peaking sooner than they wanted to partly because of Pepeng, which devastated Baguio and the Cordillera.

"It did him good. We had some breaks in the morning and we were able to rest a bit," said Ariza.

"In the beginning of his training here, he was overdoing it. Last week, he was able to relax," he added.

Pacquiao apologized to the public for not being able to send his condolences to the typhoon victims in the city and in nearby La Trinidad, Benguet.

"I have only one month left in my training. I hope they understand," he said.

On October 3, Pacquiao left for Angono, Rizal, to help victims of tropical Storm "Ondoy" there. He returned to Baguio on Sunday night just in time to face the wrath of Pepeng.

This article is from sports.inquirer.net

No Pacquiao VS Mayweather in 2010

2009-10-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - Top Rank’s chief Bob Arum, American promoter of Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao, expressed doubt on the possibility of his prized ward facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a bout pitting two of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters.

The top boxing executive said he’s having doubts that Pacquiao will take on Mayweather next if he gets past Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 (Nov. 15 in Manila), citing problems that may possibly arise during negotiations.

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

Even Pacquiao’s chief trainer Freddie Roach is on the same page as Arum.

“It seems like there’s a lot of things working against this fight ever happening,” Roach earlier told The Los Angeles Times. “It makes sense. It’d be a great fight, but it seems there’s a lot of distractions around it. I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

It was earlier reported that the issue of the purse split may derail a Pacquiao-Mayweather duel, as neither fighter is willing to settle for an equal sharing of the pot.

Mayweather came out of retirement to beat Juan Manuel Marquez – Pacquiao’s arch-nemesis – cruising to a lopsided victory last Sept. 19.

Asked if Pacquiao is doomed to suffer the same beating as Marquez if the Filipino goes up against Mayweather, Arum said the Filipino fighter has an entirely different style compared to Marquez’s.

“Styles make fights,” Arum said, citing an age-old boxing adage.

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

Arum even provided additional examples to stress his point.

“Just because A beats B and B beats C, it doesn’t mean A will necessarily beat C. Look at the heavyweights from years ago. George Foreman could fight Joe Frazier and Ken Norton a hundred times each and the result would be the same, a Foreman knockout. Muhammad Ali could fight Frazier 100 times and every one would be a war. The same with Norton; he just couldn’t figure out his style. Then you put Ali in with Foreman and he’s able to knock him out. Manny is a different type of fighter than Marquez,” he said. – Contributor Dino Maragay - (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight: More of Freddie Roach's Predictions

2009-10-14T00:28:00.000-07:00

Freddie Roach:
Cotto will revert to being a counter-puncher once he gets hit.
Cotto will be around 160lbs on the night; we’ll be coming in at around 149.
Manny is in his prime now. He can beat anyone in the world.

I spoke to Freddie Roach last night. The disparate parts of a cunning plan – and it needs to be against Miguel Cotto – are coming together for the student of the Sweet Science, and his ever-eager disciple, Manny Pacquiao.

Roach has studied the tapes of Cotto, knows the length of his jabs, the angles he creates, his changes of pattern, even perhaps, his inside leg measurement. In other words, the deep research has been done, and the plot to unseat him as WBO welterweight champion in underway. Jose Luis Castillo has arrived for three days a week sparring. Interesting. He does throw shots similarly to Cotto. Not with the same venom, though.

It is the body shots he throws which they will be looking to avoid.

Roach, the master strategist, is rubbing his stubbled chin. Roach told The Telegraph: “We have a plan, and several strategies. I think Cotto will be aggressive and that he will be looking to show his strength. But once he has been hit, he will revert to being a counter puncher. The timing he has is good.”

“When he fights a south paw he turns left handed a lot more and I expect him to do that with Pacquiao. He is naturally left-handed, clever, and he is dangerous because of that. Our job is to take that away from him.”

“Manny is in his prime right now He can beat anyone in the world,” Roach told The Telegraph. “After getting KO’d for the first time in his life the first fight back Cotto got his confidence back and he will get more confidence if Manny lets him have his way early in the fight. The more we let him, the more his confidence will come back. We’ll going to let him know in the very first round round what he is up against. You’ll see.”

It has been the subject of many discussions I have had with colleagues and fighters - most recently the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly, great featherweight prospect Stephen Smith and European middlewweight champion Matthew Macklin - that Cotto may provide a much more harrowing prospect than Floyd Mayweather in a championship fight. That argument is based on their styles.

When I asked Roach about that, he said: “Cotto brings a lot more to the table than Mayweather because he will engage, he will fight, whereas Mayweather tends only to fight from distance. Cotto is much more clever than people give him credit for. But in this sport, if you don’t take chances, you don’t knock people out. Cotto will fight. I imagine by fight time he gets into the ring on Nov 14, he will be 160 lbs. We will be about 149lbs. But speed will win in the fight; not power.”

No surprise then, that Castillo was brought in as a mimic of Miguel Cotto. What will have been pleasing for Roach was that Castillo, who in fairness is slowing as a fighter, admitted he “could not see the left hand.”

“It’s very fast and strong. I think that will be a big problem for Cotto,” Castillo admitted yesterday. The training continues…

This article is from blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Freddie Roach Prepares Manny Pacquiao

2009-10-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

You have to hand it to Freddie Roach.

While Manny Pacquiao the fighter plans to transmogrify into Manny the politician, it is Roach who is already showing his propensity to employ boxing politrix.

Not the type Lennox Lewis once referred to as pertaining to promoters keeping him away, at one point, from his rightful, legitimate opportunity to lay claim to the heavyweight world crown. No. Boxing politrix of planting seeds of doubt, as he now does pre-fight, in an opponent’s minds, and on officials’ lists.

Roach’s first incursion into the mind of Miguel Cotto is to suggest he is a dirty fighter. That he seeks underhand methods when fights do not go his way. In fairness, he’s right about the night with Zab Judah. But as a strategy ? I’d say not.

What’s to admire about the way Roach operates, is that he clearly, so clearly watches every tape, every available detail on the opponent. He’ll watch them over and over again, like painful homework, until by rote he knows the signs before a shot, the feints a fighter uses. It’s why Roach is so good, why he does not have a life outside boxing, why he is effectively married to the sport.

“Cotto [the WBO welterweight champion] tends to get dirty when the going gets tough in most of his fights and I don’t want that to happen,” Roach told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “I will make sure the referee will be very strict about it. Cotto stops his opponents’ momentum with that kind of blow. In that Judah fight he had five low blows.” Roach intends to rally against the appointment of Joe Cortez as referee.

“Joe Cortez is Puerto Rican and he’s in the running as one of the referees. I don’t want him letting Cotto get away with stuff like that. We’re going to make an issue out of it first,” Roach added.

You could add that Cotto not only goes low, but is prepared to use his head when necessary.

source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Predictions by Boxing Ex-Champs

2009-10-11T21:16:00.001-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - Former WBO lightwelterweight champion Kendall Holt and former IBF lightwelterweight titleholder Paul Malignaggi are on the record for picking Miguel Cotto to beat Manny Pacquiao in their scheduled 12-round bout for the WBO welterweight crown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 14.

Holt, who has knocked out Pacquiao victim David Diaz and Cotto victim Ricardo Torres, predicted the Puerto Rican will stop the Filipino icon in the ninth round.

“Cotto will end up stopping him because he’s too big and too strong,” said Holt, quoted by Joseph Santoliquito in The Ring Magazine. “Cotto has shown he can deal with the fastest fighters in the world, beating Zab Judah and Shane Mosley. Pacquiao beat a dried-up Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton was made for him. Pacquiao’s victories definitely fooled the general public.”

Malignaggi said Pacquiao “is definitely trying to bite off more than he can chew” in facing Cotto. The Brooklyn stylist lost a 12-round decision to Cotto three years ago and was halted by Hatton in 2008.

“I know (Pacquiao) beat Oscar but you can make the argument that Oscar was pretty shot by then,” said Malignaggi whose record is 26-3, with six KOs. “Cotto’s punches hurt, believe me I felt them. I don’t know if Manny can take that from such a bigger guy who’s close to the top of his game. Cotto wins by decision in a great fight.”

Size is the advantage that Cotto hopes to exploit in trying to repulse Pacquiao who has fought only two fighters weighing in at least 140 pounds – Hatton at 140 and De la Hoya at 145. Pacquiao has never weighed in more than 142 pounds for a bout and in his last outing against Hatton, tipped the scales at 138.

Cotto and Pacquiao agreed to fight at a catchweight limit of 145 pounds, two under the welterweight max of 147. The Puerto Rican has weighed in at least 146 for his last eight fights dating back to 2006. That makes him a legitimate or

natural welterweight, bigger and potentially stronger than Pacquiao. During the eight-fight stretch, Cotto lost only once to Antonio Margarito in a knockout whose integrity is now being questioned as the Mexican was found to use illegal hardening substances in his handwraps in his next bout against Mosley. The setback to Margarito is the only stain in Cotto’s record of 34-1, with 27 KOs.

Size makes a difference because theoretically, the bigger fighter should be able to withstand the power of a smaller opponent, not the other way around. Since power is one of Pacquiao’s assets, Cotto’s size may not make it a factor. At the same time, it’s a question mark if Pacquiao, being the smaller fighter, will be able to take Cotto’s power.

“Strength has always been integral to a fighter who, while the possessor of excellent boxing skills, relies on aggressive power, both in general and as a leveller when fights have been going against him,” wrote Glyn Leach, referring to Cotto, in Boxing Monthly Magazine.

Cotto’s power was evident in his jab when he outpointed Mosley in 2007 and his body punching when he halted Carlos Quintana for the vacant WBA welterweight title in 2006. The Puerto Rican’s power left jab and brutal body attack are the hallmarks of his offense.

Cotto, who turns 29 on Oct. 29, is a natural lefthander who sometimes, switch-hits to confuse his opponent. He moved from orthodox to southpaw and back in stopping Demetrio Ceballos in 2003. But Cotto has shown a vulnerability to the counter right hook by a southpaw. In 2005, he was wobbled and staggered by experienced lefthander DeMarcus Corley who used a counter right hook as his main weapon.

Pacquiao, of course, is a southpaw who is much more experienced than Cotto with 19 more fights under his belt.

Pacquiao’s record is 49-3-2, with 37 KOs.

One of Cotto’s trademarks is his resiliency. In 2004, he made key defensive adjustments in stopping Kelson Pinto. And against Torres in 2005, Cotto survived a second round knockdown to win in the seventh.

What may deter Cotto is the wear-and-tear factor. He has been involved in a lot more body-draining, bloody and gut-wrenching brawls than Pacquiao. Cotto went down twice in the Margarito fight and some experts insist he’s never been the same since the horrifying defeat. He barely beat Joshua Clottey in his last assignment, winning by a split decision, and finished the fight with a deep cut in his left eyebrow which was also torn apart by Margarito.

A downside to Cotto’s size advantage is he’s clearly slower than Pacquiao who will rely on his speed and mobility to strike his target from all angles. Cotto is easy to hit because he’s basically a plodder whose style of attack is marked by moving forward.

The match is expected to be a humdinger with Cotto fighting for respect and Pacquiao battling to make boxing history as the first fighter ever to capture seven world titles in different divisions with his 50th career victory.

SOURCE

Firepower Televised Undercard

2009-10-10T07:22:00.001-07:00

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (October 9, 2009) – Undefeated No. 1 contenders JULIO CÉSAR CHAVEZ, JR. and YURI FOREMAN, plus three-time world champion DANIEL SANTOS add more Firepower to the blockbuster card headlined by the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto welterweight championship, taking place Saturday, November 14 at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MGM Grand and Tecate, Fire Power: Pacquiao vs. Cotto will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT..

Chavez (40-0-1, 30 KOs), from Culiacan, Mexico, son of the legendary three-division world champion Julio César Chavez, stepped into the “family business” when he made his pro debut in 2003 at the age of 17, winning a four-round unanimous decision over Jonathan Hernandez in Culiacan. Known for an aggressive style and an arsenal that includes razor-sharp combinations and a wicked left hook, Chavez is the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) No.1-world-rated super welterweight contender. He has knocked out 75% of the opponents he has faced, including fellow contenders Ray Sanchez III, Jose Celaya and Tobia Lorgia in a 10-month span -- the last two in WBC Continental Americas championship fights. Sanchez, Celaya and Lorgia had a combined record of 75-4-1 and a winning percentage exceeding 93% when they fought Chavez. This year, Chavez knocked out Jason LeHoullier (21-1-1) in the first round and tagged previously undefeated Luciano Cuello (23-0) with his first loss, winning a unanimous decision. Chavez will be facing TROY ROWLAND (25-2, 7 KOs), of Grand Rapids, Mich., in a 10-round middleweight bout. Rowland, who has won 21 or his last 22 bouts, has a resume that boasts victories over Epifanio Mendoza (20-2-1), Kenny Ellis (33-5-2) and Andrew Council (31-7-3). Rowland enters this fight riding a four-bout winning streak, with two of those victories coming by way of knockout.

Santos (32-2-1, 23 KOs), of San Juan Puerto Rico, will be making the first defense of his World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight title, which he won last year with a sixth-round knockout of undefeated defending champion Joachin Alcine.

Santos won his first world title in 2000, knocking out defending World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Ahmed Katejev in the fifth round of their 2000 rumble. He successfully defended his title three times before vacating the title and capturing the vacant WBO junior middleweight title, knocking out former world champion Yori Boy Campas in the 11th round in 2002. Santos successfully defended that title four times during his three-year reign, including a 10-round technical decision over former world champion Antonio Margarito. Since losing the title to undefeated Sergei Dzindziruk, via a close decision in 2005, Santos has won all of his fights by knockout. Santos will be defending his title against No. 1 contender Yuri Foreman (27-0, 8 KOs), who was born in Belarus, raised in Israel and now lives in Brooklyn. The undefeated mandatory challenger is also a rabbinical student – a self-proclaimed “Talmud-studying boxer.” Foreman climbed up the ratings the old-fashioned way – by winning. With impressive victories over Anthony Thompson (23-1), and NABF super welterweight title victories over Andrey Tsurkan (25-2), Saul Roman (28-4) and James Moore (16-1), Foreman is on the cusp of realizing his dream – wearing a world championship belt around his waist.

Rounding out the televised undercard will be an exciting 10-round welterweight bout between ALFONSO GOMEZ and JESUS SOTO-KARASS. Gomez (20-4-2, 10 KOs), of Tustin Calif., is an alumnus of season one of “The Contender,” which aired on NBC. Gomez gained national notoriety with victories over Peter Manfredo, Jr. (21-0), and Ahmad Kaddour (18-1) and Jesse Brinkley (25-2) during the series. Since leaving “The Contender,” Gomez has gone 7-1-1 (6 KOs), including victories over former world champion Arturo Gatti and world title challenger Ben Tackie. His only loss during that span was to defending WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in April 2008. Soto-Karass (24-3-3, 16 KOs), of Los Mochis, Mexico, enters this fight riding a four-15-bout unbeaten streak which has propelled him to No. 5 and No. 7 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and WBC welterweight ratings, respectively. His resume boasts WBC Continental Americas welterweight title victories over former world champion Vince Phillips (48-10-1), Michel Rosales (16-0), and Chris Smith (21-4-1), and an NABF welterweight title victory over David Estrada (22-4).

The Pacquiao vs. Cotto pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $54.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

HBO's® award-winning reality franchise “24/7” returns with an all new four-part series. “24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto” premieres Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT. The four-episode series chronicles the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their Nov. 14 pay-per-view showdown.

SOURCE

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Betting Tips

2009-10-09T19:42:00.001-07:00

We're about 5 weeks away from the biggest bout of the year as Phillipino sensation Manny Pacquiao takes on Miguel Cotto for the WBO Welterweight title. 888sports has put together some very solid odds in terms of the outright winner and the round betting, so we'll examine them and try to gauge just how things are going to pan out.

CASH IN YOUR FREE £50 BET ON THE PACQUIAO-COTTO MATCH WITH 888SPORTS!

It's been obvious from the start that the favoured outcome is a Manny Pacquiao victory by KO or TKO. Virtually every single bookmaker does not favour this fight to go the distance, so only a dogged and determined performance from Cotto will get your 11/4 Pacquiao on points payout. Cotto on points is a lengthy 6/1.
In terms of winning the fight outright, Pacquiao is listed at 1/2, which is fairly decent (most sites are offering 2/5) and you'll find Cotto available at a 6/4 price. The draw is always lengthy and is listed at 25/1. There is pretty much no way that's going to happen here though.

Looking at the round-by-round betting, Pacquiao looks to be strongest in the 4-9 round where his odds are a slim 16/1 for the victory. Round 1 pays out at 33/1, round 2 can be backed at 25/1, the odds drop to 20/1 in round 3. They begin to rise again in round 10, moving back up to 20/1 while round 11 and 12 pays 25/1.

Cotto's odds shorten significantly between the 5-8 rounds where they are listed at a 25/1 margin. He is 40/1 for rounds 1 and 2, 33/1 for rounds 3 and 11 and 28/1 for rounds 4 and 10.

I think you can't really go anywhere but Pacquiao for the outright win and I actually think he could strike early, similar to how he handled Ricky Hatton a few months back. I'm backing him outright, and in rounds 2, 3 and 7.

STELLAR ODDS WITH MORE MARKETS TO COME ON PACQUIAO VS COTTO AT 888SPORTS!

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Manny Pacquiao Escapes Training to Help Flood Victims

2009-10-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

Pound-for pound king Manny Pacquiao took a day off from his sparring sessions in Baguio City to join relief and rehabilitation groups in bringing relief goods and services to the victims of typhoon 'Ondoy' in Metro Manila

World's most popular boxer Manny Pacquiao took a day off from his sparring sessions in the high altitude city of Baguio in the Philippines to visit the typhoon-ravaged areas in Metro Manila. Pacquiao donated P1 million to the
relief and rehabilitation fund for typhoon victims.

The Philippines was had hit by typhoon 'Ondoy' late last month along with another super typhoon 'Pepeng' that ravaged homes and major infrastructure in Northern Philippines.

Pacquiao is in the middle of training and physical conditioning in preparation for his mega fight with Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.

The most-awaited boxing event of the year will take place at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 14, 2009.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's official trainer and coach, flew in last month from form Los Angeles, California to personally supervise the training of the popular Filipino boxer. The training and physical conditioning is taking place in Baguio City, a high-altitude mountain about 250 kilometers north of Manila.

Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, president of Top Rank Promotions, also donated P1 million to the typhoon victims of Metro Manila. Arum is in Manila to observe Pacquiao's training in Baguio City

Pacquiao has been sparring with bigger and stronger boxers in preparation for his date with Miguel Cotto who is much bigger and heavier than the the pound-for-pound king.

Manny Pacquiao is the current Ring Magazine pound-for-pound king and considered as the world's most popular boxer today. He is included in the list of worlds top 100 influential persons for 2009 by Forbes.

The popular Filipino boxer earlier announced that he intends to retire next year after one to two more fights. A win by Pacquiao over Miguel Cotto next month will increase the chances of a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight early next year.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has just won over Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico last September 19 after a 19-month retirement from active professional boxing with an unblemished record.

SOURCE : DIGITALJOURNAL.COM

Jose Luis Castillo : Pacquiao's Sparring Partner

2009-10-05T06:18:00.001-07:00

The 35 year old former lightweight Champion, Jose Luis Castillo of Mexico will be heading to Baguiao, Philippines to spar with Manny Pacquiao as a late replacement for Omar Henry who was considered a Cotto clone. Henry’s team could not come to an agreement with team Pacquaio so Castillo was called in to fill the void. Shawn Porter and Urbano Antillon have already sparred 12 rounds with the Pacman, Urbano will be leaving for the U.S soon to acclimate for his up coming fight.

“If he’s not in shape I’ll send him home right away,” Roach told The Philstar, Roach only wants competitive sparring for his fighter in prepartion for WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Caguas, Puerto Rico. Castillo whose best days are behind him, was known for his exciting war with the late Diego Corrales in which Castillo suffered a 10th round TKO loss in a back and forth battle. Castillo is also known for his controversial unanimous decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. a fight which many boxing fans believe Castillo had one. Pacquiao’s Baguiao training camp breaks on October 24, in which the Team will be flying back to Hollywood, California to finish off training.

Source

Ring Promoter's Dying Wish to Pacquiao : Knockout Cotto

2009-10-03T06:30:00.001-07:00

Even at his death bed, long-time ring promoter Rod Nazario had nothing but boxing in his mind.

Nazario made two major wishes to boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao days before he passed away after a year-long bout with lung cancer.

The 74-year old boxing man admonished Pacquiao to often use his powerful left hand in his coming Nov. 14 title fight with reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, and then requested that Eden Sonsona – cousin of WBO super-bantamweight king Marvelous Marvin Sonsona – be added in the undercard of his bout against the Puerto Rican.

“Alam mo namang pag si Dolfo ang humiling kay Manny, hindi tumatanggi yun," Moy Lainez, Nazario’s long-time associate, said hours after Nazario passed away Thursday morning at the Perpetual Help Hospital in Las Pinas.

“Bago umakyat si Manny sa Baguio, nagbilin na siya (Nazario). Yung isang usapan nila tungkol sa laban niya nga kay Cotto. Sabi niya tandaan mo, `yung kaliwa mo ang siyang magna-knockout kay Cotto," Lainez recalled of the conversation between the two.

"Hiniling niya (Nazario) rin na sana mapasama si Eden Sonsona sa undercard ng laban niya against Cotto," said Lainez, whose friendship and association with Nazario extend back to more than four decades.

Pacquiao has since made special arrangement for the inclusion of Sonsona, a boxer of Nazario, in the boxing card for his coming fight with Cotto.

Nazario’s death came four days after Pacquiao entered training camp at the country’s Summer Capital.

A somber atmosphere shrouded Pacquiao’s training Thursday at the Shape Up gym at the Cooyesan Hotel along Naguilan Road as Nazario had been like a second father to the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, according to Lainez.

In a statement, the 30-year old pride of Genera Santos City deeply consoled the loss of his former handler.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Nazario, who was not only a loving father and husband, but a great loss to me and the sport of boxing. I will forever cherish our fondest memories in and outside the ring. We will terribly miss him," said Pacquiao.

“Si Buboy (Fernandez) nga raw iyak ng iyak," Lainez said of Pacquiao’s close buddy and Freddie Roach’s assistant trainer, who got his big break in boxing while working errands with the group of Nazario, Lainez and Lito Mondejar in the old L&M gym.

Gerry Garcia, another close friend of Nazario and partner in the top rating boxing show In This Corner also with Lainez and Mondejar, said Pacquiao is likely to take a break in training and pay his last respects to the late boxing manager by Sunday.

A day upon arriving from his whirlwind press tour for the Nov. 14 title fight with the 28-year old Cotto, Pacquiao visited the Wild Card gym in Paranaque, where he sweat it out for about an hour, before proceeding to the Perpetual Help Hospital in Las Pinas to check on Nazario’s condition, who had been confined there shortly after celebrating his 74th birthday last Sept. 12.

The following day, the boxing star visited his former manager once again prior to his trip to Baguio City.

Nazario handled Pacquiao from 1995 to 2005, and was the one responsible for giving the Filipino his U.S. break in 2001 when he stunned Lehlo Ledwaba to wrest the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-bantamweight title.

It was also under Nazario’s tutelage when Pacquiao became a legitimate world champion after bagging the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight crown in 1998, scored his biggest win with an 11th round technical knockout of Marco Antonio Barrera, and cemented his status as a rising boxing star following that controversial draw with Juan Manuel Marquez in their memorable 2004 title fight in Las Vegas.

The two parted ways shortly after Pacquiao lost a unanimous decision against Mexican warrior Eric Morales.

Despite going their separate ways, the two remained close to each other, with Nazario and Co. even traveling to the U.S. last summer to watch Pacquiao demolish Briton Ricky Hatton inside two rounds for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light-welterweight crown.

By that time, Nazario – who also undergone by-pass operation three years ago – had already been undergoing chemo-therapy for his lung cancer.

SOURCE : GMANews.tv

Roach Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Prediction : We will knock this guy out!

2009-09-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

Well, it looks like old Nostradamus Freddie Roach is back to his predictions again, this time he’s saying that Manny Pacquiao will knock World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto out on November 14th. In an article by Dennis Principe at Sports. Inquirer, Roach had this to say: “I picked him [Pacquiao] to win by decision, but until I started working him to this camp, the way he’s punching, his speed, we will knock this guy [Cotto] out.”

I really love the way Roach includes his name with the “we” part, as if he’ll be out there tagging Cotto as well. That’s funny. It won’t be any ‘we’ on November 14th. Pacquiao is going to be out there all by his lonesome facing Cotto and he’s going to have major problems. But I knew Roach was going to come back with a knockout prediction sooner or later. I was in disbelief when Roach started talking nice recently when he said that Cotto is a dangerous fighter and that the fight would go to a decision.
It almost seemed like Roach was trying to talk up the fight because almost no boxing fans were giving Cotto much of any chance against Pacquiao. Nothing has changed much since then, and here Roach is changing his tune by predicting a knockout win for Pacquiao. I’m wondering what Roach will say next. Maybe predict a 1st or 2nd round knockout, I guess.

He’s going to have to come up with something shocking to top his latest knockout prediction. All I can think of is he’ll say something like, “Manny is not only going to win, he’s going to flatten Cotto in the 1st round. How do you like them apples?” The media will eat it up like candy, of course. But there won’t be a knockout from Pacquiao’s side. There will be a knockout, but it will be Pacquiao who ends up getting taken out and Roach is going to end up with pie his face for his wrong prediction. I’m really looking forward to this so I can gloat and say I told you so.

I hear Pacquiao had some problems against his sparring partner Shawn Porter (10-0, 8 KO’s) in Pacquiao’s first day of sparring. I can’t say I’m surprised. Porter, a light middleweight, is fast and powerful and would probably wipe the deck with Pacquiao if the sparring went beyond three rounds. Porter’s the real deal. I don’t know that he’ll end up a champion in the light middleweight division because he’s only 5’7”, on the short side for a light middleweight, but he’s tough fighter.

I could see him beating Pacquiao up. I wonder how long he’ll last in the camp? If Roach lets him spar too much with Pacquiao, there probably won’t be enough left for Cotto to fight by November 14th. Look for Roach to start substituting the smaller, slower and weaker sparring partners, like Urbano Antillon, real quick rather than letting Porter beat up Pacquiao every day during training camp.

Roach: “Basically, we’re going to have a fast start and we’re not going to give [Cotto] any momentum.” It looks as if Roach is struck on the record of Pacquiao’s last fight against Ricky Hatton, and thinks Pacquiao can have the same kind of success if Manny bum rushes Cotto from the start of the fight. Sorry, that kind of approach won’t work against a talented fighter like Cotto.

It might work against a slower fighter such as Hatton, but not Cotto. If Pacquiao tries that approach, he’ll walk into a big right hand and get planted on the canvas on his backside. I really hope Pacquiao does try that aggressive style on Cotto, because Pacquiao will quickly find out that he doesn’t have the size or the power to be successful using that against a quality fighter like Cotto. That approach works against shot fighters and less talented ones, but it won’t work against Cotto.

An article written by Manuel Perez for BoxingNews24.com

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Firepower Promo from HBO

2009-09-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

24/7 HBO series Miguel Cotto vs Manny Pacquiao begins on October 24 on HBO.

Enjoy watching.

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Update : Pacquiao is ready for heavier Cotto

2009-09-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Boxing coach Freddie Roach believes Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto would "do a Floyd Mayweather" and said he has prepared Manny Pacquiao for that.

"I'm prepared for that possibility," Roach said about Cotto, the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, going two pounds heavier than the required catch weight of 145 pounds when he fights Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 14.

Mayweather Jr. weighed 146 pounds, instead of the agreed catch weight of 144 pounds, when he pummeled Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez last Saturday.

Roach said that in the contract they had with Cotto, the Puerto Rican would not be heavily penalized financially if he went beyond the catch weight.

Boxing analyst Frank Lotierzo, writing for sweetscience.com, said "emulating Mayweather" is the Puerto Rican's only realistic chance of beating Pacquiao.

Lotierzo said Pacquiao could easily handle fighting boxers above his normal weight.

"The truth is Pacquiao has handled the move up in weight much better than Marquez. In fact, Manny is one of the few fighters who's carried his big punch into the higher divisions he's fought," Lotierzo said.

Mayweather paid Marquez $600,000 for weighing two pounds over the catch weight.

"But that's no problem," Roach said. "I'm not worried."

"One or two pounds heavier, we are not worried. We have the best fighter here," he said.

Roach did not even remind reporters gathered at the Shape Up Boxing Gym at Cooyeesan Mall here that the last time Pacquiao fought, his opponent (Ricky Hatton) was also two pounds heavier than Pacquiao during their weigh-in last May.

Hatton weighed in at 140 pounds, the catch weight for the light-welterweight division, while Pacquiao weighed 138 pounds. Pacquiao demolished Hatton in only two rounds.

At this early stage, Pacquiao weighed in at 151 pounds. Roach said that the way Pacquiao is training now, it would be an easy time for him to get to the proper weight.

Source : Inquirer.net

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Predictions by Joe Santiago

2009-09-24T23:04:00.001-07:00

Miguel Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago is under the impression that Manny Pacquiao is a blown-up featherweight. He says the streak of Pacquiao has been impressive so far, but everything will come to an end when Pacquiao steps in the ring with Cotto on November 14 in Las Vegas. He says Cotto's strength is going to be one the key factors in their victory.

"Manny Pacquiao is a blown-up featherweight. He started at 108-pounds and will now fight at 145. He's dared to go up and so far everything has turned out well for him but November 14 is a different story. We respect what he's done in boxing but on that day, Miguel is going to be the strongest man in the ring. That is going to be one the advantages in our favor," Santiago told El Nuevo Dia.

Santiago says they are not focusing on any of headlines regarding Pacquiao's late start in training or the internal problems between members of his team. He says the bad cut Cotto suffered above his left eye [against Clottey in June], which required 22 stitches, has presented no problems during camp.

"We heard they didn't start training, that there were problems in the training camp, but that is their problem. Everything is going very well with us. The work by the plastic surgeon was excellent and there have been no problems with the injury. I do not believe that is something that we have to be worried about. It's not the first time where Miguel was cut and none of those previous cuts have been re-opened [in a fight]," Santiago said.

Source

Miguel Cotto a Smart Boxer Says Freddie Roach

2009-09-24T05:17:00.001-07:00

BAGUIO CITY – Freddie Roach admits Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto has lots in common with Briton Ricky Hatton.

Roach said both boasts of jaw-breaking left hooks, both are big and strong, ultra-aggressive and love to go to the body to soften up their foes.

There is one huge difference, though, Roach believes and this one makes Cotto a far more dangerous rival than Hatton for the 30-year-old Filipino fireball.

“Miguel Cotto is a lot smarter than Ricky Hatton,” said Roach, the celebrated trainer who arrived in the country on Tuesday to supervise Pacquiao’s training camp in preparation for the November 14 showdown with Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Cotto’s got this great left hook and he’s smart,” noted Roach.

Hatton had been fancied as a true test for Pacquiao but the Filipino hardly broke out a sweat as he demolished the rugged Manchester native in less than two rounds, flattening him with a left to the jaw that remains a strong candidate for knockout of the year for 2009.

Roach said if Pacquiao thinks he is in for another easy stint, he could be terribly mistaken.

“It’ll be a tough fight for us,” said Roach, who will be here for a minimum of four weeks or a maximum of six depending on Pacquiao’s progress in training and promotional schedule.

During Roach’s first session with Pacquiao at the Shape Up Boxing Gym inside the Cooyeesan Hotel, the residence of Team Pacquiao for the entire duration of training camp, the 49-year-old Boston-born cornerman immediately fell in love over the amenities available at the gym as well as its overall appearance.

“Whoever built this gym did a great job,” said Roach, who owns and operates the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, best-known as the home of boxing’s best pound-for-pound.

Meanwhile, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is arriving on October 1 to check on the progress of Pacquiao’s preparation for Cotto, whose World Boxing Organization welterweight crown will be on the line in the bout aptly dubbed Firepower.

Below is the tale of the tape of the fight.

Source

Pacquaio-Cotto Fight Prediction

2009-09-22T06:16:00.001-07:00

Here's Pacquiao-Cotto fight prediction from Boxing24.com

Life, death, and taxes are the the only things certain in life. You can add in Manny Pacquiao beating Miguel Cotto into that equation as well. I have been thinking about this over the last few days, and I can’t think of any way Miguel Cotto defeats a motivated and determined legend like Pacquiao. He just does not have it in him. Now things could change like varibles that are out anybodys control. But if Manny Pacquiao is at his best, he will be defeat Miguel Cotto. Here are the reasons why.

Speed
Boxing is a speed sport. And Manny Pacquiao is the fastest fighter in the business. Cotto advocates will say their man has had success against Shane Mosley and Zab Judah, very fast fighters in their own right. But none of them have the consistent attack of Pacquiao. Plus remember Mosley landed 53% of his power shots against Cotto in their razor tight 2007 affair. If Manny lands at least 40% of his it will be lights out for Cotto. Not because Manny is neccessarily a harder puncher then Mosley. He is a more precise puncher then Sugar Shane. And speed and precision will equal the end of Cotto’s chances.

Style
Manny Pacquiao has the most difficult style to fight in boxing. First he is a left hander. Second he is an offensive minded left hander who can punch from all angles. Third he moves in and out better then anybody in recent memory. Judging from his recent fights, Miguel Cotto does not have the reflexes to keep up with Pacquiao’s pace. Cotto has had success against left handed fighters in the past, Zab Judah and Carlos Quintana. But Pacquiao is a whole different man. He doesn’t fight a safety first style like Quintana, and he does not make the mistakes Judah does.

Stamina
This is the main reason why Cotto will not beat Manny Pacquiao. And what I believe will be the determining factor in the fight. Cotto faded in all of his big fights. He faded against Shane Mosley, he faded against Antonio Margarito, and he faded against Joshua Clottey. What makes anybody think he will not do the same against a much more active Manny Pacquiao. Manny gets stronger as the fight goes on, evidenced by his performances with Erik Morales(2nd fight) and Marco Antonio Barrera. Cotto has a tendency to get on his bike in rounds 8 thru 12. You can’t do that against Pacquiao. He will be coming all 12 rounds with tremendous stamina. Cotto is not Julio Cesar Chavez, he won’t be in your face all night. After 6 rounds of trying to pressure Pacquiao he will revert back to trying to box, and it will not work.

Prediction
This is what WILL happen folks.(Some may think I am full of hot air, but talk to me after the fight)Cotto will come out strong, he will be the aggressor. Heck I think he may win 2 or 3 of the 1st 6 rounds. He is an excellent fighter and a great body puncher. I think he will get hurt in either round 7 or 8, maybe have a cut opened up. Pacquiao will begin to land at will, then by the 9th or 10th round it will be all she wrote. Pacquiao by 10th Round Stoppage.
Cotto fans there is a sliver of hope. Your man is the stronger and bigger fighter, and he has a great body attack. Consistent pressure is his only hope, but he is not capable of it for 12 full rounds. He is not the same fighter he was 2 years ago, and if he was I don’t think it would matter anyway. Unfortunately he is fighting Manny Pacquiao, the best fighter of his generation. This fight will turn out the same way the 2nd Erik Morales fight did, good action early, close rounds until like round 7 or 8 then Pacquiao will begin to dominate.

The only way Pacquiao loses this fight is if he doesn’t train properly and he isn’t ready fight night. But who thinks Freddie Roach or the Pacquiao team will let that happen? He won’t, Pacquiao will be ready and in shape. Michael Buffer will end the night by saying, “Winner and New WBO Welterweight Champion of the World, Manny Pacquiao!!!”

Who's Next for Mayweather? Cotto, Pacquiao or Mosley?

2009-09-22T06:12:00.001-07:00

Don’t out think the room. We are all guilty of it sometimes and I was guilty as can be when I picked Juan Manuel Marquez to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. In retrospect. What the heck was I thinking? Floyd was bigger, faster, stronger, and better.

Last night Mayweather Jr. returned to the ring with an excellent boxing display. He pretty much won every round over an over matched but game Marquez. Now the question is where does Mayweather go from here. Does he wait for the winner of Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto? Or does he fight Sugar Shane Mosley? Let’s take a look.

Pacquiao-Cotto winner
If Manny Pacquiao beats Miguel Cotto, it would set the stage for what would be the biggest ‘Money’ fight in boxing. It would be a match-up of the 2 best fighters of the decade. And it would draw in a huge mainstream crowd. Pacquiao’s determination, power and speed would make it a fantastic match-up. Mayweather’s great defence and bigger size would make things very difficult for Pacquiao. This would be the biggest fight in the sport. The sort of draw that boxing needs to have at least once a year.

Now if Miguel Cotto wins it would still be a big event. But it would be a let down from the anticapated Pacquiao showdown. Cotto’s body punching, underated skills, and power would make it interesting. But Floyd would definitely have the advantages going in.

Sugar Shane Mosley
For diehards fans this may be the best match-up. It would Floyd’s first legitimate fight against against a great welterweight. And the 1st fight against against a future hall of famer his own size.(De La Hoya non-withstanding) This fight has been talked about since 1999 but yet it has never happened. It is probably the best fight ‘NEVER’ to happen of the last decade.

Much has been said about Shane turning down Mayweather in 2006 when a fight was proposed. But with a Oscar De La Hoya fight looming with Money Mayweather, it never came about.

The truth of the matter is Floyd Mayweather Jr. Leonard Ellerbe and Al Haymon (Mayweathers’s Management Team) want no part of Mosley. They are flat out afraid to fight Mosley. They will hide behind the excuses that Mosley ‘can’t draw’, and how Mosley is ‘B-side’. But the truth of matter is on paper Mosley is the toughest fight for Floyd, and Floyd has always avoided perceived tough fights. Roger Mayweather and Floyd Sr. are on record saying Mosley would be the toughest fight Floyd Jr could take. Floyd and his advisors care about making the easiest fight rather then securing a legacy and that is sad. If Floyd had any Manny Pacquiao or Shane Mosley in him it would make him a more liked fighter.

Who Should Floyd Fight
He should fight them all. But he won’t. I think Floyd will say ‘No’ to Shane Mosley out of fear. He will come up with some excuse that his fans will buy hook line and sinker. Floyd fans can say what they want but their man is afraid of Shane Mosley. Then he will wait for the winner of Pacquiao-Cotto. He will ask for 60-40 once Pac wins. Which he should not get. Eventually they will probably get down to 50-50. And we will probably have Mayweather and Pacquiao in April or May of 2010. Floyd perceives Pacquiao as an easier fight because of size. But he may be sorely mistaken.

Floyd and his people should not underestimate Pacquiao.

Source : Boxing24.com

Roach : Pacquiao to Shutout Cotto

2009-09-21T06:01:00.001-07:00

Manny Pacquiao's irradicable coach Freddie Roach admits Miguel Cotto is a tough opponent to knockout, thus ruling out an abbreviated win in their November 14 punch out at MGM's Grand Arena.

Asked by PDI's fight analyst Hermie Rivera why? The hall of fame trainer replied, "While Manny bested some near-greats previously, Manny will hit and run Cotto (ceaselessly), and box him inning-by-inning (scientifically). The end result will be a terrific 12-round victory."

Speed kills, so the pundits say.

Team Pacquiao knows this by heart. Make no mistake about it.

A caveat -- size and power can neutralize velocity.

"Cotto is the stronger and bigger fighter. And Miguel knows how to nullify speed. Look at how he beat Zab Judah and Shane Mosely," cautioned Roach.

"Anything's possible with Manny's unmatched work ethic."

FirePower: Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto" Primer

Boxing's media circus passed through the City By the Bay with an eclectic display of marketing skills.

Pound-for-Pound king Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto donned San Francisco Giant's baseball jerseys and sounded like solid pitchmen atop the home team Giants' dugout.

And what a way to battle for the hearts and minds of the fans highlighting the fighters' extra-curriculars.

Pacquiao and Cotto played some baseball as little leaguers resulting in cross-over appeal.

Top Rank's Bob Arum is maximizing every available avenue in advertising.

"We have to be creative in promoting boxing. This could be the fight of the year. Heck, fight of the decade!"

"FirePower"---the World Boxing Organization welterweight championship will be held at MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 14. The fight is promoted by Top Rank in association with MGM Grand and Tecate is available on HBO Pay-per-view.

Source : PhilBoxing.com

Greatest Fights of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto

2009-09-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the greatest fights of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Video Courtesy of HBO.com.

Miguel Cotto's Greatest Fight

Manny Pacquiao's greatest fights in the US.

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Both fighters head to their training camps

2009-09-19T06:16:00.001-07:00

FILIPINO superstar Manny Pacquiao worked up a sweat at a local gym in Manila yesterday afternoon to start his preparation for his Nov. 14 fight with Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao, who planed in on Thursday morning after a whirlwind five-city publicity tour for his upcoming bout with Cotto, reportedly trained for a little over an hour and complained of the heat inside the Wild Card Fitness Gym in Paranaque, which is owned by his former long-time business manager Rod Nazario.

Pacquiao, however, impressed a local trainer who held the mitts for the boxing icon and indicated that he had never felt a punch so strong.

“His jab is just like the best punch of my welterweight boxer,” said Ericson Asilo in an interview with Fightnews.

Trainer Freddie Roach, according to the report, is scheduled to arrive in the Philippines next week to start the hard training with Pacquiao in Baguio.

The boxing icon is slated to leave for Baguio on board a private plane owned by one of his benefactors on Sunday morning in time for the start of his eight-week training camp on Monday.

Pacquiao has chosen the Cooyeesan Hotel, which also houses a well-equipped gym that the pound-for-pound fighter will use for four to five weeks. Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s long-time training assistant, is now in Baguio and is ready to lend a hand on Roach in training Pacquiao.

“Everything is all ready,” Fernandez was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, sporting a new tattoo on his left shoulder, is scheduled to leave today for Tampa, Florida, where he’ll initiate the last and hardest phase of his preparation for November 14 collision in Las Vegas against Manny Pacquiao. Cotto is accompanied by his trainer José ‘Joe’ Santiago and the conditioning trainer Phil Landman.

Source : FightNews.com and GlobalNation.inquirer.net

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Is Pacquiao Using Steroids?

2009-09-18T04:12:00.001-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has belied claims that he is using illegal supplements, including the banned substance steroids, to gain an unfair advantage in fights.

The accusation was made by flamboyant trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., who worked the corner of Ricky Hatton for the bout with Pacquiao last May. Mayweather, in an interview with the Grand Rapids Press, said he believes the Filipino is taking illegal supplements.

“I believe he’s (Pacquiao) on some type of supplements. I’m convinced about a lot of (boxers),” the brash trainer said. “That’s what they’re (Pacquiao camp) doing right now. Everybody should be checked a little bit more thoroughly. Sometimes people know what’s going on but they ain’t saying anything.

Mayweather’s claims may have stemmed from the fact that he witnessed first hand how Pacquiao demolished Hatton easily during their fight — where the current pound-for-pound king’s speed was simply too much for the British slugger to handle.

But against his son Floyd Jr., the older Mayweather said Pacquiao will lose if ever they meet in the ring — steroids or none.

“I don’t think he can beat Lil’ Floyd with steroids in him or not,” he said. “He don’t have that kind of talent. He don’t have that kind of skill, whatever he has in him.”

Pacquiao, for his part, insisted he always fights cleanly, even stressing that he doesn’t know anything about steroids.

“I don’t even know how it looks and what color it is,” Pacquiao said in a TV interview shortly after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this morning (Sept. 17).

The IBO junior welterweight champion added that he has already instructed his lawyer, Jeng Gacal, to study any possible legal action they can take against Mayweather.

“We’re thinking of suing him (Mayweather) for what he said,” he added.

Pacquiao is back in the Philippines after wrapping up a back-breaking press tour that took him and upcoming opponent Miguel Cotto to five cities — New York, Caguas in Puerto Rico, and San Francisco, Beverly Hills and San Diego in California.

He, along with trainer Freddie Roach, will head to Baguio City tonight to kick-off his eight-week training camp.

Pacquiao and Cotto will slug it out on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Source : Pacquiao denies Doping

My Biggest Test says Pacquiao : Pacquiao-Cotto Fight

2009-09-16T06:01:00.001-07:00

BEVERLY HILLS, California - Manny Pacquiao, widely viewed as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, is primed for his biggest test when he challenges Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title in November.

Although Filipino Pacquiao holds a significant speed advantage over the Puerto Rican, he has great respect for Cotto's punching power, strength and intelligence.

"This will be my toughest test as a professional boxer," Pacquiao, 30, told a news conference at a Beverly Hills hotel on Monday to promote the big-money clash.

"I know he is an excellent, smart fighter and a great world champion.

"We also know that he is good in body punching and that he's strong so we have to study that, how to counter it and fight that in the ring.

"We also need to use our own advantage over Cotto," added the southpaw, who cemented his status as the sport's premier fighter with a stunning second round knockout of Britain's Ricky Hatton in May to claim the IBO light welterweight crown.

"Everybody knows that I am faster than Cotto so how can I use that speed in the fight? I will do my best in this fight to capture my seventh title belt."

Pacquiao has a glittering career record of 49-3-2 featuring 37 knockouts, but his trainer Freddie Roach predicted the Nov. 14 bout in Las Vegas would go the full distance.

"It's going to be a much more tactical fight than people think because he (Cotto) is a very smart fighter," Roach said. "It's who can implement their game plan and use it to the fullest advantage.

"I think this is going to be a 12-round fight, no knockout. This guy (Cotto) is very resilient. If a knockout comes, it comes but if you go out there looking for a knockout, you might get caught yourself. We have to be very tactical."

Gruelling win

Cotto, who retained his WBO title with a gruelling split decision win over Ghana's Joshua Clottey in June, felt his own renowned defense would more than match Pacquiao's speed.

"When you have good defense, you can stop speed," said the 28-year-old, 34-1 with 27 KOs.

"I don't know if he (Pacquiao) is ready to be beaten but I am in my prime of my career. I'm going to use every kind of tool I have in my repertoire.

"He has fought a lot of tough fighters but never one like this," added Cotto, who has held a world title in every year since 2004.

"The world will know who the best is when we meet in the ring in November."

Pacquiao, a winner of six world titles in as many different weight divisions ranging from 112 to 140 pounds, is being tipped by boxing pundits as the favorite to win.

The pay-per-view fight is projected to reach 71 million homes, according to organizers.

Source : ABSCBNnews.com

Pacquiao's Prediction : He'll Win the Pacquiao-Cotto Fight

2009-09-15T08:11:00.001-07:00

Manny Pacquiao says he prepared for any strategy that Miguel Cotto elects to use in their November 14th fight, saying “If I press the fight I’m sure he [Cotto] would run. And if I wait, he’ll come in. That is what will happen, if he either runs or takes the fight to me, it’s all right with me.” So in other words, Pacquiao sounds like he’s mad with confidence, bordering on someone that may have lost touch with reality.

To listen to Pacquiao talk, he looks to me be more than a little drunk on his past success from the Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton wins. I don’t what his sycophants have been doing in the Philippines, but it looks like they’ve been kissing Pacquiao’s backside 24/7 a little bit too much.

To hear Pacquiao tell it, he’s going to dominate Cotto, a bigger and stronger fighter, as if Pacquiao is fighting one of his super featherweight opponents. Pacquiao seems to forget that he hasn’t yet fought the best in the welterweight or even the light welterweight divisions.

If Pacquiao believes that Oscar De La Hoya was one of the best welterweights in boxing at the time that he fought him, then Pacquiao needs to have someone sit him down break the bad news to him about Oscar. De La Hoya wasn’t one of the best welterweights or one of the best light middleweights at the time that Pacquiao got to him. De La Hoya may have been ranked high by the sanctioning bodies, but that doesn’t mean anything.

If you have put De La Hoya in with someone like Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland, Oscar would have been massacred even worse than what Pacquiao. Of course it would be worse, those fighters could punch a hole through a wall and would make quick work of De La Hoya, and especially Pacquiao.

Okay, so De La Hoya was like a mummified fighter that was still there in body but his ability had left him a long time ago before Pacquiao decided to fight him. The same goes for Hatton. He had been showing cracks in his game since he was defeated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007.

Besides that, look at the fighters that Hatton had chose to fight since beating Kostya Tszyu in 2005: Carlos Maussa, Luis Collazo, whom he beat by a questionable 12 round decision, Juan Urango, Jose Luis Castillo, Mayweather, Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi. Out of all those names, I consider only the fight against Mayweather as a true world class opponent.

Hatton somehow conveniently missed fighting top light welterweights during that time like Timothy Bradley, Kendall Holt, Marcos Maidana, Victor Ortiz, Junior Witter, and Ricardo Torres. It looks like Hatton was steering away from the most dangerous fighters in the division for the most part and taking on easier opponents.

Okay, so the win over Hatton is no big deal because he hadn’t proven that he was still among the best in the division in the past three years. He was riding along on his past resume alone rather than still proving that he was the best.

So based on Pacquiao’s actual experience against fighters in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions, Pacquiao is essentially coming into his November 14th fight zero experience against top level opposition from what I could see. This is why it seems so weird to see Pacquiao talking as if he can walk on water and move mountains. Pacquiao needs to cringe and show some fear because Cotto is the best fighter, aside from Juan Manuel Marquez, that Pacquiao will have faced in his career.

Source : An article written by Manuel Perez for BoxingNews24.com

Pacquiao and Cotto Promotion in San Francisco

2009-09-14T07:27:00.001-07:00

Three thousand cheering fans braved the pouring rain after the San Francisco Giants – Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game at AT&T Park in San Francisco Sunday to attend a public press conference for six-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and three-time world champion and the pride of Puerto Rico Miguel Cotto who are in town to promote their upcoming “FIREPOWER” world welterweight championship fight. Pacquiao vs Cotto is promoted by Top Rank, in association with MGM Grand and Tecate, will take place, Saturday,November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be available live on HBO Pay Per View.

Source : Fightnews.com

Cotto's Key to Victory

2009-09-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

If Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KO’s) wants to beat Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KO’s) on November 14th, he’s going to have to make a point to rough Pacquiao up early and often and make it tough for the smaller fighter. Pacquiao will come in at pretty much the same weight as Cotto at the weigh-in, but by the time the fight takes place, you can expect that Cotto will have a 10 to 15 pound weight advantage over Pacquiao.

That extra weight can be a key asset for Cotto, because he’ll be able to use his extra size to toss the little Pacquiao around the ring in close, and shove him off balance so that Cotto can get an extra shot in here and there. It may sound like dirty business, but so what?

It’s boxing and the whole sport is filled with fighters trying to get over on each other in some way or another, whether it is fights being held at catch weights or fighters trying to wrestle on the inside. The point is Cotto needs to take advantage of his own assets in this fight.

Pacquiao will have the advantage of the catch weight, which will probably leave Cotto weaker than he usually is. Besides that, Pacquiao will also have the advantage in hand speed and mobility. But what Cotto has in the experience of having faced bigger punchers than Pacquiao and will likely be able to take Pacquiao’s shots without being hurt by them.

This should allow Cotto to take more chances than a smaller fighter like Ricky Hatton or a badly weight drained one such as Oscar De La Hoya. So for Cotto to take full advantage of all the things that he has going for him, he needs to use his size by being rough as he can to show the smaller Pacquiao what happens when he fights a bigger fighter that’s not old and weight drained like De La Hoya.

Perhaps Cotto might want to throw some elbows, low blows and perhaps a nice head butt to get Pacquiao’s attention and make him cautious about wanting to stray to close with his wild charges. I would never want Cotto do something like this, but if he did, I guess I wouldn’t mind very much.

People are best at remembering things when there’s pain involved. That’s a fact of life. Unless you straighten someone out when they’re doing something wrong, the action tends to continue. This is why Cotto needs to teach Pacquiao that he can’t come rushing him like he does against his lesser opposition.

When Pacquiao gets in close, maybe give him a tap below decks to get his attention and make him think twice about coming in like a wild man. Once Pacquiao has a few reminders of what happens when he comes in aggressively, he’ll likely be on his best behavior and be like school child ready to take instructions from Cotto.

From there, Cotto can easily manage Pacquiao by beating him down with his jab and right hand. Cotto should be able to keep the shorter Pacquiao at the end of his jab without getting hit because Pacquiao’s reach is short and limited.

Once Pacquiao gets in close, that’s where Cotto needs to make him pay by turning it physical and putting Pacquiao off his game. It won’t be hard because Pacquiao won’t have the size or the experience against a similarly talented fighter. Pacquiao has built up his reputation as of late by beating Hatton and De La Hoya, and I see both wins as totally overrated and without value.

SOURCE : The Key to Victory : Cotto Needs to Rough Pacquiao Up by Manuel Perez for Boxing24News24.com

Pacquiao Departs To Hype Up Cotto Fight

2009-09-09T04:33:00.001-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao leaves for the United States today for the five-city publicity tour for his Nov. 14 title fight against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The promo tour will start Sept. 10 with a press conference at the Yankee Stadium in New York. It will be open to the public.

The entourage, which includes Team Pacman official Mike Koncz, lawyer Franklin Gacal and probably trainer Buboy Fernandez, will proceed to Puerto Rico, then to San Francisco, Los Angeles before capping it in San Diego.

“After this tour, we’ll start training for eight weeks,” said Pacquiao in Filipino. “We will study Cotto’s style and technique.”

Cotto, however, will no not be around in the final stop of the tour in San Diego since he will go straight to his training camp in Tampa, Florida.

In his Oscar de la Hoya fight, Pacquiao launched his publicity tour in the Statue of Liberty, also in New York, while against Ricky Hatton, they kicked off their tour in Manchester, England.

The 30-year-old world pound-for-pound king, on the other hand, is expected to start training in Baguio upon his return from the US with Fernandez assuring the facilities in the City of Pines are suited for Pacquiao’s training camp.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao handed out a P1 million check to the Philippine Sportswriters Association over the weekend as seed money for the establishment of a foundation benefiting the sportswriting fraternity in the country.

He personally presented the amount to officials of the PSA during a thanksgiving party the boxing icon tendered at the Harbour View Restaurant.

Pacquiao initially made the pledge during the PSA-Annual Awards Night held earlier this year.

“I made the pledge during PSA Awards,” said Pacquiao.

PSA president Teddyvic Melendres of the Inquirer received the amount in behalf of the 60-year old media organization, the oldest in the country.

Pacquiao was named PSA Athlete of the Year in 2008 following his success in the ring that saw him beat the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and the great De La Hoya.

He was likewise elevated to the PSA Hall of Fame by the organization composed of editors and sportswriters from the various national broadsheets and tabloids, making him the first Filipino athlete to be accorded such honor while still at the peak of his career.

Aside from Pacquiao, others pitching in for the PSA Foundation are Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping and PLDT chairman and Smart Communications Inc. top honcho Manny V. Pangilinan.

A report by Abac Cordero for PhilStar.com.

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Roach or Pacquiao Who's the Boss?

2009-09-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

An article was written by Eric Thomas for BoxingNews24.com about Manny Pacquiao's training schedule. From the looks of it, Pacquiao is not focusing much of its time to training.

Recently, Manny Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach went head to head over where the training should take place for Pacquiao’s next bout against Miguel Cotto. Roach wanted the training to take place in Mexico, while Pacquiao preferred the same confines of the Philippines.

In the end, Pacquiao got his way and the fight will be taking place in Baguio, in the Philippines. Its unclear how Roach will take this, because he’s seems to have enjoyed his newfound popularity that he’s found because largely due to Pacquiao’s success in the ring.

Roach has seemed like the boss in their interactions with each other, at least in their training camps. However, with Pacquiao basically telling Roach where the training will be taking place, it looks as if Pacquiao is showing who the real boss is in this relationship. Roach is, in essence, an employee of Pacquiao and can be replaced at any time if Pacquiao sees fit.

Beyond the location of where the training camp was to take place, Roach and Pacquiao disagreed about when the training should begin. Roach wanted the training to start already, but Pacquiao was having none of it, saying that eight weeks was enough.

With Pacquiao throwing his weight around more and more, will this affect Roach and their upcoming training? Is their relationship starting to show cracks? It’s hard to tell at this point. It will be interesting to see how well the training camp goes because this isn’t a good start. Roach has a lot of pride, and is highly sought after by boxing’s best fighters. If things don’t work out with Pacquiao, Roach will have a soft landing regardless. The way I see it, Roach should swallow his pride and continue to ride the Pacquiao gravy train until the bitter end. Roach should stay until Pacquiao either dismisses him, retires or begins to get beaten up on a regular occasion.

Roach’s main focus should be on working with Pacquiao and trying to make him a better fighter. Let all the other stuff, such as training locations and future opponents be decided by Pacquiao and his paid advisers.

What do you think? Do you think Pacquiao can still win it?

source : Did Pacquiao put Roach in his Place?

Pacquiao-Cotto Fight : Cotto Needs to KO Pacquiao

2009-09-02T06:40:00.001-07:00

This Pacquiao-Cotto Fight article was written by Manuel Perez for BoxingNews24.com.

Read the whole article below.

I’m really looking forward to November 14th, so that WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto can knock Manny Pacquiao down a peg or two. This guy needs be stopped pronto. I was comfortable with Cotto giving Pacquiao a slow methodical beating for 12 long rounds, but now I prefer that Cotto get rid of Pacquiao as soon possible, preferably in the 1st or 2nd rounds. Pacquiao needs to stopped.

Think of it this way: If Pacquiao were to win the fight, we’d probably be seeing a future of him continuing to fight catch weight bouts again fighters that would have little choice but to have their titles on the line or risk being stripped of their titles by the sanctioning bodies.

That’s what happens when you get a fighter that gets too powerful for their own good. They can throw their weight around and make things happen. You know and I know that any close decisions involving Pacquiao very likely go to him, just as was the case in his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez last year. Who in their right mind saw Pacquiao winning that fight. And that’s what I’m talking about. Unless Cotto stops Pacquiao now, he’s going to have too much power for his own good.

I don’t know how Pacquiao got popular because he doesn’t deserve it my view. It was the wins over Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton that did it for him. Before that, Pacquiao was just a fighter like anyone else. He won some fights and then would lose some others. But once he got the wins over De La Hoya and Hatton, suddenly Pacquiao has acquired a lot of popularity. And I don’t see that as good thing. I think it’s time that Pacquiao lose and be brought down to earth.

I want to see him get knocked out, because when you have a popular fighter like him, there’s too much wriggle room for the judges to give him a decision unless Cotto knocks him five or six times in the fight. We’re talking about a popular fighter here. Boxing is known for this kind of thing.

That’s why Cotto has to take Pacquiao apart and make sure that there’s no chance that Pacquiao and get a decision awarded to him unjustly. Because, believe me, if Pacquiao wins by another controversial decision, there’s probably next to no chance that Cotto will get a chance to get a rematch.

If you don’t believe me, just look at Marquez. He’s still waiting for a rematch a year and half later after his controversial loss to Pacquiao. And you know what? Marquez is probably going to wait a lot more longer for a fight against Pacquiao. My guess is probably never.

Source : Cotto Needs to Knock Pacquiao Off His High Horse

Pacquiao VS Cotto Predictions

2009-08-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the predictions of journalists, boxers and trainers regarding Pacquiao-Cotto Fight that will happen live on November 14 at Las Vegas Nevada.

BOXING JOURNALISTS

"Right now I slightly favor Pacquiao to win by decision."
- Doug Fischer, Ring Magazine

"I think Pacquiao will win the fight for one overriding reason: talent."
- Michael Rosenthal, Ring Magazine

"I’ll go with Manny in a close fight."
- Kevin Iole, Yahoo Sports

"In the end, Pacquiao seems likely to prevail."
- Ron Borges, The Sweet Science

"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."
- James Slater, East Side Boxing

"I would be mightily impressed to see Megamanny stop Cotto."
- Michael Marley, Boxing Confidential

"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!"
- Allan Tolentino, 8 Count News

"It seems to me that some people might accept nothing less than Pacquiao time traveling and fighting Sugar Ray Robinson at this point."
- Sa Christ, Bad Left Hook

"I think THE Pacquiao will once again prove his doubters wrong."
- Ben Thompson, Fight Hype

"Pac-Man is probably the better fighter anyway and beats Cotto via TKO late."
- Paul Uphan, Seconds Out

"I will be tipping Pacquiao when they time comes."
- Greg Juckett, Seconds Out

"I’d probably choose Pacquiao to win."
- Michael Norby, Seconds Out

"I don’t see the challenge in a fight with Cotto, but rather another easy way out for Pacquiao."
- Manuel Perez, Boxing News 24

"Manny will knock Cotto out inside of 6 rounds at any weight."
- Greg Leon, Boxing Talk

"I think Pacquiao wins."
- Ryan Burton, Boxing Talk

"It’s a safe bet that Pacquiao will find it and crack it."
- Michel Joseph, Boxing Talk

"Pacquiao TKO11"
- Reggie Jay, Doghouseboxing

"It's a bad mix for Cotto no matter where it occurs on the scale. I'll take Pacquiao in 10."
- Lyle Fitzsimmons, Sports Network

"I heavily favor Pacquiao in this bout."
- Tim Starks, The Queensberry Rules

"Pacquiao has the potential of completely dominating and dismantling Cotto."
- Teddy Atlas, ESPN

BOXERS AND TRAINERS

"Pacquiao. From the very first round the advantage would be Pacquiao.”
-Antonio Margarito

“I think Pacquiao is a quick starter, and if I had to lean toward a fighter, I would say Pacquiao."
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“Basically, I see Cotto busted up. I don’t think his face is gonna hold up through 12 rounds of the fight."
- Bernard Hopkins

“Pacquiao will win.”
- Mike Tyson

"I believe that Pacquiao should put him on the canvas in five or six rounds."
- Marquez's trainer Nacho Beristain

"Cotto keeps coming, this other kid Pacquiao, is so good, so slick. I think Pacquiao is the best fighter right now.”
- Muhammad Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee

"All of these guys underestimate Pacquiao thinking he's the small man. When I met Pacquiao, I wasn't saying how does this guy make welterweight? I was saying how in the hell was he making 130 and 135? Pacquiao is a big dude."
- Mosley's trainer Naazim Richardson

"We are going to knockout Cotto."
- Freddie Roach

Pacquiao VS Cotto Ticket Sales Update

2009-08-26T00:03:00.000-07:00

M. Perez of BoxingNews.24.com reveals that only 1000 tickets are left for the November 14th bout of Manny Pacquio and Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto live at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas Nevada.

Read the rest of the article below.

The 9000 lower priced seats in the arena, which sell for $150 to $500, have sold out already, leaving only the high priced ones for $750 to $1000. Those, too, will likely sell out soon due to the popularity of this fight.

Pacquiao, 30, the smaller fighter, was only two years ago fighting at 130 in the super featherweight division. On November 14th, Pacquiao will be fighting the champion Cotto at a 145 catch weight and will be attempting to win a seventh world title in seven divisions.

Pacquiao will have his work cut out for him because Cotto, 28, is probably a lot better than Pacquiao’s recent opponents Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton as far as still being in his prime. Pacquiao’s wins over Hatton and De La Hoya likely won’t have given the Filipino much preparation for what he’ll be facing against Cotto.

Indeed, the wins may in fact lull Pacquiao – and his trainer Freddie Roach – into a false sense of invincibility and could cause Pacquiao to have problems if Cotto doesn’t fold as easily as De La Hoya and Hatton did. Those fights were one-sided from the beginning and stayed that way until the end. That likely won’t be the case for the Cotto fight, because he’s used to being hit by much stronger fighters than Pacquiao.

The real question is what will Pacquiao do if Cotto doesn’t fold up like De La Hoya and Hatton did? Pacquiao had major problems against Juan Manuel Marquez in March 2008, whom he also tried to blitz early on in the fight with a strong attack. Pacquiao had problems when Marquez stayed on his feet and began to use his superior boxing skills and counter punches to get the better of Pacquiao in the fight.

As the rounds wore on, it seemed pretty clear that Pacquiao was in deep trouble and on the verge of losing the bout. The judges’, however, bailed Pacquiao out in the end, giving him a 12 round split decision despite the fact that many sports writers, as well as boxing fans in the United States and elsewhere, felt that Marquez should have won the fight.

The same thing may happen in the Cotto bout, although I’m counting on the judges getting it right this time and scoring it fairly. Cotto won’t go away easily and I can see Pacquiao having some serious problems when he sees that he has a real fight in front of him.

At that point, Roach is going to have to dig deep to try and find some of his pearls of wisdom to try and save Pacquiao from suffering a loss. As we saw last weekend, Roach’s expertise came up empty when his fighter Bernabe Conception was dominated and then ultimately disqualified in a fight against Steven Luevano.

SOURCE : Cotto-Pacquiao: Only High Priced Tickets Remaining – News

Pacquiao VS Cotto Tickets

2009-08-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

The date is set for the mega-fight between boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound king and reigning Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Fighter of the Year, Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, and the pride of Puerto Rico and three-time world champion Miguel Cotto. Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto, “FirePower” will take place Saturday, Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. PST/6 p.m. PST.

Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, go on sale today, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. Ticket sales at $1,000, $750, $500 and $300 are limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $150 are limited to two (2) per person, with a total ticket limit of 12 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

“Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto have reached an agreement to fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 14,” said Top Rank Chief Executive Officer Bob Arum. Top Rank is currently working on a major media tour to commence immediately following Labor Day weekend. Details will be announced in the near future.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, has won six world titles in as many different weight divisions ranging from 112 to 140 pounds. His performance in 2008 was described as “Henry Armstrongesque” as he won world titles at 130 and 135 pounds with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz, respectively, and knocked out Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds to complete the trifecta. The winning streak continued in 2009 when he won another world title in a new weight division, dealing defending junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton a second-round knockout in May at MGM Grand.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, has held a world title every year since 2004. Puerto Rico’s most exciting fighter, Cotto held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight crown from 2004-2006. He successfully defended it six times before vacating it to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. He won his second welterweight title earlier this year as he knocked out Michael Jennings in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden to become the WBO Welterweight Champion. Notable victories on Cotto’s belt include Sugar Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey, Pauli Malinaggi and Demarcus Corley.

The Pacquiao vs. Cotto pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry.

Source : Tickets for Pacquiao vs. Cotto "Firepower" Go On Sale Aug.

Pacquiao - Cotto 2009 Fight

2009-08-25T23:53:00.001-07:00

The Pacquiao - Cotto fight scheduled on November 14, 2009 live at Las Vegas Nevada will more likely be a Title Match at 145lbs. This was presented in the article written by Mark Vester in boxingscene.com.

A lot has been written on the title mishap that hangs like a bad cloud above the November 14 bout between Manny Pacquiao and WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. The fight takes place at an agreed catch-weight 145-pounds and because of this weight, Cotto has not been willing to stake his welterweight crown. He says Pacquaio will have to fight him at the full welterweight limit of 147 to have the title at stake. The WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel is pushing to have the WBO title on the line. Who could blame him? There is a $150,000 sanctioning fee at stake on both sides. Top Rank's Bob Arum promotes both fighters and is willing to pay both of their sanctioning fees.

The title picture will come down to several scenarios but all of them will have the WBO title at stake. The title picture comes down to Section 15, page 17 of the WBO's Rules and Regulations.

The sections reads the following:

(b) A WBO champions shall not participate in a non-championship fight that is not a WBO Championship without the prior authorization of the WBO World Championship Committee. This authorization shall be subject to such conditions as the WBO World Championship Committee determines. In addition, this authorization will be granted only on the condition that the WBO Champion pay a fee to the WBO that is the equivalent of the amount that he WBO Champion would have paid to the WBO if the nonchampionship fight were conducted as a WBO Championship fight.

Pursuant to the official rules, the WBO is in the right to sanction the bout as a welterweight title fight. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach already told BoxingScene.com that his fighter is going to pay the required sanctioning fee - even if Cotto refuses to pay his share. That move would hand Manny the title with a win or cause the title to become vacant if Cotto prevails.

The WBO has to give Cotto authorization to take the Pacquiao fight, pursuant to their rules and the WBO can set the conditions of the fight - and that includes making it a title fight. Even if Cotto refuses to put the title on the line, the WBO rules are clear, he would be forced to pay a sanctioning fee that is equal to the amount of a normal title fight.

Even if Cotto vacates the title, the WBO can place the vacant title at stake in the fight. There has already been word that Pacquiao would be lifted to the status of number 1 contender and that would give him a chance to win the title - with or without Cotto's compliance.

Source : Pacquiao-Cotto Title Bout Rests on WBO's Section 15