Cotto and Clottey make weight, too heavy for Pacquiao
NEW YORK — One thing is all but certain after Saturday's welterweight matchup between Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey, two of the top three in the 147-pound division.
The winner is unlikely to get a shot at Manny Pacquiao, the sport's hottest property, who is scheduled to pick up Fighter of the Year honors here late Friday from the Boxing Writers Association of America.
"Cotto said he won't fight below 147," says Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer and manager who'll be receiving Trainer of the Year honors. "There's only one fighter I'll fight at '47, and that's the easiest fight for Manny Pacquiao — Floyd Mayweather."
Despite not owning a major belt, Pacquiao is the junior welterweight champion (140) by virtue of his second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in May. The Filipino, who was in commute from the Philippines and not available early Friday, has only had one fight at 147. That was an eight-round destruction of Oscar De La Hoya, which sent him into retirement, in December.
Mayweather returns to the ring after a 19-month layoff July 18 against lightweight champion (135) Juan Manuel Marquez on HBO Pay-Per-View. That bout is being billed as a welterweight fight, though it actually will be held at a catchweight of 143 or 144, according to Marquez's promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.
Friday's weigh-in went according to plan. Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs), a native Ghana who lives in the Bronx, weighed in at the welterweight limit of 147. Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs), fighting for the fourth time on the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York, was a pound under.
The Caguas, Puerto Rico, native is 3-0 on these dates but hasn't had a stiff challenge since his 11th-round knockout loss to Antonio Margarito in July. Cotto rebounded with a win four mouths ago against Michael Jennings, but it's unclear how much, if at all, the beating he took from Margarito damaged him.
"I like Cotto, but it's a hard fight though," Roach says. "I really worry about Cotto being a little bit shot off the Margarito beating. Even though he's had one fight since then he didn't look good. It was against a mediocre opponent. He's fighting a real tough guy this time. I think the Margarito fight took something out of him."
Margarito was suspended for a year when it was revealed he tried to use an illegal, plaster-like substance in his handwraps prior to his bout with Shane Mosley in January. Margarito denied cheating against Cotto, but unlike Mosley, Cotto didn't sent a representative from his camp to supervise the wrapping of the Mexican's hands.
Mosley dominated from the start to knock out Margarito in the ninth. Because Cotto has a 2007 victory over Mosley, the true championship for the welterweight division is vacant.
"Clottey is a really good fighter. I lean towards Cotto, maybe because I like him," Roach says. "I don't have any interest in who wins. This fight had no bearing on my fighter."
Pacquiao wants to fight again in November of December, and he'll accept whatever is the best deal from Cotto and Mosley, provided they come down to meet at a catchweight, or Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs).
Even with a win, Clottey isn't on the radar. He came in at 170 pounds for a welterweight bout, after the 24-hour rehydration period following the weigh-in, in a win against Diego Corrales two years ago.
"Manny wants to fight megafights," Roach says.
Before Pacquiao's destruction of Hatton, who had been undefeated at 140 pounds and went 10 rounds with Mayweather in 2007 before being knocked out, a bout with Mayweather wasn't nearly as compelling.
Now, after Pacquiao knocked the Briton cold with a single left hand to the chin, it's the biggest fight that can be made this year.
Roach doesn't see why so much buzz about Mayweather. His fighter was far more impressive and dominant vs. common opponents.
"He struggled with Oscar," he says. "Ricky Hatton was ahead after six rounds. Where's the greatness? I dont see it."
http://www.usatoday.com/
The winner is unlikely to get a shot at Manny Pacquiao, the sport's hottest property, who is scheduled to pick up Fighter of the Year honors here late Friday from the Boxing Writers Association of America.
"Cotto said he won't fight below 147," says Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer and manager who'll be receiving Trainer of the Year honors. "There's only one fighter I'll fight at '47, and that's the easiest fight for Manny Pacquiao — Floyd Mayweather."
Despite not owning a major belt, Pacquiao is the junior welterweight champion (140) by virtue of his second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in May. The Filipino, who was in commute from the Philippines and not available early Friday, has only had one fight at 147. That was an eight-round destruction of Oscar De La Hoya, which sent him into retirement, in December.
Mayweather returns to the ring after a 19-month layoff July 18 against lightweight champion (135) Juan Manuel Marquez on HBO Pay-Per-View. That bout is being billed as a welterweight fight, though it actually will be held at a catchweight of 143 or 144, according to Marquez's promoter, Golden Boy Promotions.
Friday's weigh-in went according to plan. Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs), a native Ghana who lives in the Bronx, weighed in at the welterweight limit of 147. Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs), fighting for the fourth time on the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York, was a pound under.
The Caguas, Puerto Rico, native is 3-0 on these dates but hasn't had a stiff challenge since his 11th-round knockout loss to Antonio Margarito in July. Cotto rebounded with a win four mouths ago against Michael Jennings, but it's unclear how much, if at all, the beating he took from Margarito damaged him.
"I like Cotto, but it's a hard fight though," Roach says. "I really worry about Cotto being a little bit shot off the Margarito beating. Even though he's had one fight since then he didn't look good. It was against a mediocre opponent. He's fighting a real tough guy this time. I think the Margarito fight took something out of him."
Margarito was suspended for a year when it was revealed he tried to use an illegal, plaster-like substance in his handwraps prior to his bout with Shane Mosley in January. Margarito denied cheating against Cotto, but unlike Mosley, Cotto didn't sent a representative from his camp to supervise the wrapping of the Mexican's hands.
Mosley dominated from the start to knock out Margarito in the ninth. Because Cotto has a 2007 victory over Mosley, the true championship for the welterweight division is vacant.
"Clottey is a really good fighter. I lean towards Cotto, maybe because I like him," Roach says. "I don't have any interest in who wins. This fight had no bearing on my fighter."
Pacquiao wants to fight again in November of December, and he'll accept whatever is the best deal from Cotto and Mosley, provided they come down to meet at a catchweight, or Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs).
Even with a win, Clottey isn't on the radar. He came in at 170 pounds for a welterweight bout, after the 24-hour rehydration period following the weigh-in, in a win against Diego Corrales two years ago.
"Manny wants to fight megafights," Roach says.
Before Pacquiao's destruction of Hatton, who had been undefeated at 140 pounds and went 10 rounds with Mayweather in 2007 before being knocked out, a bout with Mayweather wasn't nearly as compelling.
Now, after Pacquiao knocked the Briton cold with a single left hand to the chin, it's the biggest fight that can be made this year.
Roach doesn't see why so much buzz about Mayweather. His fighter was far more impressive and dominant vs. common opponents.
"He struggled with Oscar," he says. "Ricky Hatton was ahead after six rounds. Where's the greatness? I dont see it."
http://www.usatoday.com/
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