Pacquiao Picks up Where Margarito Left Off!
“PacMan” / Cotto Round by Round!
By:Arthur Bailey (SBB)
November 14th, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada: Manny Pacquiao, 50-3-2, 38Ko’s cemented his mark in boxing history winning his seventh title in seven separate weight classes out smarting, out boxing and out punching WBO Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, 34-2, 27Ko’s
The “PacMan” rocked the champion several times, flooring the Puerto Rican star twice before banging him around the ring convincing the champion to run and survive. Pacquiao played it smart taking his time using pin point power punching battering the bruised former champion around the ring reminiscence of his eleven round TKO loss to Margarito. Pacquiao cornered Cotto loading up with two exploding left hands forcing referee Kenny Bayless to stop the slaughter at 2:05 of round twelve the same time of his eleven round TKO loss to Antonio “Hands of Plaster”Margarito in their July 2008 WBA title match.
Not to take anything away from Manny Pacquiao he is truly one of history’s greatest but Cotto looked much like what a Billy Collins Jr. may have looked like fighting after his beat down at the hands of Luis Resto June 16, 1983 on the undercard of Roberto Duran \ Davey Moore fight in New York’s Madison Square Garden after which Resto admitted to using doctored gloves where two inches of horse hair was removed and plaster was used in his wraps.
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Cotto / Pacquiao Round-by-Round
Round one: Cotto starts well using a heavy jab. Pacquiao closes well but Cotto’s round.
10-9, Cotto 10-9
Round two: Pacquiao letting Cotto jab then uses his superior speed beating Cotto to the punch. Cotto closes well but “PacMan’s” round
10-9, Pacquiao 19-19
Round three: Pacquiao continues to let Cotto jab testing his power. Pacquiao opens up with a left to the body and a big right hook to the head dropping Cotto to his knees. Pacquiao then goes defensive letting Cotto back but not enough to get a 10-9 round.
10-8, Pacquiao 29-27
Round four: the champion begins to box and is doing well as the aggressor but Pacquiao makes his mark throwing speed combinations from all angles backing Cotto off. Pacquiao plays his version of the rope a dope and has Cotto punching himself out on a tight Phillipine shell picking his spots dropping Cotto with a heavy left hand counter.
10-8, Pacquiao 39-35
Round five: Cotto sticks with boxing but Pacquiao is countering well. Cotto backs Pacquiao to the ropes again catching the challenger with a clean uppercut and left hook. Pacquiao won’t go away firing back. Close round Cotto does enough to take the round.
10-9, Cotto 48-45
Round six: Cotto stalking now, his movement is gone and Pacquiao is quick to take advantage. “Pacman” bangs Cotto with both hands the hurts him with two solid lefts to close the round.
10-9, Pacquiao 58-54
Round seven: Pacquiao’s adjusted rope a dope has Cotto punching himself out and re-inforcing Pacquiao his punch is gone. Cotto is hurt by a big left and Pacquiao is starting to make Cotto pay big time.
10-9, Pacquiao 68-63
Round eight: Cotto in pure survival mode now and is looking to land a big counter only to eat a heavy Pacquiao right hook instead. Pacquiao backs Cotto the ropes rocking him again with a series of solid lefts. Pacquiao is dominating.
10-9, Pacquiao 78-72
Round nine: Pacquiao has discovered Cotto can’t hurt him, just taking body shots doing his patented arm wave. Pacquiao is beginning to score from underneath landing big left uppercuts and straight lefts, Cotto is taking a beating. Pacquiao presses on with his left hand as Cotto waivers but the champion lands good hook to close round.
10-9, Pacquiao 88-81
Round ten: Cotto’s on the run now just looking to finish with Pacquiao patiently in pursuit. Pacquiao stopping to let everyone see whats up then closing in to solidify the point. All Pacquiao.
10-9, Pacquiao 98-90
Round eleven: Cotto is wearing the mask of a warrior and is taking a tremendous beating and clearly has no answers. Pacquiao corners the champion again banging him with both hands but with the heart of a true champion Cotto lands a good shot proving he’s still there. Cotto’s face swollen and cut over his left eye continues to run. Again all “PacMan” Right hooks and left uppercuts have Cotto hanging on.
10-9, Pacquiao 108-99
Round twelve: After considering quitting Cotto continues with the heart of a lion moving again looking to finish but he doesn’t have enough left. Pacquiao stops in the center of the ring again refusing to chase then lands a big straight left backing Cotto to the ropes then wastes no time jumping in with another heavy looping left prompting referee Kenny Bayless to step in and stop it at the 2:05 mark of the twelfth round saving Cotto from any more punishment.
Cotto, a warrior stayed to answer all questions giving Pacquiao his props despite suffering only his second loss a serious beatings at the hands of Manny “PacMan”” Pacquiao but the Puerto Rican star stated he will continue to fight.
Pacquiao has it all speed, power, movement, chin, heart and desire along with one of boxing’s best trainers ever. The sky is the limit now for Pacquiao. After a well deserved vacation will it be retirement, Mayweather or the winner of Mosley / Berto? Pacquiao has proven all he needs to and who ever he takes on next, if anyone? He should call the shots. He demand will be for Mayweather but he is in control and if anything has shown through here pacquiao is well managed, well coached and knows his limits. Mayweather needs Pacquiao. “Pacman” needs no one!
On the undercard: Yuri Foreman W12 Daniel Santos, Alfonso Gomez TD 6 Jesus Soto Karass, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr W10 Troy Rowland, Abner Cotto W6 Luis Guzman, Eden Sonsona TKO2 Eilon Kedem, Richie Mepranum SD6 Ernie Marquez, Matt Korobov W6 James Winchester, Rodrigo Garcia W4 Martin Vierra.
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Prediction: Pacquiao Breaks Cotto Inside Ten!
By: Bill Ethan
Both fighters have their strengths. Pacquiao has the advantage in speed, stamina, movement and footwork and trainer. Cotto has size and strength and the fight being at a catch weight that will allow him to enter much heavier than “PacMan.” Maybe Cotto even pulls a Mayweather and pays for the extra weight.
Along with those strengths both fighters have some deficits. Rumors are that Pacquiao has had some problems in training camp. First his training camp having been interrupted by a tropical storm and HBO 24/7 reporting Pacquiao was staying up late doing some karaoke.
Cotto hasn’t really been tested since his loss to Margarito July 2007. In his comeback fight February 2009 he won a homemade title fight with English club fighter Michael Jennings enabling Cotto to grab the vacant WBO welterweight title then follow it up with a questionable split decision win over Joshua Clottey four months later.
Pacquiao has worked his way up in weight nicely since his fight with DeLaHoya December 2008 adding some muscle while still keeping his speed and agility coming in at 145lbs.
He has been sparring with Jose Luis Castillo a viscious body puncher and undefeated light middleweight Shawn “Showtime” Porter which should help him deal with the weight differential.
The weight can actually become an advantage for Pacquiao since Cotto who has had a tuff time getting down to weight in his last several fights he may have a hard time rehydrating leading to stamina problems.
Pacman who will come in about 149lbs will test Cotto’s stamina moving laterally firing quick combinations moving in and out avoiding exchanges keeping the fight at a high tempo as Cotto may come in as high as 160lbs.
Cotto must shrink the ring cutting “PacMan” off at the pass. He must bang him anywhere he can, to the body, the chest even on the hips and upper legs to slow him down.
The fight will be a test of stamina, heart and desire and the combination punching of Pacquiao will be the difference. To quote “Sugar” Shane mosley before his fight with hands of stone Antonio Margarito “speed is power” and “PacMan” will eventually get to Cotto’s body with his left hand and that will be the punch that seals the deal. Cotto will begin to tire and load up opening himself up for the quick Pacquiao combinations which will finish the bigger Cotto somewhere between rounds eight and ten.
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Manny Pacquiao / Miguel Cotto “Fire Power” Gets Close!
Which Cotto Will We See?
By: John Sardelis November 14th’s fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will be an event but not for the usual reasons. Although the fight has all any fight fan can ask for the question really boils down to weight and the effects of Margarito / Cotto.
Pacquiao will meet another catch weight and Cotto will come in fight night well over the limit as he usually does This will give him a major strength and power advantage that will still be undone by Pacquiao superior speed, conditioning and mindset.
Pacquiao is on track to be ranked among boxing history’s greatest, specifically Henry Armstrong. The question “Fire Power” brings us is what will Cotto’s legend be? Will it be that of Wifredo Gomez? A Felix Trinidad? Or will it be the Margarito fight always leaves a question mark. Will he be another boxing heartbreak story reminding us of the Billy Collins Jr. / Luis Resto tragedy fought on the undercard of the Roberto Duran \ Davey Moore fight in New York’s Madison Square Garden on June 16, 1983. Where after the fight Resto admitted to using doctored gloves where two inches of horse hair was removed and plaster of paris was used in their
A tragedy indeed with Collins never fighting again but the comparison stops there. Keeping in mind Margarito was never found to have violated any rule in his viscious beat down of Cotto one could assume, make innuendo’s, excuses but no one will ever know.
To Cotto’s credit he has already started back winning his last two. First there was his initial fight back against a questionable opponent in the name of England’s Michael Jennings in a made to order title fight. Then in a closely contested step up against the rugged Joshua Clottey in which the Puerto Rican star was declared the victor but was missing his usual edge. An edge that had seen him beat “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi.
Cotto’s psyche can only be helped with each round November 14th but unfortunately Pacquiao isn’t Jennings and won’t be there to be hit like Clottey. Cotto’s best chance is his devastating body attack but after the Margarito beat down can he hang in long enough to pull it off.
Cotto’s best shot is a punchers chance which his weight and natural size will give him but it is how he reacts to the “Pac Man’s” “Fire Power” that will determine his chances. I have to go with history and Cotto takes a knee inside eight.
Then Pacquiao should play his cards close to the vest. He should call all the shots with Mayweather naming where, when, how much and the weight avoiding a sucker challenge like Juan Manuel Marquez fell for. Then he can retire and go into politics in his homeland of the Phillipines with a legacy unmatched.
