Got this interesting news on Pacquiao's confidence on winning over Cotto. Read on...
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.
more from here http://www.boxingnews24.com/2009/09/pacquiao-says-he-wins-no-matter-what-cotto-does/
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Nobuhiro Ishida in Line For Santos vs Foreman Winner
see this news about the undercard match for the Cotto-Pacquiao match
By Mark Vester
In a move that makes no sense, Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida was crowned the WBA's interim-junior middleweight champion after winning a decision over Marco Avendano of Venezuela. The fight was set down by the WBA because full champion Daniel Santos has been unable to defend his title since winning it last July.
It doesn't make any sense to crown an interim-champion when Santos is defending his title against the mandatory, undefeated Yuri Foreman, on the November 14 undercard to Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto on November 14.
more boxing news here: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=21901
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Pacquiao starts training: Fans mob champ in Baguio camp
I was able to read this article on Pacquiao's Baguio training\
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is providing a different kind of chill up in Baguio these days.
Since arriving in the country’s summer capital the other day, the reigning pound-for-pound champion has generated so much attention that people have started to follow him wherever he goes and drool over whatever he does.
Pacquiao was met by a pack of mediamen, including those from various wire agencies, at the Cooyeesan Hotel upon his arrival, and a horde of fans, mostly tourists, when he went out for a run at the famous Burnham Park.
Pacquiao was out on the road at 5 a.m. yesterday, and instead of going to the Sta. Lucia golf course, opted to go straight to the park located at the heart of Baguio City. Before he knew it, a crowd had gathered around him.
Pacquiao chose a spot to do his morning rituals after the run, some shadow boxing, stretching and abdominal exercises as a security team tried to shield him from the crowd.
“It’s okay, Michael,” he told his Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, referring to the crowd that had inched closer to the boxer to watch his every move.
Pacquiao stayed in the park for close to an hour, and in between sets, shared jokes with his trainers, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, and Koncz, who’s in charge of the boxer’s stay in Baguio.
Pacquiao was very friendly with his fans and showed them how he loves putting on a show while training.
After a brief rest in his hotel suite, Pacquiao moved a couple of floors lower where the gym is located. He worked out for nearly two hours, with just a few mediamen allowed in to take pictures of the boxer.
From the gym, Pacquiao moved to another wing of the hotel and played basketball with members of his team. The other day, he complained of some pain in his knee after playing basketball in San Francisco.
But all seems well now for the 30-year-old megastar who pounded the road, and the mitts like he’s been training for a month now.
Pacquiao has eight full weeks to prepare for his Nov. 14 fight with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto who’s in his first month of training by now. From Puerto Rico, he has moved over to Tampa, Florida.
Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, are scheduled to arrive this morning from Los Angeles and take the five-hour ride to Baguio to start presiding over the training. – With Artemio Dumlao
see more from Philippine Star http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=507510&publicationSubCategoryId=69
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is providing a different kind of chill up in Baguio these days.
Since arriving in the country’s summer capital the other day, the reigning pound-for-pound champion has generated so much attention that people have started to follow him wherever he goes and drool over whatever he does.
Pacquiao was met by a pack of mediamen, including those from various wire agencies, at the Cooyeesan Hotel upon his arrival, and a horde of fans, mostly tourists, when he went out for a run at the famous Burnham Park.
Pacquiao was out on the road at 5 a.m. yesterday, and instead of going to the Sta. Lucia golf course, opted to go straight to the park located at the heart of Baguio City. Before he knew it, a crowd had gathered around him.
Pacquiao chose a spot to do his morning rituals after the run, some shadow boxing, stretching and abdominal exercises as a security team tried to shield him from the crowd.
“It’s okay, Michael,” he told his Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, referring to the crowd that had inched closer to the boxer to watch his every move.
Pacquiao stayed in the park for close to an hour, and in between sets, shared jokes with his trainers, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri, and Koncz, who’s in charge of the boxer’s stay in Baguio.
Pacquiao was very friendly with his fans and showed them how he loves putting on a show while training.
After a brief rest in his hotel suite, Pacquiao moved a couple of floors lower where the gym is located. He worked out for nearly two hours, with just a few mediamen allowed in to take pictures of the boxer.
From the gym, Pacquiao moved to another wing of the hotel and played basketball with members of his team. The other day, he complained of some pain in his knee after playing basketball in San Francisco.
But all seems well now for the 30-year-old megastar who pounded the road, and the mitts like he’s been training for a month now.
Pacquiao has eight full weeks to prepare for his Nov. 14 fight with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto who’s in his first month of training by now. From Puerto Rico, he has moved over to Tampa, Florida.
Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, and conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, are scheduled to arrive this morning from Los Angeles and take the five-hour ride to Baguio to start presiding over the training. – With Artemio Dumlao
see more from Philippine Star http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=507510&publicationSubCategoryId=69
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Pacquiao-Cotto: Cancun Site Offered For Manny's Training
see this news from Ronnie about Manny's training location:
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says that a sprawling hacienda in Cancun has been offered as a training site for world pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in preparation for his ‘Fire Power” showdown against WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto with the added attraction of the WBC “Diamond Belt” also on the line at the MGM Grand on November 14.
Arum said that Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz had visited possible training sites in Mexico and that Pacquiao would “have the (Cancun) hacienda all to himself. Its private and its great. The weather is perfect so we advised him to go but what he does, who knows.”
Arum shared trainer Freddie Roach’s concern about setting up training camp in the Philippines with its many distractions aside from the fact that Cotto is a dangerous opponent who cannot be taken lightly by anyone, including Pacquiao.
He said the Filipino boxing icon has “got to let us know so we c an set things up. The Bahamas is still available, its all available. The only object is for “him to pull the trigger” so they know where he’ll train.
The Top Rank promoter who has chartered Pacquiao’s career to remarkable heights said Pacquiao should have “started light training right now and the go to heavy training when he comes over here” even as he expressed the hope that Pacquiao was at least doing some running.
Arum said other than Pacquiao’s training camp site and schedule “everything is going great” even as he disclosed that one more US baseball team, the San Diego Padres will stage a “Manny Pacquiao Night and they are going to give the proceeds on the extra tickets they sell to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation.”
The baseball promotional tour will begin at Yankee Stadium in New York before they leave for a press conference in Puerto Rico after which they fly to a night with the San Francisco Giants after which they go to Los Angeles .
At the same time Arum said that Pacquiao won’t be able to watch the Rodel Mayol title rematch with WBO light flyweight champion Ivan Calderon on September 12 because they have to “get on a plane that afternoon to go to San Francisco and on Sunday we’ll have a press conference with 50,000 at the giant Dodgers Stadium” in Los Angeles.
more news here: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=21900
Saturday, September 19, 2009
'Left-Hook Lounge': Vivek Wallace's mailbag feat. Pacquiao, Mayweather, Urango, Cloud, and more!
got this interesting news on Pacquiao's left hook:
by Michael S. (Brooklyn, NY): With a loss to Miguel Cotto, what do you think would be next for Manny Pacquiao?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think at this point it's tough to say. Being age 30 and having over 50 fights under his belt, there's no question that the wars have taken a huge toll on Pacquiao already. I think a humbling loss (particularly via early KO) would force many around him to push him to pack it in, as there would be little else to prove and the lust of a Mayweather showdown would be not only reduced, but somewhat stripped away, replaced instead by a mounting interest in a Mayweather/Cotto showdown. Considering Pacquiao's mega-man status in the sport, I think it would be hard to see him jumping back in line to face the current 140lb champs, but on the flipside, his ability to win at the negotiations table against marquee names would be greatly compromised as well, so it greatly distorts his options. I think there's only one other place he could look if he decides to stick around, and this option would inevitably place him right back in contention with a solid performance. That option is none other than JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ.. And I put that in all caps because that's the fight that Pacquiao said he has no interest in, (reference to his "finished business" statement after the JMM II fight), yet everyone else in the world does. This fight is a must before both men leave the sport, particularly if they both lose their pending matchups. As much sense as retirement would make, I don't know how easy it would be in the case of Pacquiao, because literally EVERYONE from the Philippines that I have talked to tells me very adamantly that they love him in the ring, but have ZERO interest in seeing him in any type of political seat, which brings about another potential challenge for him. That challenge is a loss of identity, because with little left to do in the ring and little support from his people relative to his political ventures, there will inevitably be a very tough to fill void in his life. The more I think of it, the more I realize that no matter how great things currently are, the life of Pacquiao is a very delicate one right now, and there's a thin line that could quickly take his life from sugar to another "S" word that I'm not exactly able to spell out! If he walks away from the sport, there would be no more boxing and (from what I'm hearing) no political support either....so, where would he really go? There's a lot riding on this fight for him. More than many of us thought about prior to now.
Jeremy O. (Philly, PA): Do you think Mayweather will be affected by having to weigh in at 144lbs against Marquez?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Mayweather's biggest issue coming into this fight will be the man across from him and any potential ring rust found within him. The weight, I don't see being an issue at all. Miguel Cotto is viewed by many as being a big welterweight, and even in his case, ever since becoming a welter a few years back, he has only weighed in at exactly 147lbs 3-times in 8 welterweight fights. Mayweather is very similar, only tipping the scales at 147lbs twice in four welterweight fights, not including the ODH fight which took place at 154lbs, allowing him to tip the scales at 150lbs. Contrary to popular belief, these guys aren't nearly as big as they seem. Some may argue that Cotto is, but Mayweather, I've seen in between fights on plenty of occasions and I don't think I've ever seen the guy above 155lbs. Ever! So despite the layoff of nearly two years, considering his dedication to the gym, (which he never stopped training), I don't think the loss of a few more pounds will be detrimental, although stranger things have happened. It's only my opinion, but we'll have to wait and see, perhaps.
Pierre R. (Los Angeles, CA): What do you take from the fact that Pacquiao is still filming movies and side-tracked while Cotto is already in full training mode?
Vivek W. (ESB): I take away the fact that Pacquiao is doing what he is able to do while Cotto is doing what he has to do. Remember, Cotto is the one that has to come down in weight and not allow it to be such a drastic change that it affects his bottomline performance on fight night, not Pacquiao. The average fight camp last roughly 2 months, and Pacquiao's people have already stated that he'll be done with all outside obligations no later than September 5th, giving him plenty of time to get prepared. One thing that I do have a concern about is the fact that there are so many other key issues surrounding Pacquiao prior to his camp. As of right now, he still has no idea where that camp will be held, and many of the destinations being discussed leave room for circus atmospheres and too many hanger-on's to fight off. Cancun, the Bahamas, Cebu....all great cities....and also all poor places to conduct a camp of this importance. I think words like normalcy, regularity and continuity come with a high premium, and I guess I'm not totally sold on Pacquiao having to deal with a new environment, with new elements, and new people before arguably the most career defining fight of his illustrious career. A few years ago, I was assigned to the NBA's Miami Heat (by way of Most Valuable Network), and I can remember covering the championship series when the Dallas Mavericks were up 2-0 against the Miami Heat. With only two games left to win to wrap up the series, all of a sudden, despite having all the answers for the opponent on the court, it was the outside influence that created the first level of doubt in the mind of the Mavericks head coach, forcing him to change lodging locations because the temptations and distractions were greater than any 'championship focus' speech he could ever deliver. That move came a day too late, as not only did the level of confidence change, but so did the winning ways. That team would never win another game in that series, and subsequently never reach a stage that grand again (to date). As I mentioned in an earlier question, a humbling loss (or any kind for that matter) means a world of change for Pacquiao. This is not the fight he wants to let slip away. I can only hope for his sake that the movie, the commercials, and the fight camp questions are all wrapped up when it's time to really train, because if they aren't, he'll have himself to blame if his career is ("wrapped up") when this fight is over.
Darius S. (Liberty City, FL.): How do you rate Tavoris Cloud amongst the top light heavyweights after seeing his recent performance against Clinton Woods?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think at this point it's a bit tough to say, because few people have really taken notice of exactly how good Cloud is. Prior to his recent victory, only the hardcore American fight fans - (particularly in Florida) - took note of his worth, but after last weeks win against the U.K.'s Clinton Woods on national television, I think suddenly, his name will find it's way on the tip of many other tongues around the sport. I thought that he performed extremely well, and few took note of the fact that he actually entered the ring with sore throat and what I'm being told was flu-like symptoms I think shows a lot more. It wasn't an easy fight, but he dug down deep and was able to defeat a guy who came into the showdown knowing that his window of opportunity to stay relevant in the light heavyweight division was quickly closing, so I think you have to consider all those outside factors and view him as a guy on a mission. Now, where does he sit, relative to the bigger names in the division? I won't say that he's ready for a Bernard Hopkins just yet, (then again, who is), but I'd be lying if I didn't say that he'd give Dawson a very intriguing showdown, and if Dawson is victorious against Johnson in their rematch, I think clearly, Dawson/Cloud has to be made no later than Summer 2010. Both men have very good speed, both are undefeated (Dawson 27-0, 18KO's/Cloud 20-0, 18KO's), and both now hold straps in a division that has slowly heated up to a nice simmer. Granted, Cloud doesn't have the resume of Dawson, but after defeating a formidable contender like Woods, it only makes sense, as every other marquee matchup to be made in the division may require him to travel abroad, which is something that even Dawson hasn't done, yet one of the two will inevitably soon have to (more than likely). I like Cloud alot, and I think he put himself in a great position, as it relates to his status in the LHW division.
Carmelo F. (Orlando, FL): Do you think that Juan Urango can be a top player in the busy jr. welterweight division?
Vivek W. (ESB): Personally, I think Juan Urango is much closer to the thick of things than many may give him credit for. Many have taken a lot away from him after his recent loss to Berto, but Berto's speed, decent power, and raw ability - (not to mention size) - was far more to deal with than anything he would ever encounter in today's jr. welterweight division. He (Urango) isn't the fastest guy on the planet, so those with superior boxing skills and an ability to handle his body shots stand a very good chance to defeat him. Now, when you look at that list, that's where things get interesting, though, because many of the divisions big names have a few things to prove themselves. Bradley has the speed to handle him, but I'd love to see him try to handle that body banging for 12rds from a guy he can't back up because I've never seen him in with a fighter like that. Khan and Devon Alexander, same thing. Urango doesn't fight going backwards and neither of those guys have the brute strength to make him reconsider, so you have to ask yourself how many of them would really handle him coming forward hacking away all night? There are two men that I would love see face Urango at 140lbs right now, and I think it would be a great proving grounds for all three involved. Victor Ortiz....who we know has a good punch, but desperately needs this type of grind-it-out fight to try once again to show the world that he can handle a bruising type fighter who he can't knock out. My second choice would be Nate Campbell, because I think a solid performance against a fighter like this would prove to many that Campbell is easily ready for anything the division could toss at him. Campbell is also a grind-it-out type fighter, and if he can walk a guy like Urango down who typically won't fight backwards, I don't see many other guys in the division that would maintain the stamina to slow him down over the course of 12rds. It's one thing to show more speed, but speed goes away by the round when a fighter is being worn down. I think the Campbell/Urango showdown would be a great gauge - and in effect a coming out party - for whichever man emerges in that fight and I hope if Shaw and Bradley don't give Campbell his well deserved rematch, this Urango/Cambell fight happens. They're both in Florida so this may be an easy fight to make happen. We'll see what happens.
see more: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20989&more=1
by Michael S. (Brooklyn, NY): With a loss to Miguel Cotto, what do you think would be next for Manny Pacquiao?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think at this point it's tough to say. Being age 30 and having over 50 fights under his belt, there's no question that the wars have taken a huge toll on Pacquiao already. I think a humbling loss (particularly via early KO) would force many around him to push him to pack it in, as there would be little else to prove and the lust of a Mayweather showdown would be not only reduced, but somewhat stripped away, replaced instead by a mounting interest in a Mayweather/Cotto showdown. Considering Pacquiao's mega-man status in the sport, I think it would be hard to see him jumping back in line to face the current 140lb champs, but on the flipside, his ability to win at the negotiations table against marquee names would be greatly compromised as well, so it greatly distorts his options. I think there's only one other place he could look if he decides to stick around, and this option would inevitably place him right back in contention with a solid performance. That option is none other than JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ.. And I put that in all caps because that's the fight that Pacquiao said he has no interest in, (reference to his "finished business" statement after the JMM II fight), yet everyone else in the world does. This fight is a must before both men leave the sport, particularly if they both lose their pending matchups. As much sense as retirement would make, I don't know how easy it would be in the case of Pacquiao, because literally EVERYONE from the Philippines that I have talked to tells me very adamantly that they love him in the ring, but have ZERO interest in seeing him in any type of political seat, which brings about another potential challenge for him. That challenge is a loss of identity, because with little left to do in the ring and little support from his people relative to his political ventures, there will inevitably be a very tough to fill void in his life. The more I think of it, the more I realize that no matter how great things currently are, the life of Pacquiao is a very delicate one right now, and there's a thin line that could quickly take his life from sugar to another "S" word that I'm not exactly able to spell out! If he walks away from the sport, there would be no more boxing and (from what I'm hearing) no political support either....so, where would he really go? There's a lot riding on this fight for him. More than many of us thought about prior to now.
Jeremy O. (Philly, PA): Do you think Mayweather will be affected by having to weigh in at 144lbs against Marquez?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Mayweather's biggest issue coming into this fight will be the man across from him and any potential ring rust found within him. The weight, I don't see being an issue at all. Miguel Cotto is viewed by many as being a big welterweight, and even in his case, ever since becoming a welter a few years back, he has only weighed in at exactly 147lbs 3-times in 8 welterweight fights. Mayweather is very similar, only tipping the scales at 147lbs twice in four welterweight fights, not including the ODH fight which took place at 154lbs, allowing him to tip the scales at 150lbs. Contrary to popular belief, these guys aren't nearly as big as they seem. Some may argue that Cotto is, but Mayweather, I've seen in between fights on plenty of occasions and I don't think I've ever seen the guy above 155lbs. Ever! So despite the layoff of nearly two years, considering his dedication to the gym, (which he never stopped training), I don't think the loss of a few more pounds will be detrimental, although stranger things have happened. It's only my opinion, but we'll have to wait and see, perhaps.
Pierre R. (Los Angeles, CA): What do you take from the fact that Pacquiao is still filming movies and side-tracked while Cotto is already in full training mode?
Vivek W. (ESB): I take away the fact that Pacquiao is doing what he is able to do while Cotto is doing what he has to do. Remember, Cotto is the one that has to come down in weight and not allow it to be such a drastic change that it affects his bottomline performance on fight night, not Pacquiao. The average fight camp last roughly 2 months, and Pacquiao's people have already stated that he'll be done with all outside obligations no later than September 5th, giving him plenty of time to get prepared. One thing that I do have a concern about is the fact that there are so many other key issues surrounding Pacquiao prior to his camp. As of right now, he still has no idea where that camp will be held, and many of the destinations being discussed leave room for circus atmospheres and too many hanger-on's to fight off. Cancun, the Bahamas, Cebu....all great cities....and also all poor places to conduct a camp of this importance. I think words like normalcy, regularity and continuity come with a high premium, and I guess I'm not totally sold on Pacquiao having to deal with a new environment, with new elements, and new people before arguably the most career defining fight of his illustrious career. A few years ago, I was assigned to the NBA's Miami Heat (by way of Most Valuable Network), and I can remember covering the championship series when the Dallas Mavericks were up 2-0 against the Miami Heat. With only two games left to win to wrap up the series, all of a sudden, despite having all the answers for the opponent on the court, it was the outside influence that created the first level of doubt in the mind of the Mavericks head coach, forcing him to change lodging locations because the temptations and distractions were greater than any 'championship focus' speech he could ever deliver. That move came a day too late, as not only did the level of confidence change, but so did the winning ways. That team would never win another game in that series, and subsequently never reach a stage that grand again (to date). As I mentioned in an earlier question, a humbling loss (or any kind for that matter) means a world of change for Pacquiao. This is not the fight he wants to let slip away. I can only hope for his sake that the movie, the commercials, and the fight camp questions are all wrapped up when it's time to really train, because if they aren't, he'll have himself to blame if his career is ("wrapped up") when this fight is over.
Darius S. (Liberty City, FL.): How do you rate Tavoris Cloud amongst the top light heavyweights after seeing his recent performance against Clinton Woods?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think at this point it's a bit tough to say, because few people have really taken notice of exactly how good Cloud is. Prior to his recent victory, only the hardcore American fight fans - (particularly in Florida) - took note of his worth, but after last weeks win against the U.K.'s Clinton Woods on national television, I think suddenly, his name will find it's way on the tip of many other tongues around the sport. I thought that he performed extremely well, and few took note of the fact that he actually entered the ring with sore throat and what I'm being told was flu-like symptoms I think shows a lot more. It wasn't an easy fight, but he dug down deep and was able to defeat a guy who came into the showdown knowing that his window of opportunity to stay relevant in the light heavyweight division was quickly closing, so I think you have to consider all those outside factors and view him as a guy on a mission. Now, where does he sit, relative to the bigger names in the division? I won't say that he's ready for a Bernard Hopkins just yet, (then again, who is), but I'd be lying if I didn't say that he'd give Dawson a very intriguing showdown, and if Dawson is victorious against Johnson in their rematch, I think clearly, Dawson/Cloud has to be made no later than Summer 2010. Both men have very good speed, both are undefeated (Dawson 27-0, 18KO's/Cloud 20-0, 18KO's), and both now hold straps in a division that has slowly heated up to a nice simmer. Granted, Cloud doesn't have the resume of Dawson, but after defeating a formidable contender like Woods, it only makes sense, as every other marquee matchup to be made in the division may require him to travel abroad, which is something that even Dawson hasn't done, yet one of the two will inevitably soon have to (more than likely). I like Cloud alot, and I think he put himself in a great position, as it relates to his status in the LHW division.
Carmelo F. (Orlando, FL): Do you think that Juan Urango can be a top player in the busy jr. welterweight division?
Vivek W. (ESB): Personally, I think Juan Urango is much closer to the thick of things than many may give him credit for. Many have taken a lot away from him after his recent loss to Berto, but Berto's speed, decent power, and raw ability - (not to mention size) - was far more to deal with than anything he would ever encounter in today's jr. welterweight division. He (Urango) isn't the fastest guy on the planet, so those with superior boxing skills and an ability to handle his body shots stand a very good chance to defeat him. Now, when you look at that list, that's where things get interesting, though, because many of the divisions big names have a few things to prove themselves. Bradley has the speed to handle him, but I'd love to see him try to handle that body banging for 12rds from a guy he can't back up because I've never seen him in with a fighter like that. Khan and Devon Alexander, same thing. Urango doesn't fight going backwards and neither of those guys have the brute strength to make him reconsider, so you have to ask yourself how many of them would really handle him coming forward hacking away all night? There are two men that I would love see face Urango at 140lbs right now, and I think it would be a great proving grounds for all three involved. Victor Ortiz....who we know has a good punch, but desperately needs this type of grind-it-out fight to try once again to show the world that he can handle a bruising type fighter who he can't knock out. My second choice would be Nate Campbell, because I think a solid performance against a fighter like this would prove to many that Campbell is easily ready for anything the division could toss at him. Campbell is also a grind-it-out type fighter, and if he can walk a guy like Urango down who typically won't fight backwards, I don't see many other guys in the division that would maintain the stamina to slow him down over the course of 12rds. It's one thing to show more speed, but speed goes away by the round when a fighter is being worn down. I think the Campbell/Urango showdown would be a great gauge - and in effect a coming out party - for whichever man emerges in that fight and I hope if Shaw and Bradley don't give Campbell his well deserved rematch, this Urango/Cambell fight happens. They're both in Florida so this may be an easy fight to make happen. We'll see what happens.
see more: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20989&more=1
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
ON DECK: THE COTTO/PACQUIAO PRESS CONFERENCE
Read on if you want news on Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto's press conference:
You’ve probably seen black and white photos of the old Yankee Stadium, frozen moments of sports history that speak of another time. Spectators in suits. Lit cigars. A haze of romance under the bright lights. And in some photographs, a boxing ring replaces the infield, two men replace nine. Benny Leonard. Jack Dempsey. Henry Armstrong. Willy Pep. Joe Louis. Sugar Ray Robinson. Rocky Marciano. Muhammad Ali. These boxing icons all showcased their talent at the house that Ruth built. And on these long-ago fight nights, polite pinstripes were absent. Present were two men, torsos exposed, fighting for their reputations and their lives.
On September 10th at the new Yankee Stadium, a fight wasn’t held, but a press conference was. Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao were in New York City hyping their November 14th showdown, which will happen in Las Vegas at the house that MGM built. This mega-fight, between the current pound-for-pound best against one of the toughest, smartest and most resilient fighters in the sport, promises to be a classic. Pacquiao is brutal aggression. Cotto is brutal counter-aggression. It’s a styles-make-fights formula that has fans looking past Marquez/Mayweather.
The usual press conference table, dais in the center, name cards blowing in the Bronx breeze, was set up on the first base side of the field. On the mega-screen in centerfield, clips of past Cotto and Pacquiao fights felt like background noise while the press talked and waited. A whole seating section of fans had come out too, Puerto Rican flags and Yankee caps shouting out allegiances.
Bob Arum entered first, followed by an assortment of suit-and-ties who postured tough despite smooth faces. Then came Freddy Roach and the crowd erupted for one of the premier trainers in the game. Roach was dressed casually, jeans and a green polo shirt, just another press conference to get through before the real work begins.
The Yankees rep stepped up to the dais first and welcomed everyone to the new stadium, read off a list of boxing greats who’d fought in the old stadium, and ran down the numbers. Twenty-nine fight cards. Eight Joe Louis fights, including the second Louis/Schemling bout. When Pacquiao was mentioned, the crowd booed, but this harsh reception was laced with good humor, the press conference too far from fight time to produce real malice. When Cotto was mentioned, the crowd cheered.
Bob Arum spoke next and called out the fighters one at a time. The visiting Pacquiao entered first, also in jeans, also wearing a green shirt, the same color as his WBC belts. Green is the color of youth and Pacquiao is actually the older fighter by two years, but his ring wear, despite a face that is more scarred than Cotto’s, is not so great. In his last fights, Pacquiao steamrolled De La Hoya and Hatton. In Cotto’s last fights, he sustained Margarito’s plaster-enforced damage and Clottey’s often vicious attack. Pac Man seemed genuinely happy to be here and when someone from the crowd yelled, “Cotto’s gonna fuck him up” in fine Yankee-fan form, Pacquiao laughed a wide-open, genuine laugh, an unconcerned man on a late summer’s day. Cotto entered the field next and, as always, he was dressed for business, a tie around his neck. Each fighter was given a personalized Yankee jersey to wear and Arum’s short speech was done.
Melvina Lathan, New York’s new boxing commissioner, spoke briefly. Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, spoke next and dubbed the new Yankee Stadium the house that Jeter built. Then a bigwig from the MGM Casino. Then a woman representing Tecate beer, the chief sponsor. And then Freddy Roach stepped up to the mike. Finally, the empty welcomes were done and the corporate nods nodded.
“This will be a great fight,” Roach said. “I’m getting Manny ready for the toughest fight of his life. On the 14th Manny will be ready.”
Cotto and Pacquiao were equally brief.
“I’m happy to be here,” Manny Pacquiao said. “This is my first time in Yankee Stadium. This fight is going to be a great, great fight. I’m excited and happy. I know Miguel Cotto is bigger than me and stronger, but I will do my best. He is a nice boxer and a good man. Don’t worry. I will train hard for this fight.”
Cotto, always soft spoken and quietly eloquent, finished his quick remarks with, “I heard what Bob Arum said before presenting Manny Pacquiao. The guy who stopped Oscar De La Hoya. The guy who stopped Ricky Hatton. I’m not Oscar De la Hoya. I’m not Ricky Hatton. I’m going to do my best.”
And that was that. The fighters posed for the cameras, did their face-to-face stare down and, when it was done, Cotto shook Pacquiao’s hand, always polite, always “nice” and “good” outside the ring, and the official press conference ended. Perhaps this really was the house that Jeter built. Everyone’s comments were as homogenized as a Derek Jeter interview. But like Jeter, these two men come to play and play hard. The fighters were asked to move on to their respective dugouts. In the home team dugout, the camera crews waited for their television interviews. The writers were assigned the visitor’s dugout. Very symbolic.
I joined the circle of reporters around Freddy Roach who stayed on the open field. Like all great teachers, Freddy Roach always has a lesson plan ready and as he fielded questions it was evident he’d already prepared his next training-camp term. Roach is clearly impressed by Pacquiao’s speed and strength and heart and work ethic. He is also clearly impressed by how tough this test will be. On the subject of Cotto, Roach said, “This is one hundred percent Manny’s toughest fight. He (Cotto) is strong. He is physical. He’s not old like Oscar De La Hoya. He’s in his prime.” But Manny is a special breed of fighter and despite his celebrity status in the Philippines where he’s a literal movie star, Roach was certain that his charge would take nothing for granted. “He is never over confident. He respects everyone. He trains his ass off. He’s the greatest workhorse I’ve ever seen. Once he gets to camp, he’s a machine.”
Press conferences can’t tell you much. You can watch the fighters as they pose in their stare down and assess how they match up in size. Toe to toe and eyes to eyes, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao look like equals. Experts keep talking about Cotto’s size advantage, and he’s certainly the more natural welterweight, but with their clothes on two months before the fight, there’s no apparent advantage for the champion from Puerto Rico. The big visual differences are Manny’s block-shaped head designed to absorb punishment without effect and Cotto’s sloping shoulders, suggesting the kind of deceptive power reminiscent of slope-shouldered Yankee great Don Mattingly. I suppose you can rate the fighters on eloquence at a press conference, but in the ring words mean squat. Perhaps that’s why these two veterans kept their official remarks short and relatively sweet. The odds for the fight are -250 for Pacquiao and for this fight I agree with the oddsmakers, who are rarely wrong. Asked about the bout’s final outcome, each fighter refused to make a specific prediction. Freddy Roach picked his man by decision. “We don’t think we’ll knock Cotto out,” Freddy said. “But we think we’ll win every round.” Bold words from a man who has consistently backed up his words.
Perhaps I’m being overly bold, but I see the fight ending inside the distance. Cotto is a great fighter and I’m a fan, but I saw vulnerability in Cotto’s physical and mental strength when he fought Clottey and I keep picturing Manny, the machine from the Philippines, ripping Hatton’s head off. True, Cotto is no Hatton. True, Cotto is no De La Hoya. But when the pound-for-pound best, with no indication that his crescendo has peaked, fights a man on his way down, if only slightly, the results can be brutal. I see Pacquiao out boxing Cotto, out punching Cotto and busting Cotto up. By round nine, the ref will wave it off.
They don’t fight at Yankee Stadium any more. Yankee Stadium isn’t even Yankee Stadium. The new version is more Hard Rock Cafe capitalism than baseball anyway—when bleacher seats cost forty bucks, when a blue-collar family of four hoping to watch their yuppie team play ball can’t afford a hot dog, something is very wrong. Perhaps the good old days were not so good, but the new days are greedy. Ticket prices will be astronomical for the Cotto/Pacquiao fight in Vegas, but at least there will be no distractions. No Seventh Inning stretches. No bombardments of advertising on a mammoth centerfield screen. No blaring music. No blimps for hire circling the sky. There are rumors that one day soon there will be another mega-fight held at Yankee Stadium, but like a cynical New Yorker, I’ll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, two great fighters, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao, did speak at Yankee Stadium, albeit briefly. These two men, throwbacks in that they are fighters with true boxing skill, will fight in living color on November 14th. And at some time during that Las Vegas night, I hope at least one photographer will take a black and white shot of these two pugilists who, had they lived in another generation, would have been worthy of an old Yankee Stadium war.
more from here http://www.15rounds.com/on-deck-the-cottopacquiao-press-conference-091009/
You’ve probably seen black and white photos of the old Yankee Stadium, frozen moments of sports history that speak of another time. Spectators in suits. Lit cigars. A haze of romance under the bright lights. And in some photographs, a boxing ring replaces the infield, two men replace nine. Benny Leonard. Jack Dempsey. Henry Armstrong. Willy Pep. Joe Louis. Sugar Ray Robinson. Rocky Marciano. Muhammad Ali. These boxing icons all showcased their talent at the house that Ruth built. And on these long-ago fight nights, polite pinstripes were absent. Present were two men, torsos exposed, fighting for their reputations and their lives.
On September 10th at the new Yankee Stadium, a fight wasn’t held, but a press conference was. Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao were in New York City hyping their November 14th showdown, which will happen in Las Vegas at the house that MGM built. This mega-fight, between the current pound-for-pound best against one of the toughest, smartest and most resilient fighters in the sport, promises to be a classic. Pacquiao is brutal aggression. Cotto is brutal counter-aggression. It’s a styles-make-fights formula that has fans looking past Marquez/Mayweather.
The usual press conference table, dais in the center, name cards blowing in the Bronx breeze, was set up on the first base side of the field. On the mega-screen in centerfield, clips of past Cotto and Pacquiao fights felt like background noise while the press talked and waited. A whole seating section of fans had come out too, Puerto Rican flags and Yankee caps shouting out allegiances.
Bob Arum entered first, followed by an assortment of suit-and-ties who postured tough despite smooth faces. Then came Freddy Roach and the crowd erupted for one of the premier trainers in the game. Roach was dressed casually, jeans and a green polo shirt, just another press conference to get through before the real work begins.
The Yankees rep stepped up to the dais first and welcomed everyone to the new stadium, read off a list of boxing greats who’d fought in the old stadium, and ran down the numbers. Twenty-nine fight cards. Eight Joe Louis fights, including the second Louis/Schemling bout. When Pacquiao was mentioned, the crowd booed, but this harsh reception was laced with good humor, the press conference too far from fight time to produce real malice. When Cotto was mentioned, the crowd cheered.
Bob Arum spoke next and called out the fighters one at a time. The visiting Pacquiao entered first, also in jeans, also wearing a green shirt, the same color as his WBC belts. Green is the color of youth and Pacquiao is actually the older fighter by two years, but his ring wear, despite a face that is more scarred than Cotto’s, is not so great. In his last fights, Pacquiao steamrolled De La Hoya and Hatton. In Cotto’s last fights, he sustained Margarito’s plaster-enforced damage and Clottey’s often vicious attack. Pac Man seemed genuinely happy to be here and when someone from the crowd yelled, “Cotto’s gonna fuck him up” in fine Yankee-fan form, Pacquiao laughed a wide-open, genuine laugh, an unconcerned man on a late summer’s day. Cotto entered the field next and, as always, he was dressed for business, a tie around his neck. Each fighter was given a personalized Yankee jersey to wear and Arum’s short speech was done.
Melvina Lathan, New York’s new boxing commissioner, spoke briefly. Ross Greenburg, president of HBO Sports, spoke next and dubbed the new Yankee Stadium the house that Jeter built. Then a bigwig from the MGM Casino. Then a woman representing Tecate beer, the chief sponsor. And then Freddy Roach stepped up to the mike. Finally, the empty welcomes were done and the corporate nods nodded.
“This will be a great fight,” Roach said. “I’m getting Manny ready for the toughest fight of his life. On the 14th Manny will be ready.”
Cotto and Pacquiao were equally brief.
“I’m happy to be here,” Manny Pacquiao said. “This is my first time in Yankee Stadium. This fight is going to be a great, great fight. I’m excited and happy. I know Miguel Cotto is bigger than me and stronger, but I will do my best. He is a nice boxer and a good man. Don’t worry. I will train hard for this fight.”
Cotto, always soft spoken and quietly eloquent, finished his quick remarks with, “I heard what Bob Arum said before presenting Manny Pacquiao. The guy who stopped Oscar De La Hoya. The guy who stopped Ricky Hatton. I’m not Oscar De la Hoya. I’m not Ricky Hatton. I’m going to do my best.”
And that was that. The fighters posed for the cameras, did their face-to-face stare down and, when it was done, Cotto shook Pacquiao’s hand, always polite, always “nice” and “good” outside the ring, and the official press conference ended. Perhaps this really was the house that Jeter built. Everyone’s comments were as homogenized as a Derek Jeter interview. But like Jeter, these two men come to play and play hard. The fighters were asked to move on to their respective dugouts. In the home team dugout, the camera crews waited for their television interviews. The writers were assigned the visitor’s dugout. Very symbolic.
I joined the circle of reporters around Freddy Roach who stayed on the open field. Like all great teachers, Freddy Roach always has a lesson plan ready and as he fielded questions it was evident he’d already prepared his next training-camp term. Roach is clearly impressed by Pacquiao’s speed and strength and heart and work ethic. He is also clearly impressed by how tough this test will be. On the subject of Cotto, Roach said, “This is one hundred percent Manny’s toughest fight. He (Cotto) is strong. He is physical. He’s not old like Oscar De La Hoya. He’s in his prime.” But Manny is a special breed of fighter and despite his celebrity status in the Philippines where he’s a literal movie star, Roach was certain that his charge would take nothing for granted. “He is never over confident. He respects everyone. He trains his ass off. He’s the greatest workhorse I’ve ever seen. Once he gets to camp, he’s a machine.”
Press conferences can’t tell you much. You can watch the fighters as they pose in their stare down and assess how they match up in size. Toe to toe and eyes to eyes, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao look like equals. Experts keep talking about Cotto’s size advantage, and he’s certainly the more natural welterweight, but with their clothes on two months before the fight, there’s no apparent advantage for the champion from Puerto Rico. The big visual differences are Manny’s block-shaped head designed to absorb punishment without effect and Cotto’s sloping shoulders, suggesting the kind of deceptive power reminiscent of slope-shouldered Yankee great Don Mattingly. I suppose you can rate the fighters on eloquence at a press conference, but in the ring words mean squat. Perhaps that’s why these two veterans kept their official remarks short and relatively sweet. The odds for the fight are -250 for Pacquiao and for this fight I agree with the oddsmakers, who are rarely wrong. Asked about the bout’s final outcome, each fighter refused to make a specific prediction. Freddy Roach picked his man by decision. “We don’t think we’ll knock Cotto out,” Freddy said. “But we think we’ll win every round.” Bold words from a man who has consistently backed up his words.
Perhaps I’m being overly bold, but I see the fight ending inside the distance. Cotto is a great fighter and I’m a fan, but I saw vulnerability in Cotto’s physical and mental strength when he fought Clottey and I keep picturing Manny, the machine from the Philippines, ripping Hatton’s head off. True, Cotto is no Hatton. True, Cotto is no De La Hoya. But when the pound-for-pound best, with no indication that his crescendo has peaked, fights a man on his way down, if only slightly, the results can be brutal. I see Pacquiao out boxing Cotto, out punching Cotto and busting Cotto up. By round nine, the ref will wave it off.
They don’t fight at Yankee Stadium any more. Yankee Stadium isn’t even Yankee Stadium. The new version is more Hard Rock Cafe capitalism than baseball anyway—when bleacher seats cost forty bucks, when a blue-collar family of four hoping to watch their yuppie team play ball can’t afford a hot dog, something is very wrong. Perhaps the good old days were not so good, but the new days are greedy. Ticket prices will be astronomical for the Cotto/Pacquiao fight in Vegas, but at least there will be no distractions. No Seventh Inning stretches. No bombardments of advertising on a mammoth centerfield screen. No blaring music. No blimps for hire circling the sky. There are rumors that one day soon there will be another mega-fight held at Yankee Stadium, but like a cynical New Yorker, I’ll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, two great fighters, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao, did speak at Yankee Stadium, albeit briefly. These two men, throwbacks in that they are fighters with true boxing skill, will fight in living color on November 14th. And at some time during that Las Vegas night, I hope at least one photographer will take a black and white shot of these two pugilists who, had they lived in another generation, would have been worthy of an old Yankee Stadium war.
more from here http://www.15rounds.com/on-deck-the-cottopacquiao-press-conference-091009/
If Miguel Cotto's shot, Manny Pacquiao will let us know
a commentary on the Pacquiao-Cotto fight:
For all the talk we've done here about the November 14 encounter between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, I've done my absolute best to stay way away from the "Miguel Cotto is a changed fighter" talk, and certainly haven't touched the "Miguel Cotto is shot" talk. The former may be true in some respects, and I personally feel that the latter is foolish. I've said repeatedly that those underestimating Cotto are way too quick to count out the Puerto Rican warrior, who won a good, hard and close fight against Joshua Clottey in June.
But I will say this, as I've certainly been wrong before and undoubtedly will be again: If Miguel Cotto is a reeling fighter, then Manny Pacquiao is exactly the guy to cement that idea.
After all, Pacquiao has a pretty strong record of putting the finishing touches, so to speak, on great careers. No less than four superstar fighters have essentially been put out to pasture by the Filipino icon this decade.
The first of the four was Mexico's Erik Morales, Pacquiao's second-greatest rival and one of the most gutsy, courageous fighters of his generation. When we say someone "fights like a Mexican," Morales is exactly the type of guy who employed the style we're talking about. He had boxing skills, but he was easily drawn into firefights. In their first bout back in 2005, Morales beat Pacquiao (115-113 across the board) with a phenomenal performance. It was also the last "real" Erik Morales performance we'd ever see.
In his next fight, Morales was stunned by Zahir Raheem, losing a 12-round decision, and then he rematched Pacquiao. This time, it was the younger, stronger Pacquiao that really gut-checked Morales, eventually stopping him in the 10th round. It was a hell of a fight, just as their first bout had been, but it was clear who the better man was, too. They fought once more in November 2006, with Pacquiao completely dominating and overwhelming Morales, winning by third round TKO.
The second man was Morales' greatest rival, Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao fought Barrera in 2003, coming in as a pretty heavy underdog for most, a fairly one-dimensional slugger with good speed and an awkward southpaw style. He was a one-handed fighter at the time. And that night, he tore Barrera to pieces before the Mexican's corner mercifully stopped the bout in the 11th round.
Morales fought once more, moving up to lightweight and losing a competitive scrap to David Diaz. He now intends to come back, but his relevant career is almost certainly finished.
In 2007, Pacquiao and Barrera fought again, and this time Barrera was the heavy underdog. He was coming off of a loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, a fight that was far closer than it was scored, but Pacquiao-Barrera II just never sizzled. It failed to truly captivate the interest of the fans, as the obvious true desire was for Pacquiao-Marquez II. Barrera also announced prior to the fight that it would be his last, and come fight night, he fought like a man simply there to earn one more good paycheck and not get himself embarrassed or knocked out. He lost a wide decision, fighting tentatively until swiping Pacquiao with a blatant cheap shot late in the fight.
Barrera, of course, also came back from retirement, making an ill-advised move to 135 pounds. It has not gone well, and his career, too, is now simply active instead of relevant.
Number three: Oscar de la Hoya. No question Oscar was weight-drained, out of shape, and far past his prime. But Pacquiao did what no one else had ever been able to do: He completely dominated de la Hoya to the point where Oscar had no choice but to swallow his pride, get off his stool, and quit. Even when Bernard Hopkins knocked Oscar out with a wicked body punch years ago, Oscar tried with all he had to get up off the mat and keep going. In that case, he physically couldn't do it. In this case, Pacquiao destroyed him physically and mentally.
Oscar retired from the ring after his loss to Pacquiao.
And then the fourth, obviously, is Ricky Hatton. Hatton is hinting that he's going to fight again, but he's never going to be the same guy. I do think in my gut that Ricky can still compete at a high level against most guys at 140 pounds, but would it shock me if he went out and wound up getting beaten by a much lesser-regarded fighter? No, it wouldn't. Pacquiao definitely took something from Hatton in May.
I'm not saying that Manny Pacquiao is the sole reason these guys retired. Oscar was aged and had done everything he was ever going to do in boxing as an active competitor. Morales and Hatton were both in their prime athletic years, but Morales in particular had already taken a lot of punishment over his legendary career, and Hatton had taken his fair share of lumps, too. Barrera simply seemed to lack any desire.
But in every case, there were two commons: Manny Pacquiao and whispers (sometimes much more) that Manny's opponent simply wasn't the fighter he used to be. Pacquiao's last two fights with Morales, the rematch with Barrera, the mega fights with Oscar and Ricky; every single one of them involved a guy that a good portion of folks thought was toast, or close to it.
Miguel Cotto has heard the same talk since his July 2008 loss to Antonio Margarito. Yes, there's a ton of controversy surrounding that fight now, but it doesn't change the physical effects it may well have had on Cotto, which could still be taking a toll on him. There are also the mental problems it may have introduced. He didn't look trigger-shy at all against a clearly overmatched Michael Jennings, but there are two ways to look at the Clottey fight. The first is he fought smart and with a bad cut that came from a headbutt, winning in a fine performance. That's how I prefer to see it.
But there are also those that really feel Miguel didn't look very good against Clottey and lacked that killer instinct he used to have.
If it's not there for Miguel Cotto the way it used to be, we're going to find out. Clottey may be a bigger, physically stronger guy than Manny, but one thing he doesn't have that Pacquiao does is that killer instinct, that finishing ability. Manny comes to finish fights, and a Cotto that isn't ready for that type of fighter anymore would be a Cotto in very big trouble on November 14.
see more from here http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/8/31/1008697/if-miguel-cottos-shot-manny
For all the talk we've done here about the November 14 encounter between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, I've done my absolute best to stay way away from the "Miguel Cotto is a changed fighter" talk, and certainly haven't touched the "Miguel Cotto is shot" talk. The former may be true in some respects, and I personally feel that the latter is foolish. I've said repeatedly that those underestimating Cotto are way too quick to count out the Puerto Rican warrior, who won a good, hard and close fight against Joshua Clottey in June.
But I will say this, as I've certainly been wrong before and undoubtedly will be again: If Miguel Cotto is a reeling fighter, then Manny Pacquiao is exactly the guy to cement that idea.
After all, Pacquiao has a pretty strong record of putting the finishing touches, so to speak, on great careers. No less than four superstar fighters have essentially been put out to pasture by the Filipino icon this decade.
The first of the four was Mexico's Erik Morales, Pacquiao's second-greatest rival and one of the most gutsy, courageous fighters of his generation. When we say someone "fights like a Mexican," Morales is exactly the type of guy who employed the style we're talking about. He had boxing skills, but he was easily drawn into firefights. In their first bout back in 2005, Morales beat Pacquiao (115-113 across the board) with a phenomenal performance. It was also the last "real" Erik Morales performance we'd ever see.
In his next fight, Morales was stunned by Zahir Raheem, losing a 12-round decision, and then he rematched Pacquiao. This time, it was the younger, stronger Pacquiao that really gut-checked Morales, eventually stopping him in the 10th round. It was a hell of a fight, just as their first bout had been, but it was clear who the better man was, too. They fought once more in November 2006, with Pacquiao completely dominating and overwhelming Morales, winning by third round TKO.
The second man was Morales' greatest rival, Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao fought Barrera in 2003, coming in as a pretty heavy underdog for most, a fairly one-dimensional slugger with good speed and an awkward southpaw style. He was a one-handed fighter at the time. And that night, he tore Barrera to pieces before the Mexican's corner mercifully stopped the bout in the 11th round.
Morales fought once more, moving up to lightweight and losing a competitive scrap to David Diaz. He now intends to come back, but his relevant career is almost certainly finished.
In 2007, Pacquiao and Barrera fought again, and this time Barrera was the heavy underdog. He was coming off of a loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, a fight that was far closer than it was scored, but Pacquiao-Barrera II just never sizzled. It failed to truly captivate the interest of the fans, as the obvious true desire was for Pacquiao-Marquez II. Barrera also announced prior to the fight that it would be his last, and come fight night, he fought like a man simply there to earn one more good paycheck and not get himself embarrassed or knocked out. He lost a wide decision, fighting tentatively until swiping Pacquiao with a blatant cheap shot late in the fight.
Barrera, of course, also came back from retirement, making an ill-advised move to 135 pounds. It has not gone well, and his career, too, is now simply active instead of relevant.
Number three: Oscar de la Hoya. No question Oscar was weight-drained, out of shape, and far past his prime. But Pacquiao did what no one else had ever been able to do: He completely dominated de la Hoya to the point where Oscar had no choice but to swallow his pride, get off his stool, and quit. Even when Bernard Hopkins knocked Oscar out with a wicked body punch years ago, Oscar tried with all he had to get up off the mat and keep going. In that case, he physically couldn't do it. In this case, Pacquiao destroyed him physically and mentally.
Oscar retired from the ring after his loss to Pacquiao.
And then the fourth, obviously, is Ricky Hatton. Hatton is hinting that he's going to fight again, but he's never going to be the same guy. I do think in my gut that Ricky can still compete at a high level against most guys at 140 pounds, but would it shock me if he went out and wound up getting beaten by a much lesser-regarded fighter? No, it wouldn't. Pacquiao definitely took something from Hatton in May.
I'm not saying that Manny Pacquiao is the sole reason these guys retired. Oscar was aged and had done everything he was ever going to do in boxing as an active competitor. Morales and Hatton were both in their prime athletic years, but Morales in particular had already taken a lot of punishment over his legendary career, and Hatton had taken his fair share of lumps, too. Barrera simply seemed to lack any desire.
But in every case, there were two commons: Manny Pacquiao and whispers (sometimes much more) that Manny's opponent simply wasn't the fighter he used to be. Pacquiao's last two fights with Morales, the rematch with Barrera, the mega fights with Oscar and Ricky; every single one of them involved a guy that a good portion of folks thought was toast, or close to it.
Miguel Cotto has heard the same talk since his July 2008 loss to Antonio Margarito. Yes, there's a ton of controversy surrounding that fight now, but it doesn't change the physical effects it may well have had on Cotto, which could still be taking a toll on him. There are also the mental problems it may have introduced. He didn't look trigger-shy at all against a clearly overmatched Michael Jennings, but there are two ways to look at the Clottey fight. The first is he fought smart and with a bad cut that came from a headbutt, winning in a fine performance. That's how I prefer to see it.
But there are also those that really feel Miguel didn't look very good against Clottey and lacked that killer instinct he used to have.
If it's not there for Miguel Cotto the way it used to be, we're going to find out. Clottey may be a bigger, physically stronger guy than Manny, but one thing he doesn't have that Pacquiao does is that killer instinct, that finishing ability. Manny comes to finish fights, and a Cotto that isn't ready for that type of fighter anymore would be a Cotto in very big trouble on November 14.
see more from here http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/8/31/1008697/if-miguel-cottos-shot-manny
Friday, September 11, 2009
Fighters, Fans, and Pay-Per-View
Here's an interesting article about Pacquiao's fights:
By Michael Herron:
Finally, the autumn has arrived and the two most highly anticipated fights of the year are at hand, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto. Fight fans have long discussed and debated the outcome of these fights but it is the “making of” these contests that has shook up the boxing world. Typically, boxing promotions revolve around fighters and their promoters arguing why their fighter and/or company is the best, why you should tune in, buy tickets, order the pay-per-view, etc…True boxing fans, casual and diehards, generally care less about sales and marketing and more about in the ring action but ironically when it comes to these two fights, boxing fans seemingly are less concerned about the actual fight as they are with final pay-per-view sales..
In regards to these two fights, websites and boxing forums from around the world have received endless streams of articles, interviews, chats, and blogs full of facts and opinions. By lending an ear to the fans and researching their opinions it is clear that a battle line has been drawn between those who support the pay-per-view drawing power of Pacquiao vs. that of Mayweather. Based on the comments of many who support Pacquiao it is clear that they want the September 19th Mayweather-Marquez event to fail financially. They have put in a lot of work towards convincing anyone on the fence to not buy this fight. They say Marquez is too small, he is handpicked, he has never fought at welterweight, etc…while at the same time they ignore that Mayweather has been retired for two years, will certainly have rust, was called out by Marquez and agreed to a catch weight below 147. Most importantly, those against this contest conveniently ignore that Marquez is universally regarded as the #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world; simply put, this is no tune-up.
The Mayweather-Marquez event has several positive components going for it; what is fascinating however is how those who are against this fight take its positives and attempt to turn them into negatives. For instance, many fans have long complained about purchasing pay-per-views that do not have an attractive undercard. This event however does not have that problem; it will showcase not only pound-for-pound stars Mayweather and Marquez but will also feature the rematch of WBA featherweight champion Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez and the always exciting Michael Katsidis vs. Vicente Escobedo. According to the anti-fans, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) only stacked the card with great fights because they are afraid Mayweather can’t draw. Well if this is the case then I hope no fighter ever becomes a draw again because according to this logic we only get a great card because the headliner can’t draw.
Also, GBP announced that the Mayweather-Marquez fight will be shown in movie theaters across the country. While this is without a doubt one of the best things that has happened to boxing recently, the anti-fans again have attempted to turn this into a negative stating, “They only showing it in theaters cause their afraid no one will buy the pay-per-view.” So again, according to this logic, fear of Mayweather’s inability to draw has brought big fights back to theaters; therefore it appears to this writer that we should thank the so-called non drawing power of Mayweather rather than criticize it.
In contrast, though every true boxing fan should be excited about Pacquiao vs. Cotto, Top Rank’s proposed undercard featuring Yuri Forman vs. Daniel Santos does not come close to matching the GBP offering. Also, the only innovation currently associated with this bout is the creation of a WBC Diamond Belt, which is precisely what the boxing world does not need, another belt. With that said however, there is not nearly as many fans if any at all, criticizing or hoping for Pacquiao-Cotto to fail financially. Perhaps this means that fans are happy with this fight alone regardless of the undercard or maybe this only proves that Mayweather has some of the most dedicated anti-fans in the sport, or as their called in the boxing world, haters.
Though any discussion of boxing is good, why fight fans are dedicating so much energy in debating pay-per-view sales makes one wonder if they believe their getting a cut of the profits. My ultimate goal for both of these fights is simply to add another great fight to my collection, and perhaps even engage in a healthy debate or two regarding who is the best pound-for-pound. The fact of the matter is if fans want to see the biggest fight that can be made “Mayweather vs. Pacquiao” then it may be wise to support their current assignments.
Ultimately, these fights are a win-win for the sport of boxing and the fans, why anyone who claims they are true boxing fans would hope for any of these events to fail is ridiculous. Only Dana White of the UFC, who will be going up against Mayweather-Marquez on September 19th, should be wishing with fingers crossed that no one will take interest in this bout. If his wish indeed comes true then it will not be the fans of UFC he should thank but boxing fans themselves who have willingly shunned their own sport. Keep it up and we will soon be watching boxing’s funeral, if you can’t be there live, I am sure you can catch it on pay-per-view.
see more here: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20990&more=1
By Michael Herron:
Finally, the autumn has arrived and the two most highly anticipated fights of the year are at hand, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto. Fight fans have long discussed and debated the outcome of these fights but it is the “making of” these contests that has shook up the boxing world. Typically, boxing promotions revolve around fighters and their promoters arguing why their fighter and/or company is the best, why you should tune in, buy tickets, order the pay-per-view, etc…True boxing fans, casual and diehards, generally care less about sales and marketing and more about in the ring action but ironically when it comes to these two fights, boxing fans seemingly are less concerned about the actual fight as they are with final pay-per-view sales..
In regards to these two fights, websites and boxing forums from around the world have received endless streams of articles, interviews, chats, and blogs full of facts and opinions. By lending an ear to the fans and researching their opinions it is clear that a battle line has been drawn between those who support the pay-per-view drawing power of Pacquiao vs. that of Mayweather. Based on the comments of many who support Pacquiao it is clear that they want the September 19th Mayweather-Marquez event to fail financially. They have put in a lot of work towards convincing anyone on the fence to not buy this fight. They say Marquez is too small, he is handpicked, he has never fought at welterweight, etc…while at the same time they ignore that Mayweather has been retired for two years, will certainly have rust, was called out by Marquez and agreed to a catch weight below 147. Most importantly, those against this contest conveniently ignore that Marquez is universally regarded as the #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world; simply put, this is no tune-up.
The Mayweather-Marquez event has several positive components going for it; what is fascinating however is how those who are against this fight take its positives and attempt to turn them into negatives. For instance, many fans have long complained about purchasing pay-per-views that do not have an attractive undercard. This event however does not have that problem; it will showcase not only pound-for-pound stars Mayweather and Marquez but will also feature the rematch of WBA featherweight champion Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez and the always exciting Michael Katsidis vs. Vicente Escobedo. According to the anti-fans, Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) only stacked the card with great fights because they are afraid Mayweather can’t draw. Well if this is the case then I hope no fighter ever becomes a draw again because according to this logic we only get a great card because the headliner can’t draw.
Also, GBP announced that the Mayweather-Marquez fight will be shown in movie theaters across the country. While this is without a doubt one of the best things that has happened to boxing recently, the anti-fans again have attempted to turn this into a negative stating, “They only showing it in theaters cause their afraid no one will buy the pay-per-view.” So again, according to this logic, fear of Mayweather’s inability to draw has brought big fights back to theaters; therefore it appears to this writer that we should thank the so-called non drawing power of Mayweather rather than criticize it.
In contrast, though every true boxing fan should be excited about Pacquiao vs. Cotto, Top Rank’s proposed undercard featuring Yuri Forman vs. Daniel Santos does not come close to matching the GBP offering. Also, the only innovation currently associated with this bout is the creation of a WBC Diamond Belt, which is precisely what the boxing world does not need, another belt. With that said however, there is not nearly as many fans if any at all, criticizing or hoping for Pacquiao-Cotto to fail financially. Perhaps this means that fans are happy with this fight alone regardless of the undercard or maybe this only proves that Mayweather has some of the most dedicated anti-fans in the sport, or as their called in the boxing world, haters.
Though any discussion of boxing is good, why fight fans are dedicating so much energy in debating pay-per-view sales makes one wonder if they believe their getting a cut of the profits. My ultimate goal for both of these fights is simply to add another great fight to my collection, and perhaps even engage in a healthy debate or two regarding who is the best pound-for-pound. The fact of the matter is if fans want to see the biggest fight that can be made “Mayweather vs. Pacquiao” then it may be wise to support their current assignments.
Ultimately, these fights are a win-win for the sport of boxing and the fans, why anyone who claims they are true boxing fans would hope for any of these events to fail is ridiculous. Only Dana White of the UFC, who will be going up against Mayweather-Marquez on September 19th, should be wishing with fingers crossed that no one will take interest in this bout. If his wish indeed comes true then it will not be the fans of UFC he should thank but boxing fans themselves who have willingly shunned their own sport. Keep it up and we will soon be watching boxing’s funeral, if you can’t be there live, I am sure you can catch it on pay-per-view.
see more here: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=20990&more=1
Monday, September 7, 2009
Pacquiao-Cotto To Be in a 20-Foot Ring, Says Arum
Arum says ring size will be no more than 20. read on for more details.
By Rick Reeno
Contrary to the information coming from Joe Santiago, trainer for WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, the size of the ring for Cotto's fight against Manny Pacquiao on November 14 will be no more than 20 feet. The regulations per the Nevada State Athletic Commission clearly state that every boxing match must be fought in a 20 foot ring, no more and no less. Santiago told Puerto Rican paper Primera Hora that Pacquiao's people requested a 24 foot ring.
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told BoxingScene.com that a promoter(s) can apply for an exception but they probably would not get it.
"That's correct. [The fight] has to be in a 20 foot ring. Any promoter can ask for an exception but they probably wouldn't get it. Nobody has asked for a 24 foot ring in this fight," Kizer said.
Top Rank's Bob Arum, promoter for both Cotto and Pacquiao, has no idea where the information first started but says it's not true.
Arum, who handled the negotiations for both sides, told BoxingScene that neither camp brought up the issue of ring size. Even if Pacquiao wanted a larger ring, he couldn't get it per the regulations in the state of Nevada.
"I don't know where this came from but it's not true. In the state of Nevada, you have to use a 20 foot ring," Arum said.
see more news here: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=21918
Pacquiao vs Cotto: Large Ring Means Manny Will Box
here's a news on the 24-foot ring that Manny will use for their fight:
By Mark Vester
It's been revealed that a 24-foot ring will be used for the November 14 bout between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao. The ring size was requested by Team Pacquiao during the negotiations. It lays out the battle plan of Pacquiao to stick and move, jump in with combinations and jump right out before Cotto can counter.
Manny is going to play it smart and stay away from Cotto's biggest advantage, his power. Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago knows the ring size will be a big advantage for Manny but they are training on tactics to cut off the ring and close the distance on Pacquiao.
"Among the things that were being discussed during the negotiations for the fight, the Pacquiao's people were asking a ring that measures 24 feet. That would give the Filipino the advantage, but we are going to prepare Miguel in such a way that he will be able to cut off the ring," Santiago told Primera Hora. "Miguel is the stronger fighter and that is going to benefit us to get the win on November 14."
more from here: http://www.boxingscene.com/index.php?m=show&id=21917
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