Once again the fading sport of boxing seeks to enrich our lives with another of their extravaganzas. This time around it’s a welterweight title fight being broadcast via PPV ($54.95 11:00pm ET Saturday 14th November 2009). The two combatants will be WBO welterweight champion, Miguel Cotto (34-1,27 KO’s) who faces challenger, Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2,37 KO’s). This highly anticipated fight takes place this Saturday, at the MGM Grand Casino & Resort, in Las Vegas, Nevada. And the bout itself is being promoted and staged by Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. , in conjunction with several of Top Rank’s media partners and patrons.

The bout itself, will lure the real fight fans to see one of the sport’s modern day heroes in Manny Pacquiao. And though he hasn’t a welterweight title to his name. He’s viewed as the linear champion within the welterweight division. And Arum, as the promoter of both fighters is in the enviable position of making a great deal of money from the event and for both Cotto and Pacquiao. It is expected that the bout may well draw in excess 1.75 million buys,realizing in excess of $ 96 million from the anticipated buys alone. And when one adds in the gate receipts of between $10-$15 million , not including the international broadcast rights, concessions and memorabilia sales. And the bout is expected to gross in excess of $110 million. Arum, and neither of his fighters, have made it public as to what the split may well be, between the fighters. But it is expected that neither fighter will walk away with less $20 million each , once the accounting and financial details have been taken care of.
Pacquiao takes care of business with his dismantling and then devastating knockout of Ricky Hatton for the IBO light-welterweight title. Pacquiao defeated the Englishman with a second round knockout in their title fight. The venue was the MGM Grand,Las Vegas, Nevada.
And on the 2nd May 2009 , the whole world knew then , what we all continue to believe now. Manny Pacquiao is the best pound for pound boxer in the world.
Pacuquiao coming off two devastating wins over former champions, in Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KO’s) and then his sensational display in dismantling and then knocking out Ricky Hatton (45-2-32 KO’s). Well, it has led many to believe that the same fate awaits Miguel Cotto. And though the WBO champion feels that he’s the one with the far more accomplished skills as a fighter. The vast majority of us in the know, are fully aware as evidenced by the recent displays by Pacquiao. Skills may mean one thing but if you can’t back it up in the ring. In the end it all counts for nothing. Personally, I favor Pacquiao to end this fight in a knockout in the early to mid rounds of the bout. Especially, given the fact that Cotto’s skin is very much like porcelain. He’s never been known to be able to take a good shot to the chin. And when cut, his skin essentially opens up to any laceration by way of effective shots to the head. In essence , Cotto’s skin is like that of a newborn baby. He cuts all too easily and given Pacquiao’s proclivity to end his fights rather spectacularly. The only way I can see Cotto overcoming Pacquiao, is to dictate the pace of the fight and to try and use his reach advantage over the challenger. If not then this bout could finish in devastating fashion.
Fans and members of the press convene at Yankees Stadium at a press conference to publicize the upcoming WBO welterweight title bout between title holder, Miguel Cotto and the challenger , Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines. At the podium behind the dais is Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach taking questions from the press and fans alike. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Will Hart ……….
Cotto’s resume’ as a fighter ,though not littered with as many high profiled names as his opponent’s fight record. Nonetheless, he’s faced some stiff opposition over the course of his career. But in many people’s eyes the loss to Antonio Margarito gave us something of a glimpse as to the vulnerability of the fighter. And even though it came back to haunt Margarito as to his actions. Nonetheless, we saw one of the more corrupt sides to the sport. And at the same time, how ineffective the governing bodies are with regard to the sport of boxing. It’s something that essentially has curbed the appetite of the fight fan in general. The laissez-faire attitude of the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBC has become an anathema to us all.

Cotto’s most recent bout saw him win comfortably in defeating Joshua Clottey (35-3-0, 20KO’s,1-NC). A fighter who’s now on the downside of his career but someone who’s still respected amongst his peers. And that’s solely for the main reason he comes to bang and bang he does with the very best of them. And though it led to Cotto dethroning the then WBO champion. The bout, and the way it ended was non too impressive. Cotto did enough to win but he was nowhere dominant as he,himself had hoped to be.

As I alluded to earlier, if the champion is to prevail. Then, he’ll have to make use of all of the physical advantages that he can avail himself of. His opponent is a fighter ,who can either box his way through a fight , or he can indeed turn the bout into a slugfest between he and Cotto, on the night. The latter scenario, I believe wouldn’t at all bode well for the champion ! Cotto has to prove himself a worthy champion. A loss here, and in essence his career takes a backseat for the foreseeable future. A win for the challenger, further cements Pacquiao’s legacy as one of the all-time greats of the sport of boxing. And with the win would come another history making achievement. Winning the WBO welterweight title would make him the first fighter in history to win a title in seven different weight categories. And there haven’t been many boxers to have titles multiple weight divisions over the years. There’ve been but a handful , and all have had illustrious careers. If Pacquiao is to join them , which in all honesty I believe that he will. Then there’ll be no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who the best fighter has been this decade.
Mr Cotto meet Mr Pacquiao, Mr Pacquiao meet Mr Cotto. Gentleman ,Please Box ! This has the makings of being an instant classic and I surely hope that the event itself lives up to the hype ! It’s something that the sport of boxing surely needs !
NB Current welterweight titlists as recognized by the various international organizations.
Boxer
Shane Mosley(46-5,39 KO’s) WBA (World Boxing Association)
Andre Berto (25-0,19 KO’s) WBC (World Boxing Council)
IBF(Int’l Boxing Federation)is at present vacant.
There is no doubt in my mind the pac man will win. He will kick butt. knockout second round. This is my best guess. I don’t expect this fight to past five rounds.
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bobbygee
If this bout goes beyond 7 rounds then I for one will be completely surprised. As good as Cotto believes himself to be as a boxer. His adversary Manny Pacquiao is simply just a better all round boxer and fighter. And he’s got an equally devastating punch in either hand.
Furthermore , Cotto’s face is like tissue paper and Manny should so much as cut him. Then this fight could be put to rest either by a stoppage or a knockout. That’s my own personal view on the bout.
Alan Parkins
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Dude, that was a VICIOUS left from Pacquiao that ultimately floored Hatton. Ouch!
I’m excited about tonight, man. I might even wear my Frank Lucas fur for the occasion.
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Chris Humpherys
In all honesty I’d be completely surprised if this bout went beyond five rounds at best. Cotto to my mind has bitten off more than he can chew in this one against Pacquiao. The only real winner is Bob Arum as the promoter of both fighters.
I do believe that Manny will win via a majority decision or knockout by eighth or ninth round.
Alan Parkins
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Nice call on the fight, man.
Manny could have probably ended it earlier. The only thing keeping Cotto up was his own pride.
Bring on the next Pacquiao fight now. I’m hooked.
By the way, how long, on average, does it take Larry Merchant to complete a sentence? Is he the slowest talker ever or what?
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Chris Humpherys
The problem with Larry Merchant is that he gets far too inebriated before he begins to comment on a fight. The other guy who’s known to be that way also , is Jim Lampley. They ought to put down the damn glass of Grey Goose , Stoli , or whatever the hell else it is that they’re drinking . And they ought to just provide the fans with some clear and succinct insights on the fights as they’re taking place.
The other guys that I can’t stand when it comes to providing either the analysis or commentary , are Joe Tessitore and Freddy Atlas. The two are a set of pompous windbags !
As to Cotto, the fight was essentially lost the moment that Pacquiao cut him and cut him badly. It created a doomsday scenario as to how quickly the fight was about to end and in what form it would take. Manny was way too fast and too strong for Cotto.
Now comes the real tough decision and that’s who’ll take the lion’s share of the purse. When and if a fight takes place between Mayweather and Pacquiao. And not only that , will it be a joint promotion between Bob Arum and Mayweather’s own company ?
Those will be the stumbling block that could either set the fight up or completely derail it altogether.
Alan Parkins
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I must admit… it was nice to see Don King nowhere around.
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Chris Humpherys
I hate to be the bearer of bad news ! But Bob Arum is no shrinking violet. He and Don King are cut from the same cloth. They’re both conniving , lying , cheating bastards of the highest order ! And that’s only the nice side of them both ! LOL, LOL, LOL !!!!
And unfortunately it looks as if De La Hoya and his Golden Boy Promtions, Inc. are about to go down that same equally nefarious path. It’s now not only the the various international bodies that’ve become the ruination of the sport . But also the promoters in the vein of Arum, King and now De La Hoya , through his company.
Alan Parkins
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Hey Al,
Thanks for the clip. Manny has a hell of a left hook.
Some have the speed and the right combinations, but if you can’t take the punches it don’t mean a thing.
Well done sir, take care.
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aero
I wasn’t surprised at the result , just the fact that it actually went the distance.
Cotto never stood a chance the moment that first bell rang. He was doomed from the start !
Alan Parkins
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It’s awesome to pay a visit this site and reading the views of all colleagues concerning this article, while I am also zealous of getting experience.
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Noe Gwozdz
Thanks for chiming in !
tophatal ….
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