Pacquiao vs Margarito | Pacquiao Fight Updates

MANNY Pacquiao added another prestigious award to his ever-growing list of international achievements—the Best Fighter accolade at the 2009 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly awards known as the ESPY.

Pacquiao overcame the challenge from Mixed Martial Arts stars Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva, along with World Boxing Association welterweight champion Shane Mosley, who has been hounding the Pacman to fight him in November, instead of World Boxing Organization champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.

GMA News reported that Pacquiao earned the nod of ESPN’s online voters for his sensational

second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton and for pulverizing Oscar de la Hoya in December 2008.

It was also reported that Pacquiao’s knockout of Hatton, who was effectively separated from his senses by a cracking looping left hook, lost out in the Best Play award to the Ben Roethlisberger-to-Santonio Holmes last-minute touchdown, which gave the Pittsburg Steelers a dramatic win in Super Bowl XLIII over Arizona.

In winning the Best Fighter award, Pacquiao joins an elite list of some of the superstars of sport, including Beijing Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps, who attended the ESPY with his mother and won the Best Male Athlete and Best Record Breaking Performance award for his eight gold medals; Tiger Woods (Best Golfer), Beijing Olympics sprint king Usain Bolt (Best International Male Athlete) and LeBron James (Best NBA Player), among others.

The awards ceremony, which was held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, will be telecast over ESPN on Sunday. It was hosted by Samuel Jackson.

Pacquiao had earlier been named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world by Time magazine and broke into the Top 10 list of Forbes magazine’s richest athletes in the world.

While the ESPN awards were going on, his adviser Michael Koncz said Pacquiao was “getting his commitments for endorsements and commercials out of the way,” so that when he signs the contract to fight Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in November, he would have eight weeks of undisturbed training.

Among those who attended the awards were former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and the Williams sisters Serena and Venus.


http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/

Manny Pacquiao, Filipino boxing idol closes out a ripping career by waging a 12 round war against Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto in a year-ending stunner at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Viewed generally as his farewell fight before launching a second crack at politics, Pacquiao is locked in a frenetic maneuver to have his promoter(s) agree to an equitable sharing of revenues for the November 14 barn-boiler.

What is on the table for Manny and Miguel is the issue of purses with both camps still unable to come to terms on how large they are to be paid for their awaited face off.

A snag has delayed approval of their impressive-looking bout for now.

The crease however in negotiations gets resolved soon after lead promoter Bob Arum is done enjoying his European vacation.

GenSan's Pacman meanwhile is awaiting word on his counter offers as he gets set for his last fight prior to engaging in an archetypal race to be run in a disparate terrain.

Pacquiao, to repeat is at a tail-end of a 14-year ring journey confident of pulling out a theatrical win against Cotto, complemented perhaps with a coveted mandate from his new Sarangani constituents.

For now, he's getting ready for the Puerto Rican slugger, determined to install what's needed for a redoubtable training camp once an agreement is reached.

These days the Pinoy idol is devoting huge hours in his tight schedule looking for ways to beat a strong challenge from a rival who is backed by Sarangani's political elite.

Quite a spirited challenge for Manny's hold in his new polling domain.

But that's another story for another day.


http://philboxing.com/

So lets jump to spring of 2010. Mayweather has beat Juan Manuel Marquez and Pacquiao has beat Miguel Cotto. These could be two highly competitive fights. But , for the sake of argument and my article , Mayweather and Pacquiao come out winners. How does the fight shape up? You have two extremely skilled boxers. Both are quick. We have the former and present pound for pound kings facing off. Different styles , different personas and very different trainers. What happens on fight night?

The closest thing Mayweather has faced to an opponent that resembles Pacquiao is a combination of Zab Judah and Jose Luis Castillo. A concoction of Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez is what we need to create a suitable , if thats possible , Mayweather clone.

The counter punching of Marquez gave Pacman trouble. Manny was leary of jumping on Marquez and when he hesitated he lost the round. Morales did basically the same thing. Erik's philosophy was to take ten punches to land two punches.

Mayweather had trouble with Judah. At least for the first four rounds. Judah used his speed to give Mayweather angles. It was effective until Judah had his usual meltdown. His loss of focus turned a good fight into an easy Mayweather victory.

Many thought that Castillo beat Mayweather in their first fight. He did this with constant pressure. Mayweather likes to be on the ropes and look for openings as his opponent commits to his punches. Castillo took this advantage away by staying close and throwing an assortment of punches.

Roach said De La Hoya won every round against Mayweather when he used his jab. This kept the defensive minded Mayweather in an even more defensive posture. But Mayweather is smart and has a habit of figuring out opponents.

So what happens? Pacquiao's aura of invincibility shows in the first round. He starts strong and immediately attacks Mayweather. Mayweather grins , but you can tell he isn't comfortable. Mayweather's quickness allows him to roll with and away from some punches. Still , Mayweather cannot land any telling blows as Pacquiao's speed is amazing.

Round two also goes to Pacquiao. But , you can see Mayweather becoming a little more offensive minded.

The two split rounds three to six. Pacquiao raises his hands after the two exchange. He is in his element. Whenever there is a lull Mayweather grabs the opportunity to potshot his opponent.

Rounds seven through ten see more of the same. The difference is that Mayweather continues to head hunt while Pacquiao has focused on Mayweather's body. Pacquiao seems to be ahead six rounds to four. Some may even see him ahead seven to three.

Rounds eleven and twelve are usually Floyd's rounds , but the bodyshots have definitely taken their toll. Knowing he probably needs a knockout doesn't matter. Mayweather believes he is ahead and goes defensive again. Round twelve sees Mayweather back on the ropes. He appears hurt from the body attack. Manny attacks like a hungry lion and tries to stop his prey , but Mayweather survives the round.

Manny Pacquiao is announced as the clear cut winner. Manny says the jab and body punching were the key to his victory. The only one in disbelief is Floyd Mayweather. He sprouts off about boxing politics and Larry Merchant ends the interview by saying , "Floyd , you finally lost , get over it".



http://www.examiner.com/

By: Albert Alvarez

Lately, I've been asked some tough questions from who are my favorite fighters to, whats next for Ricky Hatton and of course who are the most exciting fighters.Well I got all the answers to these and some more:

Do you really think that Agbeko will beat Darchinyan?- Yes, Yes, and Yes!!! If I said it I meant it, bite my tongue for no one. Darchinyan is a very awkward hard hitting bull, but to me Agbeko is just too tough to discourage. You must realize that Darchinyan is able to freeze you with his power, when he hits he discourages you from being able to do what you want to do. Agbeko is just too tough to discourage, think Nonito Donaire Jr.

Even at 147, Pacquiao will be too much for Cotto, So do you really think that Cotto can beat Pacquiao at 147?- The fact that this question is even being asked should answer your question. If Pacquiao was as confident as you are, don't you think that this fight would have already been inked? My Diamond Boxing Dream Team Member, Carl Hewitt, knocked it out of the park when he recently wrote that you must fight the best at their best, I couldn't agree more.

Have you, or anyone else heard anything about Ricky Hatton and his plans? Where is Ricky?- Your Guess is as good as mine, I have yet to hear anything about Ricky's where abouts, soon as I hear anything I will let it be known, if you hear anything before I do, Please hit me up.

Who are your Favorite fighters to watch right now?- My favorite fighters to watch right now are: Juan Manuel Lopez, Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Paul Williams, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, Edwin Valero, Jorge Linares, Tomasz Adamek, Chris Arreola, Kelly Pavlik, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Nonito Donaire Jr., James Kirkland, Alfredo Angulo, Andre Berto, man just too many to name but these are the first to come to mind.

Who are the most exciting fighters fighting today in your opinion?- Manny Pacquiao for sure! Guys like Roman Gonzalez, Vic Darchinyan, Edwin Valero, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Katsidis, Gamboa, James Kirkland, Tavoris Cloud, Allan Green, Pavlik, each of these guys always come to entertain and to excite.

Bro, we need more top Mexican fighters, who do you see out there that can be the next ones?- I get this question asked all the time. The fighters I see that have heart and skill to be the chosen few are: Abner Mares, who I think has the tools to be an all around fighter like the Marquez brothers, Marvin Quintero, Marvin to me has what it takes to be the next Marco Antonio Barrera, Urbano Antillon, this guy can really fight. Saul Alvarez, my cousin [LOL] sure can hit!!! Saul can bang with the best of them.


http://diamondboxing.com/

Welterweight champ Shane Mosley fought the good fight in trying to convince pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao to fight him this fall.

He launched a vigorous campaign to get Pacquiao into the ring, enlisting his publicists to battle on his behalf with a series of press releases. He had his business partners at Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya and CEO Richard Schaefer, fighting for him. De La Hoya even made phone calls to select media members to plead Mosley's case.

Mosley also made all sorts of concessions in a bid to entice Pacquiao to fight him. Mosley said he'd ask for only 40 percent of the money and was willing to agree to a contract weight somewhere in the low 140s to appease the smaller Pacquiao.

But nothing worked because Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, with no disrespect to Mosley, had designs on another fight for Pacquiao. Arum is moving forward with plans to match Pacquiao with his other big star, welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto. Arum says he is close to making the deal under which Pacquiao and Cotto will meet Nov. 14 in Las Vegas on HBO PPV.

Mosley has now come to the realization that if he wants to fight before the end of the year, he'll have to find another dance partner. Pacquiao and Cotto (who already owns a close decision win against Mosley, who would like a rematch) are unavailable, and unretiring former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. is fighting lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19 (in a fight rescheduled from July 18 because of Mayweather's rib injury).

Schaefer called me Monday afternoon to announce that Mosley was moving on.

"Our offer to Pacquiao is off the table," Schaefer said. "We're moving on. Shane was like a volcano, and he gave me my marching orders to go get him another fight. Now, I will be talking to some of these other names in the weight class. I'm going to be talking to HBO first and seeing what names they have in mind. But it is apparent that Shane will be returning live on HBO later this year. Eventually he will be the last man standing, and those other guys will have to fight him if they want to be the best."

Schaefer got in one more dig at the other stars -- Pacquiao, Cotto and Mayweather -- before moving on, however.

"He looked sensational [in January] when he knocked out Antonio Margarito," Schaefer said. "He looked so good that it hurt him to get one of these big guys. After the Ricardo Mayorga fight, they were interested because they felt he was an aging star. After the Margarito fight, Shane looked like an emerging star and they didn't want to fight him."

Mosley knocked Mayorga out in the final seconds of the 12th round last fall, but hadn't looked all that sharp before the stunning conclusion. Against Margarito, Mosley looked awesome.

"Shane called me earlier [Monday] and said that's it, he's had it," Shaefer said. "He's not waiting around anymore. He said, 'This guy [Pacquiao] is obviously scared of me. So let's move on.' Sugar Shane Mosley's career has not been built around Pacquiao. He already has a legacy of greatness. But eventually a Mayweather or Cotto or Pacquiao will need him. That day will come."

Schaefer, by the way, is promoting the Mayweather-Marquez fight, so he didn't really give Mayweather much grief for bypassing Mosley in favor of a lightweight.

Still, Mosley's moving on leads to the obvious question: Who will he fight in the fall?

The various names Schaefer mentioned as potential opponents were titlist Andre Berto, whom Mosley was close to making a deal with before the Margarito fight was finalized; Paul Williams, who has been dying for a fight with Mosley about as badly as Mosley was dying for one with Pacquiao; former undisputed champ Zab Judah, who had a fight canceled with Mosley about a year ago after Judah's infamous shower door incident; and former titlist Kermit Cintron, who was also scheduled at one time to face Mosley before a falling out with one of his former promoters killed the fight.

"There are obviously names and opportunities out there," Schaefer said. "Shane made it clear what he wants, and now I have to go get it done. I really fully endorse Shane's decision to fight and not to wait for Pacquiao. He's shown a lot of patience. Some people feel he humiliated himself by offering himself up to Pacquiao. But he really wanted this fight and was willing to make major concessions. For whatever reason, it didn't happen, and life goes on."


http://sports.espn.go.com/

It's no longer feasible this year, but Freddie Roach holds out hope that his prized ward, Manny Pacquiao, will get to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his next outing.

And the three-time Trainer of the Year predicts that the lucrative bout will happen early next year.

“I think we’re going to fight either (Miguel) Cotto or Shane Mosley, so either one is fine with me,” Roach told Percy Crawford of FightHype Monday. “But Mayweather is the one I want and hopefully, the Mayweather fight will happen by early next year.”

Roach and Pacquiao had originally looked at a Mayweather bout either on Oct. 17 or Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Mayweather, who was supposed to battle Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18, however, suffered a rib injury during training. The fight, set at a catch weight of 143 pounds, has since been moved to Sept. 19.

Thus far, Cotto, the WBO welterweight champ, appears to be Pacquiao’s most likely foe with only the catch weight (144 lb or 145 lb) and revenue sharing still to be resolved.

Because of the undefeated American’s edge in size and defense, Roach hesitated on a Pacquiao-Mayweather duel last year.

But Pacquiao’s successive demolition of Oscar De La Hoya at 147 lb and Ricky Hatton at 140 made Roach change his mind.

As to Cotto and Mosley, Roach feels that both are tough fights as they are bigger and stronger than Pacquiao. But he said the Filipino superstar stands a good chance as he works hardest against big guys.


http://sports.inquirer.net/

Although there is some rambling about Pacquiao’s alleged hesitation to sign the contract to face Cotto on November 14, 2009, the show will go on as scheduled. After briefly analyzing this match-up and reviewing a lot of video of both fighters. One thing stands out: Pacquiao is a different fighter since moving up to 135 pounds.

He has tremendously enhanced his footwork. But before Pacquaio become the complete package there was another weapon he was developing long before the move to lightweight: a right hook. Ironically, the right hook or “Manila Ice” was originally developed for the first Erik Morales fight in which it was not very effective. But fight after fight “Manila Ice” has become the perfect complement to Pacman’s deadly straight left hand.

I mentioned I was watching a lot of film. I came across the Cotto/Corley fight. Corley visibly stuns Cotto with a sneaky right hook early in the contest. Pacquiao’s right hook is superior to Corley’s; it is quicker and more powerful. Furthermore, Cotto is an aggressive boxer early, and may try to test Pacquiao’s body since there is still suspicion that it is the Pacman’s weakness. Cotto is known to be a vicious body puncher as we saw with his match against Quintana. That will be the Cotto game plan: hurt Manny to the body. The only problem with this strategy: Freddie Roach will be expecting it. Manny has spent years working on his body since the early portion of his boxing career, and I believe that his early trouble with body shots had to do with fighting at very low weights in the first place. But that being said, Cotto will attempt to attack the body of Pacquiao, but the problem is he will be vulnerable in doing so because he must drop his hands to go to the body, particularly trying to land that left hook downstairs. When Cotto lowers his hands to attack the body, he drops his guard that protects him from right hand counters. And that’s where “Manila Ice” comes into play.

I expect Manny to catch Cotto coming in, load up on big right hooks, and possibly hurt Cotto similar to the way we’ve seen him hurt in the past. If Cotto is hurt, he will not survive for two reasons: one, he does not know how to clinch when he’s hurt, and two, Manny’s hand speed will not allow Cotto to see the punches coming when he is backing up. Cotto tends to backup when he’s hurt instead of clinching, and the Pacman is at his best when he has his opponent backtracking. Manny’s hand speed and foot speed will be too much for Cotto, and he will repeatedly pulverize Miguel with that “Manila Ice” every time he comes in trying to land something. Cotto must use his left hand to be effective, and Roach knows it. Expect Pacquiao to unload that right hook and dip under Cotto’s left-hand attacks all night long. Southpaws are said to have an advantage neutralizing the left hands of orthodox fighters. But Judah, Quintana, and Corley (apart from one punch in the fight) did not have the constant right hook power to give Miguel something to worry about and keep his left hand in the holster. Because Cotto is overly dependent on his left hand, “Manila Ice” will be a huge factor in this match.


http://www.boxingnews24.com/

MANNY Pacquiao has vowed he will quit boxing for his political plans. However, his promoter, Bob Arum, believes it will be better for the Filipino icon to keep on fighting and at the same time, serve his constituents—that is if he wins.

“I hope he becomes a congressman,” Arum said in a report posted at abs-cbnnews.com. “The fact that he will become a ‘fighting congressman’ will enhance his promotability.”

Pacquiao is planning to run for congress in Sarangani in the 2010 elections.

“I don’t think that’s ever happened before in history, somebody who’s a congressional representative from his country fighting at the top level in boxing,” said Arum.

The 30-year-old General Santos fighter ran for a congressional spot last 2007 but lost by a landslide to political rival Darlene Antonino-Custudio.

Arum believes Pacquiao’s fights won’t be a hindrance to his job as a congressman.

“When Manny fights, Congress closes down anyway,” he said.

Pacquiao is scheduled to fight Puerto Rican world champion Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“I think he’ll fight for two more years…I would like to think he still has four fights left,” said Arum.

Arum is waiting for the deal of the Pacquiao-Cotto mega fight to be finalized and is still waiting for the nod from his prized fighter if he agrees with the terms offered.

“There is a huge problem. And it’s not so much concerning the weight, or money going to the two of them, or the percentages—no, this is not the problem. My problem is that I need to speak with Manny Pacquiao,” Arum said in another report at BoxingScene.com.

Arum believes that both fighters want to fight each other and that he thinks Cotto is the best fighter available for the pound-for-pound king.

“I think Manny wants that fight, Cotto wants this fight, the public wants this fight, I want that fight and the whole world wants that fight because in the ring will be the two best fighters on the planet,” he said.

World Boxing Organization President Francisco Valcarcel also wants the 28-year-old Cotto to defend his welterweight title against Pacquiao.


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

THE World Boxing Organization (WBO) is pushing for the proposed bout between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to be a world title fight.

WBO President Francisco Valcarcel plans to sanction Pacquiao’s ring return as a world title bout, with Cotto defending his WBO welterweight title.

“I made a request to the committee to place Pacquiao in the number one position for the fight for Cotto’s title,” said Valcarcel in a report posted at BoxingScene.com. “I’ve already spoken to Bob Arum and agreed the fight will be for the title.”

If this would be sanctioned as a title fight, Pacquiao will be gunning for his seventh division title.

The 30-year-old Pacquiao has won world titles in six different weight categories of the major boxing bodies and has won two lineal titles.

Pacquiao has won a world title at flyweight (112 pounds), super bantamweight (122), featherweight (126), super featherweight (130), lightweight (135) and light welterweight (142).

Negotiations

Cotto’s legal adviser Gabriel Peñagaricano said Cotto’s defense of his world title is one of the issues that have been brought up in the negotiations but it isn’t definite as of the moment.

“Miguel’s title is part of the negotiations that are still ongoing,” said Peñagaricano. “It will be one of the aspects to consider during the fight discussions. (There are people) saying the agreement is signed, that’s not true. The only thing we agreed on is the fight being at 145 pounds.”


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

LOS ANGELES - Sports fans around the world can breathe again as it was announced today that the highly anticipated 12-round welterweight showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez has been officially rescheduled for September 19, after Mayweather, who suffered a rib injury while training for the originally scheduled July 18 date, received clearance from his doctor to participate on the new date..

Mayweather vs. Marquez: "Number One/Numero Uno," which will still take place at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View, will now take place on what on what is historically considered boxing's biggest weekend, and falling on the time-honored tradition of Mexican Independence Day.

"I am relieved to be cleared to fight as I was already looking forward to getting back in the ring," said Mayweather. "Trust me, September 19 is a great weekend for boxing, and all of my fans, of which there are many Mexicans too, can certainly hold on to their hats and sombreros when I get back in to the ring and show them what they have been missing these past 18 months. I will destroy Marquez and reclaim my rightful place as boxing's pound-for-pound king all in one night. Don't miss it."

Marquez, who has also agreed to fight on the new date, is excited about appearing yet again on the time-honored tradition of El Grito de Independence.

"I am happy that Mayweather has been cleared to fight and we can get down to business on September 19," said Marquez. "This weekend is not just an important weekend for boxing, but even more so for all of the Mexican and Mexican-American people I will be fighting for who will have a great reason to celebrate my win over Mayweather, which will be for all of the people and for the entire country of Mexico that night. I am sure of victory and si se puede- yes we can and yes we will!"

Mayweather vs. Marquez: "Number One/Numero Uno," is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Promotions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines.

Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, go on sale Friday, May 22 at 10 a.m. Ticket sales at $1,000, $750, $600 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 10 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

The Mayweather vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, 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. For Mayweather vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com



http://www.eastsideboxing.com/

Over the past several months I have made two predictions regarding Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs); one was that he would beat Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) and the other was that he would take care of business with Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs). As Pacquiao looks toward his next bout in November against Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), I will make another prediction; this one not in the favor of the beloved Pacman.

FILIPINO’S LUCK & RUN COMING TO END

Being a fan of both fighters isn’t an issue for me in making this pick. My feelings towards fighters rarely interfere with the objective nature of journalism. However, I will tell you this; Manny Pacquiao will lose to Miguel Cotto. This time, Manny and his team have simply bitten off more than they can chew. I am very, very happy to see Manny and his trainer Freddie Roach finally get their props, but I don’t think there is any game plan that they can come up with against Cotto that will have an end result in their favor.

BE HONEST, OSCAR WAS MORE SHOT THAN TUPAC!

When De La Hoya fought Steve Forbes (34-7, 10 KOs), I could tell he wasn’t who he once was, and when the Pac fight was signed I knew he wouldn’t be able to keep the little Filipino off of him. When Pac signed to face the overrated Ricky Hatton, I knew he would stop him as Hatton doesn’t even know how to spell defense, let alone show it in the ring. But with Cotto, it will be too much. Cotto isn’t just a big name, he isn’t just an icon in Puerto Rico, and he isn’t just a legitimate welterweight with legitimate boxing skills and solid power. He is however all of this and more, and on top of that, he won’t come charging in like a drunk Mancunian and at the set catch weight of 145 lbs, he won’t come in completely drained.

IT’LL BE COTTO’S NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER

Even if Cotto has lost a step since getting hit with bricks last year (Antonio Margarito), he still has more than enough left to take care of Pacquiao. He was able to deal with Shane Mosley’s (46-5, 39 KOs) blinding speed, and he will make the necessary adjustments to deal with Pac’s speed. If Cotto comes in injury free and doesn’t have difficulty making weight, this will be a vicious one sided affair in favor of the Puerto Rican. I love Manny Pacquiao not only for what he has done for the sport, but also for the generous, kind person that he is, but in this fight, I can’t see him having much of a shot.

TEN REASONS COTTO WILL BEAT PACQUIAO

10.) Speed- Even though this asset goes to Pacquiao, Cotto will know how use it in his benefit and counter; making it to his advantage; not the Pacman’s.

9.) Power- Pacman has tons of pop, but Cotto still has the advantage here, especially given his size advantage and body attack.

8.) Punch Selection- Cotto knows what to throw and when to throw it.

7. ) Size- No explanation needed here, Cotto is much bigger!

6.) Boxing Skills- As much as Manny has improved, he still isn’t as technically sound as the Puerto Rican.

5.) Defense- Cotto has very good and probably under rated defense. He will be able to parry Pac’s straight left hand with ease.

4.) Experience- Both men have significant ring experience, but I think Cotto’s will better suit him for this fight; mainly because of his fight against Shane Mosley.

3.) Respect- Cotto will show respect for Manny’s power instead of simply running in like an amateur a la Hatton.

2.) Will- Both men have great heart, grit and will, but Cotto has had to show it more often, and has no problem doing so.

AND THE #1 REASON WHY COTTO WILL BEAT PAC

1.) Ring IQ- Cotto simply understands the game slightly better; giving him the knowledge and know how to beat Pac.




http://ringtalk.com/

After the Cotto-Clottey match held at the Madison Square Garden, two major boxing issues have dominated sports headlines; money and Manny. Money refers to the purse for the upcoming Pacquiao-Cotto match while Manny refers to the popular Filipino boxer.
Why is there a mad rush to land a fight with the Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao?

Top promoter Bob Arum gave an honest, straight forward answer. ‘They all want a taste of the money’.

Any rated boxer who lands a fight with Pacquiao at this time when the pound-for-pound king is on top of his career will make a substantial amount of money even if he shares just 30% of the purse.

Pacquiao is today’s hottest boxing property. The popular Filipino boxer is the highest-paid boxer in the world today. Any of the four top rated boxers (Mayweather, Marquez, Cotto and Mosley) will be assured of being called the second highest paid boxer in the world, even if he just share 30% of the fight purse.

Mbcom.ph reports:

Being the undisputed face of boxing, Pacquiao is a certified box-office and pay-per-view star and this is the main reason why Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez have been itching to be rewarded with a date with a Pacquiao fight, noted Arum, who inked Pacquiao to a lucrative contract in late-2006 following the Filipino’s twin demolition job on erstwhile Top Rank top talent Erik Morales


Meanwhile, negotiations for a Pacquiao-Cotto match are now in its final stages. Earlier, Freddie Roach was reported to have agreed with the camp of Cotto on the catch weight issue which was reported to be 144-145.

Michael Koncz, the Canadian adviser of Manny Pacquiao has just met with Bob Arum in Las Vegas, Nevada last weekend and got the proposal for presentation to Team Pacquiao when Koncz reports to Pacquiao on Tuesday.

The Pacquiao-Cotto match is being planned for November 14, 2009 at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.



http://www.digitaljournal.com/

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach has started doing his homework in anticipation of a big match between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.

The three-time Trainer of the Year told the Philippine radio program Sports Chat that Cotto, the WBO welterweight champion, is no pushover as others would think.

“He is a very strong fighter and puncher. We have to pay attention to that. That is my biggest worry,” he said of Cotto, who’s younger, taller and heavier.

Roach, the hottest trainer in the sport today, is not wasting time.

“We have to come up with a game plan to defeat this guy. I studied his fights last night. I’m going to see his previous fights and see if we could pick up some habits that we can take advantage of.”

Negotiations for the fight are on, and Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who handles both boxers, said it’s close to being sealed. He said it should be done next week.

Roach feels it’s just a matter of time before the fight is formalized, whether it’s held at 145 lb or less, and whether Pacquiao gets 65 percent or everything or more.

Pacquiao, at 30 two years older, should concentrate on the body if he wants to chop down Cotto early. Nacho Beristain, the Mexican trainer, believes that Cotto may go down in six rounds.

“Manny should take advantage of the body. He’s not strong to the body. He has a pretty good chin. He can take punches in the head. But I think we have to break him down in the earlier rounds and work at the body a lot,” said Roach.

Pacquiao was at ringside when Cotto survived Josh Clottey a few weeks ago at the Madison Square Garden, and he probably liked what he saw – a beatable 147 lb champion.

“I think it is a hard fight for us. But I think it is a winnable fight. I think Manny can now box him,” Roach said.

“Whether it is 143, 144 or 145 pounds, it does not matter. I have no problem with 145 pounds. Cotto is a welterweight champion of the world. When we fought Oscar (Dela Hoya) at 147, he was not a world champion. Miguel would be the toughest fight to date at least on paper.”

Another concern for Roach is what people might say after Pacquiao, who has won his last four fights in different weight classes, beats the Puerto Rican champ.

He said Dela Hoya was favored to win against Pacquiao but when the American legend lost in eight rounds people came up with excuses.

“They say he (Dela Hoya) is going to kill Manny. After the fight, they say he is old. After we beat Cotto, what are they going to say?,” Roach told Sports Chat.



http://www.philstar.com/

“They all want a taste of the money,” Arum told the Bulletin early this week when asked about why the likes of Shane Mosley and even his promoter Oscar De La Hoya have been making noise – and almost on their bended knees – appealing that a fight between Pacquiao and Mosley be staged instead of the one that is close to being done.

Arum said negotiations are underway – and proceeding smoothly – for Pacquiao to face Miguel Cotto, another Top Rank chattel like Pacquiao, on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand with Pacquiao, it’s going to be like this in the future because Manny brings the money,” said the Hall of Fame promoter.

Arum said everything is about the money involved in a Pacquiao fight that makes seemingly level-headed men like Mosley suddenly go way over-the-top.

“They want to fight him because of the money (that comes with fighting Pacquiao),” Arum said.

Pacquiao stands to earn much more than what he got from fighting De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton when he tangles with Cotto.

Being the undisputed face of boxing, Pacquiao is a certified box-office and pay-per-view star and this is the main reason why Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez have been itching to be rewarded with a date with a Pacquiao fight, noted Arum, who inked Pacquiao to a lucrative contract in late-2006 following the Filipino’s twin demolition job on erstwhile Top Rank top talent Erik Morales.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao will get to see the content of Arum’s proposal for a Cotto fight when Canadian Mike Koncz arrives in Manila on Tuesday.

Koncz is one of Pacquiao’s advisers and he told this paper yesterday in an overseas call that the proposal is “reasonable” but it would be all up to Pacquiao to decide whether to accept it or not.

“I don’t want to negotiate in the media. What I’ll do is present this to Manny then we’ll see what happens next,” said Koncz, who met with Arum last weekend in Las Vegas.



http://www.mb.com.ph/

Shane Mosley continues to justify himself as the best fighter to land a fight with Manny Pacquiao. In a recent interview with Sports Chat, Mosley talks about his worldwide fan base, his track record as a fighter and his quest to be the best.

"Bob Arum is offering Pacquiao $12 -13 million, I think Pacquiao's going to make $20 million fighting me. I'm confident he'll make more money with me than fighting Cotto. That fight (Miguel vs. Manny) is only big if they are fighting in New York" said Mosley, who thinks Cotto is not the same top calibre fighter he once was after his loss to Margarito.

"It is not just the Filipinos versus Puerto Ricans. It is a world wide fight. Manny Pacquiao is worldwide now.He is not just confined to Philippines and Puerto Ricans. And that is what I bring to the table. I bring world wide recognition. I have Filipino fans. I have Puerto Rican fans, I have American fans. I have fans around the world. I have been fighting for 15 years. I have been champion for a long time. I just don't come out of the blue. "added Mosley, who has been in the fight scene longer than the Puerto Rican Star.

"I believe Richard Schaefer talks to Bob Arum all the time. He tells him to make this fight. But Arum just cancels him out and says he's going to make the Cotto fight. He just close his mind out to the whole idea. I know Pacquiao is ready to fight but the only problem is Bob Arum. " said a frustrated Mosley as he continues to sell himself to the boxing public.

" Im a multimillionare. This is not about the money. It's about the legacy, it's about fighting the best and be considered the best. That is why I fought fought Vernon Forest, Wrinky Wright, Oscar De La Hoya. Now, the fight that I want is the fight that fans want. It is a fight between me and Manny Pacquiao or between me and Floyd Mayweather. Mayweather may come out of the shell and want to fight me and I might have to fight Mayweather. But I might as well fight Pacquiao first then Mayweather next. "

"People understand that Im a great and legendary fighter.I am a true fighter and a warrior. Manny Pacquiao is the same breed as me. He wants to be the best. I want to fight Manny because I want to be considered the best. It is about having the best fight in boxing"said Mosley, who wants Pacquiao to go and choose the best fight for the good of boxing.



http://www.digitaljournal.com/

One of the best trainers in the sport, Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain, said Manny Pacquiao will stop Miguel Cotto within six rounds. The Cotto-Pacquiao bout is being lined up for November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with the catch-weight of 145-pounds being likely. Beristain trained Juan Manuel Marquez for both bouts with Pacquiao, and trained Oscar De La Hoya for last year's career-ending loss to Pacquiao.

Beristain says Cotto has not looked the same since last July's knockout loss to Antonio Margarito. He said Cotto was not himself in the recent fight with Joshua Clottey, where Cotto won a close split decision.

"Cotto remained a little deteriorated after the fight that he had with Antonio Margarito and to be up against Manny Pacquiao, with all due respect - since I respect and I admire Puerto Rican boxing, but I believe that Pacquiao should put him on the canvas in five or six rounds," Beristain told Primera Hora.

He said Cotto may have made too many changes, and combined with the beating from Margarito, could be a dangerous combination for the fight ahead.

"In the fight against Clottey, you could see some of the aftermath of what happened with Margarito. Clotty is not a top-level fighter and nevertheless, in some moments Cotto was put in predicaments and the punches were affecting him," Beristain said.

"Before he was a fighter with good technique, fast and well cared for, but he doesn't seem like himself. He changed his coach, changed some of his habits and catches more punches. I do not believe that it would very advisable to take a fight like this after changing his main trainer. A fight with Pacquiao is serious thing. You have to be well prepared. The fight with Pacquiao can be dangerous."



http://www.boxingscene.com/

This Saturday, rising jr. welterweight contender "Vicious" Victor Ortiz (24-1-1, 19KOs) faces hard-hitting Marco Maidana (25-1, 24KOs) for the interim WBA jr. welterweight title. It will be the first time that the young star will headline a main event on HBO and he hopes to make a statement as he continues his quest to become the new face of boxing. With a number of their fighters either on their way out or having a hard time landing fights, Golden Boy Promotions is eager to create a new crossover star that will carry the company into the future.

"He really is a rising star of the sport. He has the million-dollar smile. He has the charisma. And he has, most importantly, the skills in the ring...HBO looks at him as one of the handful of fighters that can, and hopefully will, carry the sport in the coming years," Golden Boy CEO Richard Scheafer stated in a recent interview with Dan Rafael of ESPN.

With Oscar De La Hoya's recent retirement and stars like Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley and Ricky Hatton not far behind, the time may be sooner rather than later for Ortiz to carry the Golden Boy torch. Already ranked #3 by the WBA and #2 by the WBO, an impressive win over Maidana will surely put Ortiz on the fast track to a shot at any one of the current champions in the division, including Timothy Bradley, Juan Urango, Andreas Kotelnik and, dare I say it, Manny Pacquiao.

Ironically, the first 22 fights of Ortiz's career were with promoter Bob Arum. After filing for bankruptcy and getting his promotional contract with Top Rank voided by the court, Ortiz quickly signed with Golden Boy Promotions. He would later reveal that he felt Top Rank wasn't giving enough attention to his career. "I'm really happy to be under Oscar de la Hoya's and his team's guidance. I'm going to do everything it takes to become boxing's next big star and one day fill Oscar's big shoes," Ortiz stated upon his signing. Given that Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright have yet to secure any new opponents and fights involving David Haye, Juan Manuel Marquez and Rocky Juarez were either postponed or canceled, Golden Boy Promotions will be eager to give Ortiz an opportunity to fill those shoes.

Whether or not he is ready to face the best in the division remains to be seen, but this weekend's clash with Maidana is clearly the first step in grooming Ortiz as boxing's next big star. Make no mistake, with 24 knockouts in 26 fights, Maidana is a tough test. His only loss was in his last bout, a controversial split decision that he dropped to current WBA jr. welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik. If Ortiz can look just as impressive against Maidana as he did in his last bout against former title challenger Mike Arnaoutis, he'll send a message to the rest of the division that he has arrived on the scene. With the history that Ortiz has with Bob Arum, an eventual showdown with Manny Pacquiao somewhere down the road could be at stake. This is definitely one fight that you don't want to miss!



http://www.fighthype.com/

The Ring magazine released their latest pound-for-pound rankings this week and it comes as no surprise that Manny Pacquiao is still at the top of their rankings. The magazine is known as the bible of boxing and is considered the ultimate source of boxing information for fighters and fans alike.

The pound for pound rankings have been around for years and are based on the premise that if all fighters were the same weight where would they rank. The current rankings include boxers, sluggers, veterans and two very exciting young fighters making their mark on the boxing scene.

Below are the current rankings as of June 21, 2009. Listed along with each fighter is their record , titles they hold , weeks The Ring have listed them in the top ten and any upcoming fight they may have. Please note that The Ring doesn't pay too much attention to alphabet trinkets. If a boxer has The Ring belt then he is considered the one and only world champion of that division.

1. Manny Pacquiao, Philippines, 49-3-2 (37), is currently The Ring junior welterweight champion after his destruction of former champ Ricky Hatton. Scheduled as now to fight Miguel Cotto on November 14. The Ring has had Pacquiao in their top 10 for an amazing 290 weeks.

2. Juan Manuel Marquez, Mexico, 50-4-1 (37), is The Ring lightweight champion after defeating Joel Casamayor last year. Marquez also holds the WBA and WBO lightweight belts. A July fight with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather has been rescheduled for September. Has been in the top 10 for 119 weeks.

3. Bernard Hopkins, Philadelphia , Pa., 49-5-1 (32), fights at light heavyweight and still hopes to get a fight with current cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek. As of now he has no fight scheduled. He entered the rankings 159 weeks ago.

4. Shane Mosley, Pomona , Ca., 46-5 (39) , is ranked number one at welterweight after dismantling Antonio Margarito earlier this year. He owns the WBA welterweight title. Mosley was hoping to secure a fight with Pacquiao or Mayweather , but nothing is scheduled. Mosley has been in the top ten for 22 weeks.

5. Israel Vasquez, Mexico, 43-4 (31) , is The Ring world champion at junior featherweight. Vasquez has suffered medical problems after his three wars with Rafael Marquez. He has not fought since last year. He currently has no fight scheduled and has been on the list for 99 weeks.

6. Rafael Marquez, Mexico, 38-5 (34), is the number one ranked junior featherweight. He lost the last two battles against Vasquez , but recently came back with a quick knockout in May. He currently has no fight scheduled. He has been ranked in the top ten for 57 weeks.

7. Nonito Donaire, Philippines, 21-1 (14), is the current IBF flyweight champ. His age and his style make him a fighter that could possibly move up in the rankings in the coming years. He is boxing's biggest kept superstar secret. He has a stay-busy fight scheduled against Hugo Fidel Cazares in August. He has been on the list for eight weeks.

8. Vic Darchinyan, Armenia, 32-1-1 (26), holds the WBA , WBC and IBF junior bantamweight crowns. He has a fight scheduled against tough Joseph Agbeko in July. He is ranked number one at junior bantamweight and has been on the list for 20 weeks.

9. Miguel Cotto, Puerto Rico, 34-1 (27), currently holds the WBO welterweight title and is ranked number two at welterweight. He is coming off a grueling fight against Joshua Clottey and is scheduled to fight Manny Pacquiao in November. He has stayed on the top ten list for 8 weeks.

10. Celestino Caballero, Panama, 32-2 (22), is the WBA and IBF junior featherweight title holder. He is another of boxing's best kept secrets. He currently has no fight scheduled and has been in the top 10 for 22 weeks.

Thanks to The Ring for maintaining and bringing class to the world of boxing. They do not play favorites and have no political agenda. So you can be assured that these rankings are as good as it gets.


http://www.examiner.com

Miguel Cotto is an excellent young fighter. He has great skills, and he has perhaps the best left hook to the body in the business. He is very deserving of fighting anybody, and he is a top 10 pound for pound fighter. With all of that said, he is not Sugar Shane Mosley. Yes he beat him in 2007, close fight that I will discuss in a bit. But in totality he is not yet even close to Shane in accomplishments and achievment. Beating the man, does not make you the man. Jermain Taylor beat Bernard Hopkins twice, but does anybody really think he is as good as Bernard Hopkins. Iran Barkley knocked out Thomas Hearns, but does anybody rational really believe Barkley was a better fighter. No I am not part of the Shane Mosley PR team. In fact, I think Manny Pacquiao beats both him and Cotto, but Mosley is leaps and bounds above Cotto. I know this has been a recurring theme of some of my other stories. But I still can’t believe people are justifying Cotto as a better opponent for Pacquiao instead of Mosley.

History

Miguel Cotto was a good Jr. Welterweight fighter. He beat some solid fighters and won a title belt. But he was in life and death struggles with above average fighters like Ricardo Torres and Demarcus Corley. And he failed to knock out Paul Malignaggi, in a fight of which he lost 3 or 4 rounds. He moved up to Welterweight and scored a spectacular win over Carlos Quintana to win the WBA crown. He would go on to beat Zab Judah in a great fight in 2007. He proceed to beat Mosley in a fight I will discuss in a bit. Then he would lose brutally to Margarito.

Shane Mosley on the the other hand was a destructive lightweight. He defended his title 8 times and probably it would be hard to find a round he actually lost in those 8 defenses. He was the 2nd best lightweight since Roberto Duran. (Pernell Whitaker was better) If anybody questions how good he was pop in the tape of his fight against John John Molina in 1998. It was brilliant. He earned the 1998 BWAA fighter of the year award. He proceeded to jump 2 divisions and beat a prime Oscar De La Hoya. He defended his title 3 times. He was considered at that time by most, to be the best fighter in the world pound for pound. 38-0-35 knockouts.

Vernon Forrest put an end to the Sugar Ray Robinson comparisions with a devastating win in early 2002. He repeated the win in a much closer fight later that year. Mosley would go on to beat De La Hoya again in 2003, controversially(Balco and Scorecards)
He lost to Winky Wright 2 times in 2004, 2nd fight closer then the 1st. Then he would go on a roll with great wins over Fernando Vargas, Luis Collazo, and recently Antonio Margarito, to win the WBA and World(Cyberboxingzone.com) Welterweight Crown.

Just by looking at this. Cotto would have to beat Pacquiao convincingly and win the legitimate title at Jr. Middleweight to equal Mosley. Could it happen? Yes. Will it. I have my doubts.

2007 Fight

First off let me say, I have no problem with the decision. Cotto fought great against Mosley, and anytime there is a close fight, nobody should have a problem with the decision.

But looking back at the fight. It was basically an even fight. Just as many people scored the fight a draw as they did score Cotto the winner, some even had Mosley up in the cards. The Associated Press had it 114-114. They both landed 248 punches. Cotto landed more jabs and boxed better, but Mosley landed more power punches and was stronger down the stretch. It was a very close fight.

Rewatching the fight there are 4 acceptable cards. 116-112 Cotto, 115-113 Cotto, 114-114, and 115-113 Mosley. It depends on what you were watching for. Some like Cotto’s excellent jab that night, some like Mosley effective agressiveness. Personally I had it a draw, but like I said I had no problem with the decision, and nobody should.

But the point here is just because you beat somebody closely and not clearly, it doesn’t make you better then that fighter. My example is Jermain Taylor beating Bernard Hopkins twice. Both of those fights were close, a lot of people had Hopkins winning. But does anybody really feel that Taylor was a better fighter. In my opinion Cotto is a better fighter then Taylor, but Cotto’s win over Mosley was far from decisive. There should have been a rematch to clear it up, but Cotto’s people did not want it.(Cotto would fight anybody, so nobody is blaming him)

Also not one legitimate ranking organization has Cotto ranked above Mosley currently. Everybody has Mosley the number 1 welterweight in the world and higher on the Pound for Pound list then Cotto.

Margarito

Antonio Margarito is the most polarizing fighter in boxing right now. He has even earned the name “Margacheato” for his attempt to load his glove against Shane Mosley earlier this year. Last year, Margarito knocked out and beat up Miguel Cotto in a fight now that has a shadow over it. But for every body who wants to say Cotto is still undefeated, he is not. Margarito style and activity will always give Cotto problems. And while we have our suspicions. We don’t have any evidence to prove it. (I think he did load his gloves)

Now back to Mosley. If anybody watched that fight in January they know that Margarito could have had brinks in his gloves that night and it would not have mattered. Shane Mosley flat out destroyed him. He knocked him out in spectacular fashion. You can’t load your chin, and Shane Mosley laid a whooping. Paul Williams, Joshua Clottey, and Miguel Cotto all landed their best shots, but none made the dent Mosley did. It reminds me of Kelly Pavlik beating Jermain Taylor, who beat Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins proceeded to dominate and humilate Pavlik, much like Mosley did to Margarito.

Closing

In closing, nothing is going to change the fact the Shane Mosley is a better fighter historically then Miguel Cotto as of right now. Mosley beat better fighters, he has accomplished more, and every reputable person who can see believes he is higher ranked then Cotto, even right now at 37 years old. (a rematch could change that but it never happened.)

For the Cotto fans, this is not a slight at your fighter. He is an excellent fighter. But he has a long way to go. Yes, he beat Mosley in 2007, but in the end it was a close and undecisive win that deserved a rematch.

Can Cotto beat Manny Pacquiao? No, I don’t think he can. But I don’t think Shane Mosley can either. But my point is Mosley is more deserving of the fight with Manny Pacquiao and it is not even close. Sorry Cotto fans, its the truth. Mosley is just better right now.



http://www.boxing24.com/

It is a great rarity when all the stars align within the world of boxing.

It only happens when a match-up looks fight fans dead in the eyes and says, "Yes, I am Pay-Per-View worthy and... No! This is not a fabricated fight!"

We've seen plenty of fabrications over the past several years such as De la Hoya-Pacquiao, Jones-Calzaghe, and Vargas-Mayorga. On the other hand we've also witnessed the absolute best within each division square off such as the Pavlik-Taylor I, Kessler-Calzaghe, and Cotto vs. Margarito scraps.

When you have two men facing one another after having performed spectaculary in their most recent prize fights, it signifies all that is intriguing about this pugilistic art form known as "boxing".

Shane Mosley entered the ring as more than a 3-1 underdog against Antonio Margarito this past January. It was a bout that few if any gave "Sugar" a chance to pull off the monumental upset. The Mexican cheater (Margarito) had recently defeated the highly touted Puerto Rican sensation, Miguel Cotto in a "Fight of the Year" candidate for 2008 and had garnered the momentum and adoration from the Mexican contingent rivaling that seen of recent greats such as Erik "El Terrible" Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

The veteran Mosley utilized a blend of speed, power, and well-timed (albeit excessive) clinches to destroy the myth of the "Tijuana Tornado". It was a result that left the boxing world in awe as a fighter who had been written of as "shot" showed the public that you can never count out a throwback fighter with the grit, heart, and resolve to strive for greatness.

We've all seen how the saga of Manny Pacquiao has played out over the past three fights so there's no need to delve into that history.

The question I ask of all of you is... why not have Manny Pacquiao face off against "Sugar" Shane Mosley this October?

It would pit two guys coming off sensational knockout victories which always sets the stage for a mild hydrogen bomb explosion inside the ring.

Instead of creating fights off the top of one's cranium, it'd create the ultimate intrigue by setting up a true super bout for March of 2010 between the winner of Pacquiao-Mosley against the potential clash between either Floyd Mayweather Jr., Juan Manuel Marquez, Joshua Clottey, or Miguel Cotto. Yes... as a purist of the sport, I always believe that winners should fight winners regardless of followings.

We must remember, it is perhaps the only way... the only way... once again... the ONLY way Bernard Hopkins would have ever gotten a shot at Felix "Tito" Trinidad back in 2001.

Hopkins had very little exposure leading up to his showdown with Trinidad but due to the "bracket" system of a tournament, there was no way for the Puerto Rican superstar to avoid facing off against the best middleweight of this era.

Boxing needs to go back to this system of competition rather than continuing to rely on the relationships between promoters, managers, advisors, shoe shiners, and the hanger-ons that plague the sport.

Shane Mosley has already openly stated that he's ready and willing to meet the "Pacman" at his requested catch-weight so at this point in time, there are no clear obstacles to stop the super fight from happening.



http://theboxingtruth.com/

In a recent Primera Hora, WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto revealed that he was not impressed with Manny Pacquiao's victories over Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya or David Diaz. "Nothing impresses me. He has two arms and so do I," he stated indifferently, showing no concern whatsoever with the fact that none of the opponents have made it past the ninth round. While those comments are to be expected from a fighter who exudes confidence in himself, there is one thing that Cotto should at least be a little concerned with and keenly aware of when it comes to Manny Pacquiao…his weight!

"It does not matter if it is at 145 pounds. That was the weight we had said from the beginning and in the ring [on fight night], I will go up in weight by eight to ten pounds," Cotto continued. Although he dismisses the proposed catch-weight as being a concern, Cotto should take note that Pacquiao's last two opponents, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, also shared those same sentiments. In fact, although his bout with Ricky Hatton took place at the jr. welterweight limit of 140 pounds, on the night of the fight, Pacquiao rehydrated to 148 pounds while Hatton got up to 152 pounds. Similarly, in his bout with De La Hoya, which took place at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, Pacquiao was able to rehydrate to 148.5 pounds after weighing in at 142 pounds while De La Hoya only reached 147 pounds after weighing in at an extremely low 145 pounds.

It's critical that Cotto does not fall into the false sense of security that he'll be the bigger man come fight night. If he loses the weight the wrong way, he'll suffer the same fate as De La Hoya. Even if he does lose the weight with no problem, every pound that he's forced to shed is one less pound that he'll be able to gain back. Assuming that Cotto comes in around 153-155 pounds, will it be enough to give him the size and strength advantage over Pacquiao, who consistently come in around 148 pounds? The 12 pounds that Hatton was able to put on definitely wasn't enough and he quickly learned that he was in the ring with a fighter just as big and strong as him.

Regardless of what Cotto thinks about his performances, Pacquiao is not as small as his opponents may think. It's a fact that his trainer, Freddie Roach, is adeptly aware of and the reason why he has no problem with the bout taking place at 145 pounds. "Arum called me and I told him that I did not have a problem with the fight being at 145 pounds. In reality, it doesn't matter to me if Cotto wants to weigh 200 pounds," Roach stated. That's an extremely interesting statement from Roach, who was originally trying to get the fight to take place at 143 pounds. Indeed, it appears that neither side is too worried about the weight, but Cotto should be concerned that he might not have the physical advantage over an opponent who's supposed to be smaller than him.




http://www.fighthype.com/

Manny Pacquiao doesn’t give Miguel Cotto the creeps.

Cotto, the Puerto Rican banger on the cusp of earning the biggest paycheck of his storied career, has a rather philosophical view of the planned November 14 mega match with Pacquiao.

Speaking to the Puerto Rican media, Cotto said he was not awed with the way Pacquiao destroyed David Diaz, mauled Oscar De La Hoya, and flattened Ricky Hatton.

“I am not impressed,” Cotto said in a story that was carried by Primera Hora. “He has two arms and so do I.”

Cotto is fresh from repulsing the bold challenge of Joshua Clottey almost two weeks ago and is currently on vacation mode but is raring to get back to the gym in preparation for the Pacquiao duel that should take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

While Cotto suffered a nasty wound on his left eyebrow against Clottey, he revealed that the cut is healing fast and that he might start working out in three weeks time.

“The wound is almost healed,” said Cotto, who declared that he can only drop to 145 lbs against Pacquiao.

Cotto claimed that they (him and Pacquiao) had both agreed that the catch weight will be 145 lbs. and is keenly awaiting for the confirmation of the scheduled 12-rounder that will put Cotto's World Boxing Organization welterweight crown on the line.

Cotto plans to set up training camp for the Pacquiao fight in Tampa, Florida.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum, who promotes both Cotto and Pacquiao, wants to finalize the deal by the end of the month.

While the catch weight has apparently been resolved, the revenue split has yet to be discussed although Cotto has left word that he doesn't mind getting the smaller piece of the pie.

Pacquiao's camp wants no less than a 65-35 edge in the revenue-sharing, while Pacquiao trainer Freddie

Roach wants a bigger bite – 70-30 – since the Filipino is the much bigger draw in terms of popularity and pay-per-view appeal.



http://www.mb.com.ph/

Negotiations for a Nov. 14 megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto remain on track, according to the promoter for both fighters who said the Puerto Rican's team is ready to proceed and make it official.

"We're pretty well there," says Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank, Inc., who talked with Cotto's representatives Tuesday morning. "I'll get it done next week. That's my goal."

Arum met with a representative from Pacquiao's camp over the weekend to outline the deal. Pacquiao still has to review it.

"We decided we didn't want to call Manny to discuss it on the phone because Manny tends to be distracted (in the Philippines)," says Arum, who was able to get Pacquiao to agree via phone to set up his May 2 junior welterweight championship bout with Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) won by second-round knockout in the first major pay-per-view bout of the year in his first appearance at 140 pounds.

Although Cotto holds a major welterweight belt and is one of the division's top two fighters with a claim to the actual throne along with Shane Mosley, the fight will take place slightly below the 147-pound limit. Though initially it appeared to be a major stumbling block — Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs) had said he wouldn't come down in weight before his close decision win vs. Joshua Clottey on June 13 — it isn't any more.

"The weight is still in the air," Arum says. "But we're still in the same ballpark. It's not a big issue, really. Miguel is not going down below 144. Manny wants him to be a couple pounds below 147. That's not going to stop the deal from being made."

The bout would take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena on pay-per-view.



http://www.usatoday.com/

WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is not exactly impressed with the last couple of performances by Manny Pacquiao, regarded by many as the best fighter in the sport. The two fighters are being matched by Top Rank, with the fight taking place on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Cotto plans to return to training camp in three weeks to begin the necessary work for the fight with Pacquiao. Cotto is not concerned about the catch-weight of 145-pounds.

"It doesn't matter if it takes place at 145 pounds. That was the weight we had said from the start. I will go up in weight by eight to ten pounds [by fight night]. We are waiting for confirmation that the fight [is done]. Nothing impresses me. He has two arms and so do I. Things in life happen when they have to happen," Cotto said to Primera Hora.

Cotto suffered a serious cut during his recent decision win against Joshua Clottey. He needed 21 stitches above his left eye. He says the cut is healing well and should not present a problem.

"The injury is already practically healed. We are resting and then we are going to train for a good fight. The people knows how Miguel Cotto works," Cotto said.



http://www.boxingscene.com/

Top Rank Promotions chief Bob Arum thinks it’s much more practical for Manny Pacquiao to pick Miguel Cotto over Shane Mosley.

And here is why.

“Manny Pacquiao has saw for himself how immensely popular Miguel Cotto is,” said Arum in an interview over dzSR’s Sports Chat with Dennis Principe.

“Miguel has always done extremely well on pay per view… Cotto brings more to the table than Mosley,” he added.

Arum said that just like Filipinos, there are many Puerto Ricans in the US, all of whom will be rooting for their champion.

This, he said, is Cotto’s edge over Mosley.

“Miguel brings millions of Puerto Rican fans... those people will be coming for the fight and buy pay per view,” said Arum, who promoted some of boxing’s most historical matches.

Arum added that Cotto is more likely to agree to a smaller split compared to Mosley, who has offered a 40-60 revenue share favoring Pacquiao just to get the Filipino to fight him.

“Cotto has a smaller split than Mosley and Manny can just fight one fighter at a time. Down the road to next year there can always be a Mosley and [Floyd] Mayweather Jr.,” said the Top Rank chief.

Mosley earlier accused Arum of blocking his way to prevent Pacquiao from fighting him.

“Bob Arum is being the puppet master putting this together, but Manny will make more money fighting me,” said Mosley.



http://abs-cbnnews.com/

“That’s not realistic,” said Arum about Roach’s insistence that a catch weight of 143 lbs be imposed for the proposed Nov. 14 showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

After conferring with Cotto’s people, led by legal counsel Gabriel Penagaricano, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion said he is willing to meet Pacquiao halfway to make the fight happen.

“The catch weight will be 144 or 145 lbs,” said Arum, whose outfit has both fighters under his promotional banner.

Arum also revealed that Mike Koncz, Pacquiao’s Los Angeles-based adviser, has in his possession the proposal that he will present to the 30-year-old puncher later this week. Koncz, Arum noted, will travel back to the Philippines this weekend.

“I spent three to four hours with Mike today and he read the proposal and said he is very confident that Manny would approve it,” said Arum without revealing the details of the documents that Pacquiao and his lawyer Franklin Gacal would review.

“I think the proposal is very fair (to both camps),” added Arum.

Despite Cotto’s difficulties in his last outing against Joshua Clottey, Roach believes Cotto remains a very dangerous opponent for somebody like Pacquiao, who is not a natural welterweight.

Ringsiders have been very vocal about Pacquiao’s demand that a catch weight be set since the welter class has a limit of 147 lbs.

While Pacquiao has fought at welter — his ninth-round stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya last year being his landmark victory — the Filipino only weighed 142 lbs for that fight.

And when Pacquiao fought at the super-lightweight class of 140 lbs against Ricky Hatton last May, he only tipped the scales at 138 lbs. Cotto weighed in at 146 lbs against Clottey and Gacal believes he can still get rid of a few pounds.



http://www.mb.com.ph/

VIDEOS OF TODAY'S SUPERMAN & EARLY KRYPTONITE

San Francisco, CA- There is no more popular and possibly better fighter in boxing today than Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino superstar who went from rages to beyond riches and fame as a prizefighter, Manny has a record of 49-3-2 with 37 KOs. In his last two outings Pacquiao hasn’t lost a moment (yes, I said a moment) in eight rounds with Oscar De La Hoya and less than two with Ricky Hatton last month.

PACQUIAO A PRO NOW FOR 14 YEARS

But there are three losses on his professional ledger and today we look at the three guys that beat the man most people think is the best fighter in all of boxing. But in order to do that, we need to go back to January 22, 1995 and the professional debut of Pacquiao. On this day he weighed around 107 lbs, this as he bested countryman Edmund Ignacio on points over four rounds in Mindero, Occidental. Pac would go 13 months and 11 fights before taking on a slightly more seasoned Rustico Torrecampo (then 11-4-4, 8 KOs) in February 1996.

PACMAN DOING A HATTON IMPERSONATION

A single straight left hand from southpaw Torrecampo caught Manny on the chin walking in as the shot was driven right between Pacquaio’s gloves. It was one of those knockouts in which a fighter is “short circuited” (medical term is concussed) neurologically. The Pacman would come back and win another 15 fights (13 by KO). In the process Manny captured the WBC 112 lb. title besting Chatchai Sasakul (then 33-1) in December 1998 with a KO 8.

THE DAY THE PACMAN COULDN’T MAKE WEIGHT

Set to defend in Thailand against undefeated Medgoen Singsurat (18-0), Pac never made the flyweight limit of 112. Officially, Manny weighed 113. After losing the first two stanzas, the Thai fighter was advancing on a weakened Pacquiao. A single right hand to the body ended matters in round three September 17, 1999.

PAC JUMPED UP THREE WEIGHT DIVISIONS

The weight drained Pacman moved up ten lbs. bypassing super flyweight (115) and bantamweight (118) to 122 and super bantamweight. Winning another six before stopping the favored Ledlo Ledwaba (then 33-1) for the IBF 122 lb. trinket, the Pacman had turned some heads. The first fight to Erik Morales (then 47-2) ended with a UD 12 win for the Mexican champion as it was 115-113 across the board (7-5 in rounds).

MORALES REMATCH NOT LIKE THEIR FIRST

Morales would grant Pacquiao, who was hampered greatly by a cut in their first encounter of March 19, 2005, a rematch less than a year in January 2006. Pacman demolished anything Morales had left as a boxer in this fight. They would clash a third time, and the blitzkrieg that was Pacquiao on this November 2006 evening stopped Erik in the third fistic frame.

WHAT’S ERIK UP TO NOW?

Morales would have one more fight in losing to David Diaz before retiring at 48-6 with 34 KOs. Erik likes Luche Libre, a Mexican style of professional wrestling and is involved in the business in Tijuana as his better half’s father is a promoter. He is 32 years of age.

RUSTY CAN ALWAYS RUN THE VIDEOTAPE!

The first guy that beat Pac, Rustico Torrecampo, he retired from boxing in 1997. He is now 36 years old. His being a Filipino national that once beat Manny has to earn him a little extra respect from his countryman, although the Manny that Rustico stopped in 1996 was green like a well watered lawn.

GUESS WHO’S STILL FIGHTING A DECADE LATER?

Medgoen Singsurat, who beat Manny ten long years ago, the Thai is still active as a boxer. He lost the WBC flyweight title he took from Pacquiao after one successful defense to another Filipino in unbeaten (10-0) Malcolm Tunacao. From that point forward, Singsurat has been an above average “regional” fighter. Now 31, Singsurat last fought in May and is now 62-5 with 44 KOs.

PAC’S TWO LOSSES FEW PEOPLE HAVE SEEN

Below are two links to short videos of the Torrecampo and Singsurat fights. In closing, Manny Pacquiao proved that he could overcome the adversity of a couple of early losses to rise to his position today as “the best fighter in boxing.”

IDEOS OF TWO LOSSES FROM LAST CENTURY

Here are the two setbacks to Rustico Torrecampo and Monserat Singsurat.

CLICK HERE FOR PAC-TORRECAMPO VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR PAC-SINGSURAT VIDEO



http://ringtalk.com/

A number of fighters names have been thrown out there as possible opponents of Philippines boxing sensation Manny Pacquaio, but it appears now that his camp is currently in negotiations with Miguel Cotto's people.

According to the LA Times, promoter Bob Arum is negotiating terms, including weight -- probably below welterweight -- and purse split. Meanwhile, Shane Mosley says he's the man Pacquiao should be fighting.

Both Pacquiao and Cotto say they would like to fight one another next.

The fight is tentatively scheduled for November 14 in Las Vegas.

It is widely believed that once the fight is officially scheduled, SBG Global plans to offer a line on this bout.

"It is widely expected this would be the most bet on boxing event of the year should it come to fruition in 2009," expressed Tyrone Darnell Black of Gambling911.com. "SBG has advised us that Pacquiao will be instilled a big favorite."



http://www.gambling911.com/

A fight with Manny Pacquiao has become Boxing’s version of the golden ticket. A guaranteed big payday, HBO 24/7, and ppv are in store for whoever Pacquiao chooses to fight next. Floyd Mayweather Jr, Shane Mosley, and Miguel Cotto have all been rumored as Pacquaio’s next opponent.

Mayweather would seem to be the best option of the three. A former pound for pound champion until he retired, “Money” Mayweather has unretired to face familiar Pacquiao foe Juan Manuel Marquez. A Mayweather rib injury has postponed that bout until September, effectively putting him out of the running for Pacquiao.

Shane Mosley is the next likely option, as he is a former pound for pound champion himself. He is also the current welterweight champion, after his one sided knockout of Antonio Margarito in January. A formidable foe for Pacquaio, he has taken to calling Pacquiao out. Mosley has stated he is willing to come down to 144 lbs. to make the fight happen. He has also personally spoken to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, about the fight. Although Pacquaio would no doubt be willing to fight Mosley, it seems Bob Arum is not warm to the idea.

This leaves Miguel Cotto, the least likely option, as the frontrunner. Pacquiao was ringside as Cotto won a close split decision over Joshua Clottey. Cotto was cut early in the fight, and looked to survive in the later rounds. Clottey outfoxed Cotto during the middle rounds, but seemed to take his foot off the gas in the final frames. A first round knockdown and late rounds comeback propelled Cotto to victory.

Immediately following the fight, Bob Arum announced Cotto/Pacquiao would happen in October. The contracts have not been signed yet, but Arum is moving forward as if the fight will take place. Freddie Roach also seems pretty warm to the idea, but wants Cotto to come down to 144 or 143.

Here is where the main problem lies with this bout. Freddie Roach has been adamant that he wants Pacquiao to continue fighting no higher than 143 or 144. While Mosley has agreed verbally to fight at 144, it is debatable whether Cotto can make this weight safely. Cotto is rather large for a welterweight fighter, and routinely comes in well over 160 on fight night.

The problem with Cotto coming down to 144 or 143 is it may adversely affect his in ring performance. If Cotto struggles with the weight, it may cost him stamina, and may affect his ability to take punches from Pacquiao. Cotto struggled for years to make the 140 lb. limit, and it began affecting his performance then. He was hurt and dropped several times, most noticeable against Ricardo Torres who almost knocked him out. These performances were blamed on Cotto’s inability to make the weight safely.

If you need another example of what can happen to a weight drained fighter, look no further than Oscar De La Hoya. Against Pacquaio, De La Hoya weighed in at 145 but only put on two pounds by fight time. He was unable to rehydrate himself properly, and had to receive several IV’s. In the fight De La Hoya was slow, sluggish, and lethargic. He was dominated and stopped after eight one sided rounds.

If all parties agree and this fight is signed, it may be the weight that determines the outcome. If Roach has his way and Cotto has to boil himself down to 143, the fight may be won before fight night. Roach knows the further down in weight Cotto comes, the weaker he will be. Pacquaio looks to have the much quicker hands of the two, and may have more miles left in the gas tank. Cotto has been in several brutal wars over the last few years, and may be starting to show signs of wear and tear.

At 147, this fight would look to be an almost even match. At 144, Pacquaio would seem to be the favorite. At less than 144, it could become another lopsided Pacquaio blowout.



http://insidefights.com/

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao appears bent on entering the political ring that he is seriously contemplating leaving the boxing ring for good.

The reigning pound-for-pound king declared he is good for one last fight, his projected November 14 gig at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas intended to be his swan song.

“Siguro last fight ko na ito para magserbisyo naman ako sa mga tao," Pacquiao said in an interview on 24 Oras.

“Ang mama ko nga ayaw na niya akong lumaban pero sabi ko, kaya ko pa naman, isa pa," added the two-time Fighter of the Year, whose camp is currently in negotiations with WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto for a possible showdown.

Pacquiao is eyeing a congressional post in Saranggani Province in next year’s elections and he has already set the wheels in motion for this bid by forming his own local party, the People’s Champ Movement, and setting residence in the province.

Siguro last fight ko na ito para magserbisyo naman ako sa mga tao. Ang mama ko nga ayaw na niya akong lumaban pero sabi ko, kaya ko pa naman, isa pa.
– Manny Pacquiao, boxing icon


Over the weekend, he graced the celebrations for the founding anniversary of the district of Malapatan, where he publicly expressed his intention to serve them as congressman.

“Itong mga kamao ko na ginamit ko pang-knockout sa mga kalaban sa boxing, gagamitin ko para makatulong sa inyo," he told his highly-appreciative “constituents."

To show his seriousness to help the townsfolk, Pacquiao, one of the highest-paid athletes in the world according to Forbes magazine and one of the most influential people based on a list by Time magazine, donated an ambulance and fire-truck for the district’s use.

This would be the Pacman’s second attempt at a House seat after getting knocked out in 2007 by incumbent Rep. Darlene Custodio over in South Cotabato district.

But before Pacquiao could train his 100 percent attention to politics, he has to take care of one more business in the ring first.

Currently, his promoter is in talks with fellow Top Rank fighter Cotto for his “lash hurrah."

The Filipino ring icon himself had greenlit the negotiations with Cotto after personally seeing the Puerto Rican fight and escape with a split decision win over challenger Joshua Clottey in New York last June 13.

Top Rank boss Bob Arum had expressed confidence he would get Pacquiao and Cotto to sign on soon for what he described as a terrific fight. Among the issues still to be ironed out are the purse split and possible catch weight.



GMANews.Tv

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s camp may already be in negotiation for a prospective fight with Miguel Cotto but Sugar Shane Mosley is not about to throw in the towel yet.

Still dead serious in getting the Filipino ring icon as opponent, Mosley reiterated that he, not Cotto, presents the BIG fight out there for the reigning pound-for-pound king.

"The only person that's stopping the (Pacquiao-Mosley) fight is Bob Arum (Top Rank boss who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto)," Mosley was quoted in a fighthype.com report.

Mosley, who had even declared his willingness to accept a 40/60 split and slide down from 147 lbs to meet Pacquiao at a catch weight, claimed Arum was only pushing for a Pacquiao-Cotto bout in a bid to keep the Puerto Rican at his stable.

“Bob Arum has his own investments into the fight as far as him wanting to re-sign Cotto and get him a big fight. Then he has Pacquiao. He will give Cotto a little money to keep him happy because he really doesn't deserve any of it. And then he will throw Pacquiao something out there.

“But the bigger fight is me and Pacquiao. We have the biggest names by far and Pacquiao's legacy wouldn't be damaged losing to me. I don't understand…well, I do understand what Bob Arum wants to do, but I wouldn't understand why Pacquiao wouldn't take the fight," he said.

Pacquiao had given Arum the greenlight to initiate talks with WBO welterweight champ Cotto after watching the latter fight and escape with a split decision win over Joshua Clottey.

The projected Pacquiao-Cotto duel is being eyed for November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The wheels are already in motion and Arum had expressed confidence both fighters would sign on, although he’s not rushing things.

"What's the rush?" Arum told the Las Vegas Review-Journal Sunday. "There's going to be some haggling, like there always is. But, eventually, we'll get it worked out, and by early July, everything should be set for what will be a great fight."

But Mosley, the reigning WBA welterweight champion, insisted the fight that fans really want involves him and the IBO 140-lb boss.

And he’s willing to put this on a vote among Pacquiao’s Filipino fans.

"I just want to tell Pacquiao to do the right thing for boxing," Mosley said in the fighthype.com report. “I think you guys should put a poll up and let the Philippine fans vote which one they think would be a bigger fight and who they want to see Pacquiao fight next, Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto! Let's see who the Philippine fans want Pacquiao to fight next,"

But apparently, it’s not the Filipinos’ vote on his next foe that Pacquiao is interested in right now.

Over the weekend, Pacquiao joined the townsfolk of Malapatan, Saranggani in celebrating their founding anniversary, a move seen as his initial salvo in trying to woo their votes next year. The 30-year-old Pacquiao is bent on running for a congressional seat in Saranggani after a failed bid in South Cotabato three years ago.



http://www.gmanews.tv/