Pacquiao-Cotto Official!
by Brickhaus on Jul 20, 2009 3:59 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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After what seems like weeks of haggling back and forth on silly terms, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto have finally agreed to fight on November 14, at the MGM Grand. The biggest of the sticking points was the catchweight for the fight, which will be at 145 pounds. That means that Cotto's welterweight title will be on the line, but Pacquiao's light welterweight championship will not.
This is excellent news. While it may not be THE fight that everyone wanted, it undeniably should be a solid, all-action fight between two top 10 pound for pound boxers. As with Pacquiao's last few fights, there will be a number of plotlines to watch out for. Will Pacquiao be able to take Cotto's punch? Will Cotto have full energy if he has to boil down below 147? Will the press be able to coax a negative word out of the mouth of either fighter for the entire press tour?
In my estimation, Pacquiao has very little to lose but a whole lot to gain out of this fight. If he wins, he will have either been champion or held an alphabet belt at seven different weight classes, which is completely unheard of. In addition, his star probably becomes even bigger, being in another megafight against someone who's no slouch at the box office himself. If he loses, he does have the excuse of fighting well above his best weight, although after his destructions of De La Hoya and Hatton, that excuse won't hold a ton of water. Still, even taking on a prime, top 10 pound for pound fighter at a weight that's only 1 pound less than his last fight is a gutsy move.
The other good news is that this will hopefully end the standstill for other major fights getting made. Pacquiao and Cotto becoming unavailable forces Shane Mosley's hand, which in turn affects Paul Williams, which in turn affects Kelly Pavlik. Now that the suspense is over, don't be too surprised to see all three of them sign for fights (probably not against each other, unfortunately) in rapid succession.
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I love Cotto
but I am afraid his cut is going to do him in. He is a slow starter who likes to wear out his opponents. Pac comes out fast so between the two I dont see Cotto winning a lot of early rounds. Thats not to say he couldnt get a late KO or come back, but if that eye cut thats been haunting him sends it to the cards early, it would go well for him.
I'm with you
I think the cut will haunt Cotto for the rest of his career.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Pacquiao by Legal KO
"And Joe for Matt Hughes, dislike may not be a strong enough adjective!" - Mike Goldberg
In the minority then here dude, but
I think 145 is a good negotiating job well done. Real chance of Cotto winning a war on Nov 14, IMO
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
Nope
Only that Pacquiao got more.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I may not stick to this, but my initial gut feeling is a Pacquiao decision, fairly clear but a well-fought fight. Something like a 116-112 Pacquiao card with both guys in real trouble at some point.
That's what I'm thinking as well
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Yeah.
I’m a Cotto fan and all, but I’d be thrilled by that sort of a fight. I just hope Miggy comes out on top!
"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999
The stuff of dreams...
Wow I really can’t wait to see this fight they are both two of my favourite fighters.
Aside from both being able to slug it out and KO they both have the ability to box as well. It should be interesting and I think its going to be a lot closer than a lot of people think.
I would think Pacquiao will take it but I don’t buy into the whole Ricky Hatton and De La Hoya being testament to Pacquiao being able to fight in th 140’s.
I think neither of those fights say a lot about Pacquaios abilities at the weight and Pacquaio is risking his ass by agreeing to fight Cotto at 145. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got upset with a big KO not to mention Cottos body punches aren’t the nicest thing in the world either.
I still think Pacquaio takes it by KO though.
Well of course
Look at your username. ;-)
"And Joe for Matt Hughes, dislike may not be a strong enough adjective!" - Mike Goldberg
agreed on the weight issue
‘I don’t buy into the whole Ricky Hatton and De La Hoya being testament to Pacquiao being able to fight in th 140’s.’
Could not agree more on that point. Still take Cotto by KO though
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
The only thing that might still be a factor is punch resistance this high. As far as carrying the weight and being good enough of a boxer for it, he’s fine. He’s barely any smaller than Cotto.
by Scott Christ on Jul 21, 2009 6:23 AM EDT up reply actions
thats what I think
that his punch resistance at 140 and beyond simply wasn’t tested at all by Hatton and DLH, and Cotto will throw more punches, and harder than either or anyone he’s faced. I agree actually carrying the weight may not be much of an issue, but I do see Cotto getting to him/&taking his punches far better than Hatton
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
If he beats Cotto the way he did Hatton and Oscar (which I think is highly unlikely, in the words of Gorilla Monsoon), then we’re seriously talking about a guy on the very, very short list at that point.
by Scott Christ on Jul 21, 2009 6:43 AM EDT up reply actions
absolutely
Cannot wait, although I think Cotto is being criminally under-rated. He’s not going to be badly weight drained, and I will be in awe if Pac KO’s him like Hatton
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
Yeah 145 isn’t worrying me much. He was 146 for Clottey. It’s a pound. I was concerned about it when they were talking about 143, and sure that’s just a couple more pounds, but a couple more could be certain doooooom
by Scott Christ on Jul 21, 2009 6:58 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah
I did not see 143 working out well for Cotto at all. I thought the best he would get was 144, so 145 gives him no excuses re weight.
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
cotto is going to get blasted
he’s a tough dude and will hang in there but i’m thinking hes getting knocked cold similar to hatton.
F=ma
Pacman by KO. Badass scrap.
Keep firing Assholes!
Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
pacquiao via annihilation
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jul 20, 2009 7:31 PM EDT reply actions
Don't underestimate Cotto
I can’t believe how many people think Pacquiao is going to walk right through Cotto. This is going to be a tough fight for both guys, but I think Cotto has fought the better opposition recently, and hasn’t got the credit he deserves. Hatton is one of the most overrated fighters of recent memory, and what more can be said about Manny’s fight with Oscar? Could anyone on here honestly see Manny going toe to toe with Mosley or Margarito, with or without loaded gloves, the way Cotto did?
Pacquiao is amazing, but I can’t see him knocking Cotto out. A stoppage is likely, or I can see Manny pulling out a tough decision, but this is going to be war that could go either way. I just hope Cotto’s corner is in check.
I agree, Cotto is very a underrated fighter. Cotto is the type of fighter that makes adjustments during the fight.
I see two posible outcomes: Cotto wins by KO or PAcquiao wins by decision.
lol @ underrated. if anything that dirty chump is overrated
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Jul 21, 2009 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Of course it ain't easy for pac to hang around Marga or Mosley at 147
Remember, he’s fighting Cotto at 145! That actually says a lot. Plus, I don’t think everybody actually thinks that Pac would “walk right through” Cotto, they just think Pac will win by KO, while being lazy or whatever to elaborate why (i.e. the reactors here on blh). =)
If Cotto goes to the body like he can (but of recent has been reluctant) he could work Pac down and even stop him, he has been stopped on body shots. But I dont think he will be able to get there early to land them, maybe after Pac starts sitting on his shots and comes in closer toward the mid to late rounds, tho by then I think Cotto would be bit tiered chasing the faster man around.
I think Pacquiao’s speed will work over Cotto and like others have said open up that cut, from there he can move and use angles and get a KO maybe round 9.
"Good, so it can’t go any deeper." - Arturo Gatti after being told he was cut to the bone
Cotto's Cut.
Am I the only one that remembers that an accidental headbutt was what opened Cotto up in his fight against Clottey? It’s not like solid punches alone did the job…
I do think Cotto’s toughness and resume are being underrated a bit here, but there’s no doubt in this Cotto fan’s eyes that the Pac Man deserves to come into this fight as the favorite. That said, he’s not unbeatable and something like this fight could be the thing to remind the world of that fact.
This is a great day for boxing (as the pieces start to fall into place in the middle divisions for some time) and I’m already looking forward to this like nobody’s business!
"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999
Don't worry, SC
I think Pac would win, but if he does lose, he’s not the kind of guy that will make excuses… I think. =)
I just don't see it
I can’t see Cotto even making this a decent fight. I think it is a bad move to put a gate keeper like Cotto in against Manny. I guess we will see. My money says he puts a career threatening beatdown on Miguel.
I can’t see Cotto even making this a decent fight. I think it is a bad move to put a gate keeper like Cotto in against Manny.
Jesus Christ, now we’re calling one of the two best welters in the world a gatekeeper. This is becoming absolute madness.
by Scott Christ on Jul 21, 2009 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry SC,
Should have cleared that up, but to guys like Pacquiao, Cotto is a gatekeeper. I just don’t see him in the P4P list. I have seen him lately and it’s an honest opinion, but I should not have called him a gatekeeper.
How do you guys think Clottey would do against Pacquiao?
Just a guess here, but Clottey has a better chin and I would bet most people to pick Pacquiao in that one. Cotto is overrated. He is a good fighter, not in P4P though.
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