Cotto's Trainer Says Sparring is Key To Beat Pacquiao

Miguel Cotto's training camp is pushing him to the limit at Fight Factory in Tampa, Florida. Cotto defends his WBO welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao on November 14 in Las Vegas. Trainer Joe Santiago says the camp is going well without any problems.

"It has all gone very well here. Thank God everything has gone smoothly. Miguel is very good, happy and in good spirits, which is important," said Santiago. "We have covered all of the objectives that were outlined in these first three weeks."

"Everything is running more or less the same [as the Joshua Clottey camp]. The only thing different is the strategic plan we are working on now. We are dealing with a southpaw boxer, with great hand speed, and for that we are preparing."

The camp is made up of traditional morning runs and fitness, along with technical work in the evenings. Sparring takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with floor exercises on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and using Sunday as a day off.

While Pacquiao's sparring partners are well known, Santiago refused to disclose the names of Cotto's sparring partners. It is known that junior welterweight Frankie Figueroa has worked done work with Cotto in camp. Santiago says the right kind of sparring is the key to victory.

"That's the key, the sparring. That's as close as you can get to the fight. That's where you can develop the strategy for fighting," Santiago said.

Cotto in NYC

WBO Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto arriving in New York City on the eve of the FIREPOWER kick off press conference for his showdown with Pound for Pound King Manny Pacquiao. Cotto and Pacquaio will tour four cities in two countries over the next 6 days. Tomorrow’s press conference will take place at Yankee Stadium at noon. Fight fans are invited.

Cotto vs. Pacquiao: The One True Superfight Of The Year

By Matthew Hurley: The upcoming bout between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao on November 14th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas holds so many intangibles that boxing fans are champing at the bit for the opening bell to ring. Every year there is one fight that defines the sport whether or not the match-up itself warrants such scrutiny. Cotto – Pacquiao is this year’s high water mark. (Don’t let Floyd Mayweather’s diarrhea of the mouth concerning his comeback against Juan Manuel Marquez on September 19th fool you.) Whether Cotto – Pacquiao lives up to expectations remains to be seen but most insiders speculate that for however long it lasts this bout, because of the respective styles and temperaments of the fighters, will be fan friendly from first punch to last. And then there are the questions surrounding both fighters. Is Miguel Cotto damaged goods? After his brutal loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008, in a fight of the year candidate, many wondered if the beating Cotto took over the second half of the bout robbed him of his prime. Fighters are so vulnerable, no matter how skilled and how courageous, that even one vicious encounter can take away bits and pieces of his physicality and his will. For Cotto, the Margarito fight was his foray into hell. We don’t quite know if he’s come all the way back. Cotto fought masterfully for six rounds but Margarito’s imperviousness to pain or fatigue overwhelmed him in the bout’s final rounds. Cotto, his face battered and his will depleted, took a knee in the eleventh round and suddenly his future as an elite fighter was in question. Can he come back from such a wicked beating, many wondered. Cotto rebounded with an easy victory over the limited Michael Jennings in February to take the WBO welterweight title and then he took on the rugged Joshua Clottey in June. The razor thin victory over Clottey seemed to split opinion on Cotto right down the middle. He suffered a hideous gash over his left eye early in the bout but his resolve remained firm and he battled through it. Some saw the close victory as an indicator of wear and tear on a body subjected to several taxing fights over the years. (To his great credit Cotto has sought out and taken on tough competition over his last several fights.) Others applauded his courage, fighting through injury and closing the show strongly. It seems with Cotto everything is open for debate. Everything, including his loss to Margarito, which came into question when the Mexican fighter’s hand wraps were discovered to have been padded with hardened bits of a plaster-like substance before he entered the ring to take on Sugar Shane Mosley. Had Margarito and his team done the same thing prior to his dismantling of Cotto and simply gotten away with it? It’s a legitimate question, but the damage done in that fight is done. It can’t be wiped away from Cotto’s mind and body. All questions regarding the past are actually moot now that the biggest fight of Cotto’s career is on the horizon. His future, and perhaps his legacy, will be determined on the outcome of this one big fight. As for Pacquiao, his legacy is already secure. Few, if any, will question the legitimacy of his greatness as a fighter. He is already a lock for the Hall of Fame. But a win over Cotto, particularly if it comes in dramatic fashion, will elevate him into the pantheon of the all time great fighters. Pacquiao’s star quality began to change when he broke apart David Diaz in June of 2008 for the WBC lightweight title. That perfect performance, against the perfect opponent, led him to a showdown with Oscar De La Hoya. Going in, many assumed Oscar’s size and strength would be too much for Pacquiao. But the Filipino used speed and angles to dominate a weight drained De La Hoya who, on that night, was more tin than gold. With that signature win under his belt Pacquiao’s popularity exploded. Even marginal fans of the sport, and non-fans as well, took notice of the diminutive fistic titan.

He then solidified his standing as boxing’s most popular figure with his most emphatic performance yet – a second round stoppage of junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton. The knockout of Hatton was so conclusive that it could actually serve as the only highlight reel necessary in years to come to define Pacquiao’s career. However, skeptics – and they are out there – point out that in these three key victories Diaz was a marginal foe at best, De La Hoya came in too light and was probably shot and the popular Hatton was a wide open target and arguably overrated to begin with. There’s a bit of truth in all of that, but hindsight justifies the brilliance in us all. Going into the fights with Hatton and particularly De La Hoya, many people picked Pacquiao to lose. Well, not only did he not lose he embraced his moment on center stage like all great performers do and simply killed. In fact Pacquiao hasn’t lost a round since his 2008 rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez. Cotto is a different animal altogether. He is either at or a little past his prime. And though not a one-punch knockout artist he has very heavy hands, good boxing skills and a tremendous will to win. He’s also a natural 147-pound fighter and at some point in Pacquiao’s rise in weight classes size will make a difference. Will this be that fight? Should Pacquiao win in impressive fashion his status as an all time great fighter will be fully realized. It will also mark the closing act of a brilliant career, as Manny has stated that he only intends to fight two or three more times. Should Cotto win all the questions surrounding him since the loss to Margarito will be brushed aside and he will have also reestablished his lofty standing in the pound-for-pound rankings. He can then look forward to further big time match ups down the line. A rematch with Sugar Shane Mosley, whom he defeated by a close decision in 2007, to decide preeminence in the welterweight division is a natural. Whatever the outcome, because these two fighters always come to do damage and never fail to entertain, Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao is the most anticipated fight of 2009 and should the fight exceed expectations and the surrounding hype boxing fans are in for a treat on November 14th.

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Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto and the WBC's ridiculous belt

In case you missed it, the WBC recently manufactured a title and a belt for catch-weight mega-fights, or for mega-fights in general, or some such total nonsense, and they called it the WBC Diamond Championship.

Hardcore boxing fans were almost universal in their dismissal, with I'd wager about 70% of us wondering if this was a joke that had gotten out of hand. The Diamond title! And it was unanimously voted on by cardboard cutouts representing the WBC's "board of governors."

But it's real, and it's happening. When WBO welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao square off on November 14, the title will be "at stake." Ronnie Nathanielsz reports that both fighters are excited, according to Bob Arum, who says they're "crazy" about all the diamonds, and that the belt "is something new and adds to the excitement."

Now...hang on.

First of all, I highly doubt that Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao are "crazy" about the title. I just don't see Cotto or Pacquiao getting all giddy about an ugly belt with a bunch of diamonds on it. This sounds like grandpa at Christmas time. "Didja see Billy openin' up that surfboard (note: it was a skateboard) I got 'im? He was crazy about it!" Billy, for the record, is fairly indifferent.

Second, it adds nothing. It IS something new, and it's so ridiculously unnecessary that words can't properly describe it. I could even use some words I generally keep off the front page here, and they still wouldn't be enough. In short, it's a f***ing stupid waste of f***ing time, another f***ing belt in a sport with too f***ing many of them for anyone sane to keep track of in the first f***ing place.

See? Not good enough. Not descriptive enough. Doesn't quite get across just how much I hate the WBC diamond title, which I may simply choose to ignore, making one of those internet political statements the kids are so fond of in our current era. This belt means nothing. It gives the WBC money for fights it has no f***ing business sticking its f***ing nose into. That's it and that's all. It is a money-grubbing, fake, fabricated piece of jewelry that has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. If Cotto and Pacquiao pay sanctioning fees for that hunk of nothing, then they deserve to have given the money away.

And if anyone wants to pay me for the kids' WWE championship belt that is currently serving as the Wii Sports bowling title in my living room, I'll put some new tape and notebook paper on that and you guys can fight for that, too. Hey, at least that belt has history.

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Weather Cotto Likes it Or Not, His WBO title Will be On the Line Against Pacquiao

Well, it looks as if WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto will be forced to have his World Boxing Organization title on the line regardless of whether he wants to or not against Manny Pacquiao. It figures. The WBO is forcing Cotto’s hand by making saying that Cotto has to put the title on the line if the fight is go take place between the weights of 141-147. Since Cotto agreed to fight Pacquiao at a 145 pound catch weight, Cotto will be prevented in coming in at the full 147 pounds for the weight. This gives the advantage to Pacquiao, because he’ll have a weaker Cotto to deal with on November 14th, while at the same time still have the chance to fight for Cotto’s WBO belt, even though it neutralized welterweight clash. In effect, it’s like a welterweight match with training wheels for Pacquiao. He’ll still get credit if he wins, and only the boxing fans that dig deeper will realize that Cotto was prevented from coming in at the full 147 pounds for the weight class.

If Cotto fails to agree to put his WBO title on the line, he’ll be stripped by the WBO, and the title will be on the line anyway because the WBO recently made Pacquiao the number #1 mandatory for Cotto’s title a couple of weeks ago.

That was a real swift move by the WBO. They saw that Cotto was unwilling to put the title on the line because this was at a catch watch and they then decide to make Pacquiao the number #1 challenger so that Cotto would have no other choice but to put the title on the line.

If he doesn’t, and vacates or is stripped, Pacquiao will get to fight for the vacant title against Cotto or whoever steps in and take the fight. That’s really big of WBO to do this. They must really like Pacquiao a lot to push him above the other contenders in the WBO to force Cotto’s hand. That puts Cotto in a situation where he has little choice but to put the title on the line.

It’s either that, or he decides not to take the fight. Cotto’s not about to shoot himself in the foot, so he’ll probably take the fight so that he can get a huge payday, but this really ridiculous what the WBO is going to him. All this just so that Pacquiao can get a chance to win a 7th world title in seven different weight classes.

Never mind that many of the wins have come against fighters that probably shouldn’t have held titles in the first place or that Pacquiao was given one of the hugest gift decisions I’ve ever seen in my life with his 12 round decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez last year in March 2008.

The important thing is Pacquiao will be given the chance at a 7th world title, along with a nice handicap to ensure that he wins. Goodness knows, Pacquiao probably needs every handicap he can get. What a joke. Pacquiao loses twice to Marquez, then hunts out some mediocre fighters like David Diaz and then some shots fighters like Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, and all of a sudden Pacquiao is the king of the hill and given all kinds of advantages. You got to feel sorry Cotto. He’s really getting the business in this one. All this so that Pacquiao can get his chance to win a 7th title. I think I’m going to be ill.

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Roach: "WBO Will Sanction Pacquiao-Cotto Regardless"

BoxingScene.com spoke with trainer Freddie Roach about the controversy surrounding Miguel Cotto's willingness to defend the WBO welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao on November 14. Cotto has publicly refused to defend the title because the Pacquiao fight is being contested at a catch-weight of 145-pounds. If Pacquiao agrees to bump the weight by two-pounds [full welterweight limit of 147], Cotto will put the title on the line.

The WBO has been pushing for Cotto to defend the title. It’s easy for the WBO to push when Cotto has to pay them a six-figure sanctioning fee. Roach is not losing any sleep over Cotto’s refusal to defend the title. He doesn’t see any of this as a big problem. Even if the WBO puts pressure on Cotto, and the title is vacated, Roach is confident the title will be at stake on fight night.

“If [Cotto] gives it up, I think the WBO will make Manny the number one. We'll pay the sanctioning fee and the title will be on the line. That's what I think will happen. I haven't spoken to Manny [about it] but if it was me, I would ask for the title to be on the line. I think regardless of what Cotto says, the title will be on the line,” Roach told BoxingScene.

Based on Roach’s scenario, the title would only be at stake for Pacquiao. If Cotto were to win, the title would remain vacant.

The fight will be the biggest boxing event of the year. The money in the pot, for both fighters, is more money than most boxers will ever see in a lifetime. The WBO title is a minor piece of the puzzle but Roach views the title as a major piece to cement Pacquiao’s legacy.

“I want it for Manny's legacy. Manny won titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135, and 140. I want to see him become the first fighter to win seven world titles in seven weight divisions,” Roach said.

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Cotto vs. Pacquiao In Jeopardy?

As reported by some media outlets, the proposed mega fight between Miguel Cotto & Manny Pacquiao On November 14th might not go forward. The reason is simple, but not so simple. Manny Pacquiao is now demanding that the fight be for Miguel Cotto’s Welterweight title. Manny Pacquiao is on the verge of being the first seven time world champion in seven weight divisions and the prospect of that clearly has Freddie Roach wanting the fight for Cotto’s Title. Cotto and I quote, states “If Pacquiao wants the fight to be for the title, it will have to be at 147 pounds… My decision is final and firm.” But Pacquiao’s camp is equally insistent that the fight remain at 145 with the title at stake. “We don’t need the fight if the title is not on the line,” Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, told The Manila Bulletin. “I want Manny to do this for a reason. I want Manny to win seven world titles. Titles are overrated but I would like to see Manny do this.”

My question is why all of a sudden is this coming out, especially after the fight had been announced? Surely, Manny Pacquiao’s camp was fully aware of the title not being up for stake when the fight was announced, Bob Arum has been stating this all along, or is Manny starting to reconsider the fight altogether with Cotto, who at 145 will be only one pound lighter than the 146 he weighed in at for the Clottey fight?

Is the stance by Cotto a relevant one as well? Should a challenger such as Manny Pacquiao (who IS the challenger in this case) be dictating the terms without any challenge from the actual champion, in this case Miguel Cotto?

Cotto, in my OPINION, has swallowed his pride and has taken a lot of abuse the last few weeks since this fight has been announced . He has taken abuse from Pacquiao’s fans and from Manny’s camp as well. He has not been given the respect by the boxing community and has been seen as the weakest opponent for Manny to fight, hence the reason Pacquiao did not jump on Shane Mosley’s proposition to give into Pacquiao’s terms.

It seems Cotto is finally getting aggravated by all of this and putting his foot down. Miguel has settled on the demands of coming down weight to 145, Cotto has given in on the purse of the fight, which from all accounts will be a 65-35 split for Pacquiao. Miguel has given in on the location of the fight which will take place At the MGM Grand in Vegas. I know what some of you are going to say ” Manny is the Pound for pound king, he should call all the shots” But I disagree. That is a STATUS given to a fighter by the fans and boxing experts, NOT AN OFFICIAL BELT. Miguel Cotto holds a Belt and is the reigning WBO champion in the welterweight division, which the last time I checked is at 147 pounds nothing more.

It would be a hypocrisy for the World Boxing Organization to strip Cotto of his belt( which has been the buzz), when Cotto has a legitimate right to state, that if you want to challenge the champion of a specific weight for his belt, you fight him at that weight. If Cotto wanted to fight Manny for his junior Welterweight title I am sure that Manny would say the same thing. Its common sense folks. If Manny wants the fight for Cotto’s belt, then it should be at Cotto’s 147 that is where the belt resides not at 145, which is fair and only right especially if the roles where in reverse.

I am a huge Manny Pacquiao fan quite possibly one of the biggest, but I am a huge fan of boxing which supersedes any fighter. I am starting to think that Freddie Roach and Pacquiao are starting to realize that they might have bitten off more than they can chew. Just a day before this title situation, in which Pacquiao has created, Miguel Cotto recently sent a stern message to Freddie Roach after Freddie had some bold prediction about the outcome of there proposed showdown.

I quote, “Hey Roach, I have some news. I am not Oscar De La Hoya at the end of his career. I am not the overrated Ricky Hatton. Roach knows what he will be facing on November 14th, it will be a war.” Have these words finally sunken into the heads of everyone in Pacquiao’s camp? They know that Miguel Cotto will not budge on this title situation and are NOW saying that without the belt they do not need Cotto. Is this their way out of the fight? Who knows, but the timing of all of this in relation to Cotto’s stern warning have to make you think.

Life is about challenging yourself and others when you are a fighter not taking a short cut to glory. I have to say that in THIS case Manny is trying to take a short cut to glory. He wants the rewards of a belt that is in a higher weight division, without actually allowing the champion to fight at that weight. I would hope that this is not just a ploy to get out of this fight with Cotto because I admire Manny Pacquiao’s body of work.

It would be a shame as well for Cotto to be forced to do something that makes complete sense on his part as well. I have a solution to all of this, Manny if you want to make history and win Cotto’s belt then do it the right way, allow Miguel Cotto to fight without a catch weight and then you would have earned a title the right way.

Cotto has given into all of your demands( and he is the champion), now it is up to you to look into yourself and think long and hard whether you are going to fight your own battle or whether you’re going to have your lawyers or the WBO fight your battle for you. Fans of boxing, Cotto is not fighting Pacquiao for his junior welterweight title he has been there done that, it is the other way around. Manny Pacquiao is fighting for Miguel Cotto’s Belt!

In closing boxing fans. If this fight is canceled then it leaves me with this sad conclusion. Someone that I love as a fighter ( Manny Pacquiao) is nothing more than a bully outside the ring in his negotiating tactics and when FINALLY faced with tough opposition, not only inside the ring, but now outside from Cotto he wants to threaten the fight from moving forward, It seems a little too familiar to why he has not fought Juan Manuel Marquez again. That is a cowardly act that threatens us boxing fans the opportunity to see what can be one of the greatest clashes we have ever seen.

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Does Bob Arum consider Pacquiao fans irrelevant?

Without the WBO belt, Pacquiao-Cotto's Nov. 14 bout will flop.

Mark my words, if Bob Arum insists on staging a beltless Pacquiao-Cotto bout on November 14, the returns will be significantly less than he expects it to be and burn him a lot more than the $150,000 sanctioning fees the WBO demands for him to pay for the bout to have Cotto's title on the line.

See it's not really about the luster of the WBO belt. We all know the value of ABC belts in boxing have depreciated similar to houses all across the US but the fact is, Pacquiao is on the verge of making history.

Besides, haven't we been here before? Wasn't it just a few months ago when Pacquiao's value was being underestimated during discussions about the purse-split between him and Ricky Hatton? At the time Arum was also quoted expressing his disappointment with Pacquiao asking for more than a 50/50 split when he could've very well fought for his ward. We all know what happened in that one and after his destruction of Hatton and how he made the proud Brit look like a bum sparring partner, one has to wonder how Hatton was even paid remotely anywhere close to 50 percent of the pot against Pacquiao. Okay I get it, he has a huge buying fan base, but the theme is increasingly disturbing as to how Pacquiao's fan base, arguably the most active followers of the sport today, are being taken forgranted once again.

It's a slap on Pacquiao's face and his fans to say that nobody cares that he wins a seventh divisional crown, something nobody else in history has ever done. Perhaps Arum is banking on Pacquiao's newfound non-Filipino related US boxing fanbase to pull thru in terms of buying the fight card because I'm guaranteein you right now, Filipinos from all around the world will not purchase this fight if they continue to belittle their significance in the grand scheme of things.

So nobody cares in the US cares about Pacquiao making history? You can either interpret that as saying America simply wants to see Pacquiao fight Cotto regardless of what's at stake or that Bob Arum considers Pacquiao's fans in the US as "nobodies". Truth be told, all you have to do is have Michael Marley forward you a copy of the 18 thousand names and signatures he received in a span of 24 hours expressing their desire for Pacquiao and Cotto's fight on November 14 to be for all the marbles.

It's not even about weight. Two pounds under 147 is acceptable and is a far-cry from the 143 Pacquiao said to have wanted. Even Floyd Mayweather's trainer Roger Mayweather gave props to Pacquiao saying he has "some major balls" to have the audacity and move up to challenge Cotto. For one, his nephew never even bothered take that challenge and opted to fight the smaller Juan Manuel Maruez instead.

Perhaps Arum’s master plan is percolating as we speak. Maybe this is a publicity stunt as some people say it is, but one thing's for sure, if Arum wants this fight to exceed expectations in terms of PPV sales, he needs to throw Cotto's belt in the mix which isn't such a bad promotional tool either. The people have spoken, and I do not condone ripping these fights off and watching them for free on online stream sites but I know how these things go. Filipinos know how to use their technology and fight back when they are being pinned against the wall and signs are pointing towards a boycott of Pacquiao-Cotto if they don't feel like they will get what they and their idol deserve. The ball is in your court Bob. Make the right move!

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Bahamas and US training for Pacquiao

Freddie Roach, always cool and calm, was uncharacteristically frantic over the phone on Tuesday.

“If you get to talk with Manny, please tell him to give me a call,” Roach said as he was about to call it a day at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood. (Roach’s message has been forwarded to Pacquiao).

Roach was jumpy after receiving word about a vital decision concerning Pacquiao’s training camp for the Nov. 14 fight with Miguel Cotto.

Owing to tax issues, Pacquiao has to spend a reduced number of days on American soil, Top Rank head Bob Arum told The Bulletin on Tuesday.

“It’s an IRS (Internal Revenue Service) regulation,” said Arum, about the Substantial Presence Test, defined as a calculation that determines the resident or non-resident status of a foreign national for tax purposes in the US.

Because Pacquiao will exceed the number of allowable days present in the US if he follows the original schedule of setting up training camp in Los Angeles eight weeks before the fight, Arum had to find a remedy.

And here’s what he suggested: “He’s going to set up training camp in the Bahamas for several weeks then head to Los Angeles three weeks before the fight and the last week will be spent in Las Vegas.”

Roach said he has to get in touch with Pacquiao at the soonest possible time because it’s being arranged that he fly to the Bahamas this weekend for an assessment not only of their prospective place but their temporary residence as well.

“I have to set up training camp there so I got to talk to him,” said Roach.

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MANNY PACQUIAO: THE RISKS, LEGACY, & REWARDS!

New York, NY- One reason Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) is considered the consensus number one ‘pound for pound’ boxer is because of the general doubt experts had that he would conquer recent opponents. Not only did he prove his doubters wrong, but he emphatically proved them wrong, leaving no question that he was the better man on fight night. In the fall (November 14), Pac will now officially take on likely his toughest task to date in Miguel Cotto (34-1 27 KOs). Pac a former lightweight (135 lbs) titlist three fights removed will face Cotto not at the welterweight limit of 147, but at 145 lbs. Pac’s critics think he’s bitten off more than he can chew, but his fan’s think he’ll once again elevate his campaign to become unquestionably the best fighter on the planet. One thing is for certain, Pac versus Cotto should be a great fight and no one should doubt Pac’s ability to win and win big.

MAYWEATHER SKIPPED COTTO FOR HIATUS

Even the starkest Floyd Mayweather Jr. fan would have to give him his just do if he were to have taken on and beaten a prime Cotto two years ago before he abruptly retired after dismantling Ricky Hatton in ten rounds. With that said, Mayweather cited Cotto as a small attraction although it was at the time the one fight any fight fan would have loved (and paid) to see.

PAC CHOOSES RISK SEEING CHINKS IN COTTO

Pacquiao will now do what Mayweather failed to do two years ago and attempt to take on and beat Cotto. Although Cotto will not be a dehydrated Oscar De La Hoya or a shell-shocked, defense deficient wrecking ball like Ricky Hatton, he’s also not the same Cotto of two years past. Questions arise when we consider that Cotto decided to take a knee and eventually quit against a a possible cheat in Antonio Margarito. As Cotto stood bloodied and broken his uncle Evangelista Cotto threw in the towel in a strikingly similar scene that occurred just five months later as Oscar De La Hoya declined (see quit) to continue against a soon to be familiar opponent in Manny Pacquiao.

DID MARGARITO’S TOOLS EXPOSE LACK OF HEART?

Whether his gloves were loaded or not, Margarito did expose the once methodical and machine like qualities that made Cotto previously unbeatable. It is for this reason that Pac will be seen as the betting favorite, because he’ll have to be thought as one to have to be literally stopped to beat. Cotto just might quit, it it’s too much is undoubtedly on the minds of Roach and anyone who believes in Pac. Cotto may be big and good enough to stop Pac, but it’s his own vulnerabilities that will make that outcome less likely in the minds of many.

WINNER VS. MAYWEATHER IS WHAT FANS WANT

Everyone is waiting for the winner of Juan Manuel Marquez and Mayweather in the fall to take on the winner of Cotto and Pacquiao. If all goes according to plan, Pacquiao versus Mayweather will happen and will define each fighter’s legacy and determine who is truly the best in the sport. Right now it looks like Pac is in the lead. There is no doubt that Pac is willing to take the risks but it’s up to fate to determine the scope of his legacy. Cotto is a big fight, but Mayweather would be even bigger. The financial rewards have come and will come from here on no matter what the outcome in the fall. For his sake, let’s hope his luck doesn’t run out, he might have a chance to be even bigger than he himself can imagine.

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Miguel Cotto: Respect could be just a win away

Everbody knows that family. The one that has two brothers , maybe three , and one brother is always fighting for respect. He is courteous and well mannered. But maybe he wasn't quite as successful as the others. Nobody comes out and says it , but you know that his family looks at him just a little differently. They're proud of him. Just not busting with pride when his name comes up in conversation.

Such is the plight of Miguel Cotto. He has vanquished every opponent put in front of him. Except for the illegal hand wrapping Antonio Margarito.

Miguel's older brothers are Puerto Rican icons Wilfredo Gomez and Felix "Tito" Trinidad. The two set lofty goals for any future Puerto Rican boxers to live up to. Not only were they great fighters , but they were men of the people.

Of course they weren't brothers in the family sense , but Puerto Rican fighters share a special bond.

But something is missing when it comes to the adulation that Miguel receives. Cotto is more withdrawn and happy to keep his private life private. He is consumate professional. The only negative publicity that has surfaced on Cotto was the breakup with his trainer , who just happens to be his uncle. The split was long overdue and many felt that it was more of the uncle's doing than Miguel's.

Some of Miguel's popularity may suffer because Cotto has become more of a boxer puncher. While his fights always tend to be exciting , Puerto Ricans like their fighters to be stalkers. Always on the prowl for that big knockout.

But Cotto is Cotto. A mixture of power and ring smart. And now comes his biggest test. In November Miguel will square off with boxing superman , Manny Pacquiao. Odds makers have made Manny the betting favorite. They also know that this will be Pacquiao's toughest fight since moving up to and above the junior welterweight division.

Will a win by Cotto finally put him into the Gomez-Trinidad elite status? Gomez and Trinidad were thought to be unbeatable by Puerto Rican fans. But a recent survey showed that many Puerto Rican fight fans thought that Manny Pacquiao would win their upcoming fight. Maybe a win will find Cotto's name listed among the other greats from that small island. Either way , it would appear that Miguel will be fighting two opponents on that night. One against Manny and the other for respect.

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Can Miguel Cotto Upset Manny Pacquiao?

Miguel Cotto, 34-1, 27 KO’s, is a hard fighter to beat. His most recent accomplishments include a unanimous decision win over Shane Mosley, a close split decision over Joshua Clottey, and annihilations of Alfonso Gomez and Michael Jennings. Cotto’s record has a lone blemish, an eleventh round stoppage loss to Antonio Margarito. The loss to Margarito is greatly tempered by expectations, circumstances, and other bits of context. Margarito was a powerful contender at the time. He also likely had loaded mitts rather than standard gloves. Finally, Cotto has wins over the man that beat the man (Mosley) to complete a debatable rock-paper-scissors scenario. Even if we cannot completely refund the loss, it certainly deserves a discount. Cotto’s impressive performances have earned him a shot at Manny Pacquiao, one of the top two remaining prizes among active fighters. Next to Floyd Mayweather is the monstrously undisputed King of Cash. When he fights, the Philippines stop fighting. When he speaks, they listen. The world watches every time he laces up mitts. Pacquiao is steadily moving up the all-time charts both in his division and the Pound for Pound rankings. Cotto-Pacquiao is a hellacious fight, and both men should be credited for taking it. Whether or not Cotto has become the man to fight Pacquiao, however, is debatable. Pacquiao is a strong fighter, complete solid chops and speed to match. He was a blur against Oscar De La Hoya and a monster against Ricky Hatton. Some have gone as far as to discount the De La Hoya win by saying that the old man was over the hill and dehydrated. I find it funny that everyone (myself included) counted Pacquiao out before the fight, and then blamed the loss on something other than the fighter. The Pacman can’t win; even a 4-1 “upset special” annihilation gets him little to no respect. Pacquiao has gotten credit for the Hatton victory, but he gets no love from some of the Mayweather supporters. There are plenty of people out there that still refuse to recognize him as the Pound for Pound Champion of the world. I suppose there’s a legitimate case that he isn’t, depending on criteria. If a person is deciding Pound for Pound status based on simply the weight game, then Mayweather may be your man. If you want to focus on accomplishments and the level of opposition, I would say Manny is undeniably your man. Either way, Pacquiao deserves credit after securing the Ring Belt. The Ring was not so nice to Cotto. After beating one of the toughest guys alive in Clottey, he actually fell in the rankings by a few spots. Such a decision is dumbfounding. The Ring has always left the decision in the hands of the judges, so while one could argue that Clottey should have won the bout, such a choice would be well outside the realm of the decision of The Ring. Even if one went with Clottey, he would have to admit how impressive Cotto was in the process. Cotto fought an intelligent fight, and chose to continue through a hellacious cut. The decision was unnecessary; Cotto could have walked away with an easy victory after four rounds. Even so, he continued to scrap and gave the fans a decent fight as he gutted out a close but fair decision. Now, Cotto is likely in line for a fight with Manny Pacquiao. ESPN all but said that the fight was on several weeks ago, but the news has stereotypically declined to the level of negotiations. Cotto will still likely land the scrap because of his willingness to compromise both weight and dollars. That leaves Shane Mosley out in the cold. Mosley cannot fight Floyd Mayweather, JR., because Mayweather is fighting Juan Manuel Marquez in an effort to get at Pacquiao. Mosley already dispatched Margarito, and a rematch with the Mexican would be useless anyway. Mosley definitely doesn’t need to go to Mexico to fight him, so that’s completely off the table. That leaves a fight with Clottey, a bout with Paul Williams, or a tune up fight. None of those options are exactly appealing, seeing as how the first two guys are beastly in size and powerful in the fists. As one RSR forum poster recently stated, “For all the good it did him, he may as well have lost to Margo…” Mosley has already beaten a beastly man in the past year, so he may still be a favorite in those bouts. If Cotto fights Pacquiao and loses, Mosley will be there waiting for him. Given the options listed here, who wouldn’t be? Therefore, one of the burning questions that will decide the future of Mosley is whether or not Cotto will win or lose his next fight. Many have debated about it, and the Cotto supporters cite his body attack as a way to victory. I would agree that Cotto’s body attack is his best punch, but I don’t see that working this time around. In fact, I see Cotto having trouble with all of his best weapons against Pacquiao:

#1 The Body Attack

Cotto is a classic digger to the guts, wearing out legs and protection before whacking away at the head. That usually works, but he’s in for real trouble against Pacquiao, who likes to rip combos and get out of the pocket. Furthermore, Pacquiao can deliver downstairs, too, pitting Cotto against a man that equals his best strengths. If Cotto tries to work downstairs, I see him getting ripped and wearing out to the point where his punches lack the steam necessary to slow a fiery Pacquiao.

#2 The Left Hook

This is Cotto’s prime weapon against Pacquiao. Marquez was able to secure solid showings against Pacquiao by countering, and Cotto is a great counterpuncher with a more powerful set of power shots. If he times his left hook just right, he can hurt Pacquiao and even take him out. This is easier said than done, and I would hate to reduce Cotto’s chances to that of a “puncher,” but he may have to take what he can get.

#3 The Dance

Cotto won his fight against Clottey by hitting and not getting hit in the most pivotal rounds. He probably would have out-boxed Margarito if the Mexican had not loaded his gloves prior to the fight (I know it was never “proven,” so don’t flood my inbox). That won’t work against Pacquiao. Trying to outbox a faster, more versatile man is like fighting for peace. We all saw what happened against De La Hoya. My advice to Cotto is to wait for the left hook and preserve his strength. The last four men that have fought Pacquiao were out of gas after three rounds. Cotto needs to keep this fight going so he can use his naturally bigger size to bully Pacquiao late. I don’t see that happening, but I hope it does. A Cotto victory would rumble the Pound for Pound rankings in a way that profoundly changes the sport of Boxing.

Prediction: Pacquiao by mid rounds stoppage.

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For Pacquiao, the list has gotten really short

Jim Lampley once remarked during a fight, "Manny Pacquiao is a storm!"

That was years ago. Lampley nor anybody else knew just how devastating the Pacquiao storm would become in the following years. Here we are in 2009, and the former flyweight champion of the world currently sits on the 140-pound throne, has retired Oscar de la Hoya, been involved in two straight "Event of the Year" fights, demolished a game Ricky Hatton in under two rounds, and overall done things that would've been unthinkable even a few years ago.

On November 14, he'll go up to a 145-pound catchweight to try and capture Miguel Cotto's WBA welterweight title. I've said already that Cotto is a seriously dagerous opponent, no matter what anyone else might think, and he should be treated as such. A Pacquiao steamroll job would be jaw-dropping in this fight.

I also remarked at the end of the article that to some, it seems like all that would be acceptable is a time-traveling Pacquiao that battles Sugar Ray Robinson for all-time supremacy. In some ways, it's understandable that Pacquiao's opponents will be downplayed. There are precious few fighters that present a great danger to him these days. He's become that good. Sure, welterweight is legitimately the highest he could possibly go (I mean it has to be, right?), and bigger guys than that could have their way with him simply on size. I joked after the Hatton fight that if Pacquiao challenged 6'2" middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, I'd pick Manny. But realistically Pavlik would take his head off at some point (he'd have to, right?).

Manny has also given the impression that he won't be staying in boxing forever. He has political aspirations in the Philippines, is going to make another boat load of money to fight Cotto, and there are a lot of other things he can now do with his life. You never know until it's truly over, but Manny might not be here more than a few more fights.

There are good and even great challenges out there for him, though. Let's take a look at five guys that I think could give Manny a serious run for his money in the ring.

5. Edwin Valero

I'll say right now I'm not listing Juan Manuel Marquez among my five most dangerous Pacquiao opponents, and it's not because I don't think he's a better fighter than at least four of the guys on this list in a pound-for-pound sense. But Marquez is getting older and with the roll Pacquiao's on and the fact that it'd have to be at at least 140 pounds, I just don't think the matchup is good for JMM anymore. He's surprised me before, but I think the weight is bad for him against a younger, faster guy that has knocked him down four times in two fights at lower weights.

Valero (25-0, 25 KO) likely gets mowed down in five or so rounds by Pacquiao. That's my gut feeling. But Valero is 27 years old, a fellow southpaw, seriously hungry, and has wicked power. Nasty, one-shot, out on your ass and you don't know what happend-style power. A guy that hits like Valero can stop anyone within size reason, and he's taller than Pacquiao and has a two-inch reach advantage. He could probably handle 140 as a weight just as well as he has 130 and 135 so far. Valero, of course, wants the fight, and Top Rank has made some hints that they'd like to get it done in the future. Bob Arum promotes both men, so it'd be win-win and money all around for him, but it's not a superfight, and there's still the matter of licensing Valero anywhere in the U.S. that isn't Texas.

4. Miguel Cotto

Pacquiao's next opponent will get his chance to dethrone the P4P king, though it probably wouldn't make him the P4P king, so "dethrone" isn't really the right word -- he would more serve as a hitman for the Mayweather-Marquez winner to firmly move into the No. 1 slot.

I do understand a few of the concerns about Cotto and his alleged decline. He didn't attack the body against Clottey the way he's known to do, but I think he had the mindset going in that Clottey wasn't going to get hurt. Fighters know how hard they hit, and they know who's vulnerable to what. Clottey is an excellent defensive fighter and a tough son of a gun, and Cotto came out to box him. When he didn't have that same idea against Michael Jennings, he still attacked with righteous fury. I get the feeling he's not going to see Manny the way he did the bigger, physically stronger Clottey. I think Miguel's going to attack Pacquiao and test him out quickly.

And it's also worth saying that Cotto is a dirty fighter when he feels the need to be. If Pacquiao starts getting the best of him, Miguel is not above a low blow. I mean let's just call a spade a spade here. He takes momentum -- or stops it -- any way he has to. Some people find this despicable. I'm on the fence. It's something you have to take into account going into a fight with Cotto. He's a hot-headed, mean fighter.

The "iceman" Cotto, the guy that stared at Alfonso Gomez like he wanted to eat his liver, that guy can beat Pacquiao, and Pacquiao better believe it.

3. Shane Mosley

Shane Mosley may be older, but until he looks rough at 147 pounds, I see him as a serious problem for Manny Pacquiao or anyone else for that matter. His last two welterweight fights were a great, competitive loss to an on top of his game Cotto and a complete ass-whooping of Antonio Margarito. He doesn't look good at 154, not that he ever looked too great that high in weight, but at 147 he's still among the sport's elite.

Mosley's speed and intensity could be troublesome for Manny, and let's not forget that he's a full three inches taller than Pacquiao. That height did nothing for Oscar de la Hoya, but Oscar didn't look so great against veteran gatekeeper Steve Forbes months prior to that. It's not the same thing. It's not an excuse: Oscar was fairly shot, the weight killed him, and Pacquiao took him to the woodshed. It doesn't diminish what Pacquiao did to him. Freddie Roach said that's exactly what would happen: Oscar wouldn't be good at 147 and wouldn't be able to pull the trigger. That's why they took what was at the time a nearly unthinkable matchup.

Shane's a different beast. He's still got two loaded guns and he fires at will. I also think Manny's speed, his southpaw stance, and his ability to get in and out at tough angles make him very hard for Shane to handle, too. It's a great fight on paper.

2. Paul Williams

I'm kind of copping out putting Williams at No. 2, because of all the guys that could realistically get down to 147 or a couple pounds lower, Paul Williams is by far the hardest matchup for Manny. Williams is a freak of nature, a 6'1" guy that pumps his fists at a hellacious rate and has a longer reach than Vitali Klitschko.

Manny would have a long night ahead of him against "The Punisher." If he wanted to, Williams could fire off his jab and keep Manny at bay all night. It's never really been Williams' strength, even though it should be, but he's also a really good inside fighter for a guy with such massively long arms.

His workrate, stamina, and power at 147 are tough enough to top. When you factor in the gross physical advantages he'd have over Pacquiao (and just about anyone), it's easy to see why he bounces around divisions looking for the best fights. Nobody wants to fight this guy because he's such a unique challenge.

One of the bigger reasons I stuck him at No. 2 instead of No. 1 is that the fight is so unlikely he might as well not even be mentioned, but he deserves to be, so...whatever. I mean, it's not even a guarantee he could make welterweight anymore, even though he says he can.

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Of course. Of course.

Look, even if you "hate" Mayweather, it doesn't take a genius to see where he could give Manny trouble. Floyd is a master counter-puncher with extremely fast hands and pinpoint accuracy. He's not the biggest hitter in the world, but his power has become underrated. There is nobody close to Pacquiao or with a knowledge of style matchups that would say anything less than Floyd is conceivably the toughest fight of Manny Pacquiao's life. Pacquiao has beaten brawlers, boxers, and fighters of all styles, but he has never faced someone as slick and tricky as the "Pretty Boy."

What makes a potential Pacquiao-Mayweather fight so desirable is that style clash. Pacquiao is a better boxer than Mayweather would ever give him credit for, but he's not the sort of pure talent that Floyd is. Floyd's entire life has been boxing, and he's a rare talent. Thousands and thousands of men have stepped into pro rings over the years, and few of them have Mayweather's God-given gifts.

But what would he do with one of those Pacquiao charges? You can only avoid so much, only block so much, and Pacquiao also has a style that Mayweather has really never seen. I haven't gone as bananas about this fight as a lot of people have, and I'd still personally rather see Mosley-Pacquiao, and I like Cotto-Pacquiao better as far as the fight goes. But Pacquiao-Mayweather is such an important fight -- if both win this fall, anyway -- that it really should happen. I don't think it has to happen, and part of that is my reluctance to believe it ever really will. But that would be the most important fight in boxing in a long, long, long time, and for good reason.

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Cotto Talks Manny Pacquiao Fight, Top Rank Deal

In one of the most anticipated fights of the year, Manny Pacquiao will challenge WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and Cotto reached a deal on Monday and the fight was announced by their mutual promoter, Top Rank.

"It Was a long negotiation, but finally we arrived at an agreement and all is well. Big things were achieved and we are happy with [the negotiation]. We are very happy with everything that was achieved for this fight," said Cotto to El Nuevo Dia. "It is one of the most anticipated fights of this year."

As part of the deal to get the Pacquiao fight, Cotto extended his current contract with Top Rank through the end of 2011. Cotto's contract was going to expire at the end of the year and there were rumors that he might jump ship to another promoter.

"It was one of the clauses in finalizing the deal. I have been with them since the beginning of my career and I'm happy with them," Cotto said.

Cotto plans to his training camp at the start of August. The training camp will once again take place in the state of Florida. Pacquiao will receive the bulk of the money involved. Some say the split could be as high as 65-35 in Pacquiao's favor. Cotto's legal adviser defended the deal. Cotto is expected to make the biggest payday of his entire career.

"One has to realize that Pacquiao has already been involved in some big fights and that has a great value inside the industry, but the agreement is very good for Miguel," said Gabriel Penagaricano.

The promotional tour will start during the early part of September, with stops in New York, Los Angeles and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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Manny Pacquiao Vs Miguel Cotto: The Fight of the Year

Fight fans are beginning to breathe easier now that the finalization and signatures of contracts are appearing to draw closer and closer as each day passes for what may easily be the fight of the year between arguably the two best fighters in the game, Pound for Pound King and 6-Time World Champion Manny Pacquiao, 49-3-2, 37 KO’s, and the hard hitting, technically sound and current WBO Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto, 34-1, 27 KO’s. It’s always been said and widely understood that styles make fights and never has that been more true in the matching up of these two fighters. Pound for Pound King Manny Pacquiao’s speed and constant movement always presents a danger to any fighter that enters the ring with him and in his most recent fights has proven to be too much of an obstacle to overcome and sustain for his opponents. In his fight with Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao’s speed and ability to move around the ring proved to be too much of a deterrent for Oscar to effectively carry out his game plan. Throughout the entire fight we saw De La Hoya try to simply contain his opponent long enough to simply throw a punch, let alone land any. All the while Manny was too busy tagging Oscar’s face with jabs, straights, hooks, uppercuts and I even think I saw him throw a kitchen sink at Oscar also at one point during the fight. The end result was Oscar being exposed as a fighter who can no longer come up with wins in his big fights and who should probably hang up the gloves while his reputation as a great fighter was still safe from persecution and criticism and Mr. Manny Pacquiao claiming his throne as boxing’s undisputed Pound for Pound King. Another fight that captured the speed and complexity of Pacquiao’s boxing ability is his most recent destruction of British National Icon Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton. I don’t think I need to remind everyone of the obliteration that took place that night. We all felt and continue to feel bad for what happened to the likeable lad. Simply stated, The Hitman proved to be no match for The King. While Pacquiao razzles and dazzles his opponents with speed and throwing many punches from many different and awkward angles, Miguel Cotto has proven to be one of boxing’s most sound technicians of executing strategy and literally breaking down opponents. In his thirty four victories, twenty seven of them have come by knockout proving that he is also an extremely heavy handed hitter who is capable of breaking down an opponent to the point of submission if you haven’t been lucky enough to be knocked out by one of his all leverage, pure power hooks or straight right hands. What amazes those who watch Cotto is his ability to adapt during the fight, the high boxing intelligence that he possesses is evident when you see him make the necessary adjustments mid-fight in order to do what is needed to earn the victory. In his most recent fight with legit contender and hard hitting Joshua Clottey, we saw Cotto fight through a nasty cut in which I believe any other fighter would have turned to their corner or the referee to stop the fight and go to the cards if they were up on them for the decision; as was Cotto, to outlast, outpoint and outpunch Clottey. While some may say that Clottey was robbed, it was evident that Cotto was the busier fighter, with the more effective punches. Honestly, say what you will about the fight but the heart in which Cotto showed is what won over all the critics, judges and fans of the sport and in boxing, heart matters. When Pacquiao’s speedy and busy style meets with Cotto’s hard-hitting and stalking technique fight fans all over will watch with awe, amazement and appreciation of what these warriors will have to offer on fight night. I honestly believe that the winner of that fight will depend on which fighter has the better temperament that night. If Manny enters the fight and wants to go toe to toe with Cotto in the center of the ring like he likes to do with opponents at times in order to prove his heart and entertain the fans then I do believe Manny will get a taste of his own knockout medicine which he administered to Hatton. Simply stated, if they brawl the naturally bigger, stronger and harder hitting Cotto will knock Pacquiao out cold. However, if Manny sticks to the game plan that his hall of fame and possibly the greatest trainer in the game Freddie Roach composes, then he has a better shot of earning a decision over Cotto. Although Pacquiao is the faster and busier fighter, Cotto’s versatility and boxing skill will prove to be a heavy load to deal with for Pacquiao. In his fight against future Hall of Fame fighter and current WBA Welterweight Champion Sugar Shane Mosley, Cotto displayed his superb boxing skills which completely baffled Mosley and led Cotto to earn a decision over the similarly fast and busy fighter Mosley. Again, if Cotto makes the necessary adjustments mid-fight I can see him etching out a split decision over Pacquiao as a result of constantly stalking and probably landing the more effective punches (two key components of judging). The only thing that Cotto fans have to worry about is whether or not cuts will play a major factor and if the memory of his tainted loss to former WBA Welterweight Champion Antonio “Loaded Gloves” Margarito, is still lingering in his mind. If so, then Pacquiao’s skill and style will prove to be too much for Cotto. However, I don’t think it will, seeing as how his professional relationship with his uncle Evangelista Cotto is done and having overcome a nasty cut and a comparably similar Joshua Clottey to Antonio Margartio; all of which can do nothing but boost Cotto’s confidence. Pacquiao fans should be a little nervous about this match up because this fight will probably Manny’s biggest test and Cotto will be his toughest opponent and seeing as how Manny has been knocked down and hurt in the past to fighters who were much smaller and weaker than Cotto, they should be even more concerned for his crown. All in all, I see the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto fight being fight of the year and Pacquiao’s warrior heart being his downfall in leading him into a brawl with the powerful Miguel Cotto and Cotto knocking him out somewhere after round eight. ....source

Pacquiao-Cotto blockbuster set

It matters little to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum that Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are each regarded as among the world’s 10 finest boxers. Arum is simply thrilled that the fight between them that he finalized last week while on vacation in Israel and Italy will, in fact, be a fight.

Arum said Monday that Pacquiao and Cotto will meet in a fight with a 145-pound weight limit on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on HBO Pay Per View. Pacquiao is a unanimous No. 1 in the Yahoo! Sports poll of the world’s top boxing writers. Cotto is sixth and that alone should make for an intriguing matchup.

Arum, though, likes the style mix between them.

“The significance of this fight is if you know the body of work of these two fighters,” Arum said. “When these guys get into the ring, there will be a confrontation. People who watch know they’ll be entertained. This will sort of be an edge-of-your-seat kind of a fight. It’s an all-action, all-out battle where guys are going to demonstrate toughness, courage and resilience.

“It’s definitely not going to be a boxing exhibition where two guys are running circles around each other. There are some fights that should properly be called boxing matches, but this is one where it’s totally accurate to call it a fight.”

The bout and the date had been long rumored, but the hang-up was getting the men to agree on a weight. Cotto holds the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt and has difficulty going much below 147.

Pacquiao, who still has only had three of his 54 bouts above 130 pounds, preferred it to be as low as possible and no higher than 144. Cotto’s physical trainer said he couldn’t safely fight below 145 pounds and Pacquiao ultimately agreed to the weight.

Arum expects the fight to perform as well at the gate as Pacquiao’s dominating second-round stoppage of Ricky Hatton, which produced $8.9 million in ticket revenue at the MGM Grand Garden, but he’s hopeful it will exceed it in pay-per-view sales.

Pacquiao-Hatton did 850,000 on pay-per-view and Arum believes Pacquiao-Cotto has the potential to surpass that.

“With all due respect to Ricky, I think Cotto, as a great Puerto Rican star, brings a larger fan base in the U.S. audience,” Arum said. “I really think we’ll be able to do north of 850,000 with this one.”

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Pacquiao-Cotto sealed at 145 lb

MANILA, Philippines - It took a 15-minute phone conversation with Bob Arum for Manny Pacquiao to agree to fight Miguel Cotto in November.

At 145 pounds flat.

“It’s done,” said Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, over the phone last night, sounding happy that the Filipino pound-for-pound champion has finally come to a decision on whom to fight next.

Koncz was scheduled to leave for Los Angeles last night to meet with Arum and discuss the final details on the fight contract which has yet to be signed by the 30-year-old superstar.

“No contract has been signed but Manny and Bob had a verbal agreement. And we’ve never backed out of any verbal agreement so Bob is happy with that for the time being,” said Koncz.

Pacquiao was busy shooting a movie when The STAR tried to contact him last night.

Negotiations for Pacquiao’s next fight took a sudden twist last week when Shane Mosley, the WBA welterweight (147 lb) champion, said he’s willing to fight the Filipino at 140 lb, and get 40 percent of the purse.

Cotto, the WBO welterweight champion, had insisted that he’d only fight Pacquiao at 145 lb, and not a fraction lower than that. This gave Pacquiao some doubts on whether he’d take the Mosley challenge instead.

Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, said they wanted Cotto to drop down another pound or two, but now that everything’s been agreed upon, it’s time to focus on Cotto.

Koncz did not say what made Pacquiao seal the deal with Arum, the legendary promoter and master negotiator.

“Manny had a personal phone conversation with Bob Arum the other night and it lasted 15 minutes. Some adjustments were made and Manny has agreed to fight Miguel Cotto,” said Koncz.

“They resolved everything. They talked for about 15 minutes,” said Koncz.

Pacquiao had wanted his next fight staged on Oct. 17 but Arum, who also owns the promotional rights over Cotto, said that would run against the World Series schedule, and pushed the date to Nov. 14.

The extra month will also give Pacquiao ample time to finish all his previous commitments, incuding two movies he has to make, probably another string of commercials, some business deals and more time with his family.

“The extra month gives him all the time to finish all these. And by holding it in November, we want to maximize the dollars,” said Koncz.

The Canadian ring adviser did not elaborate on what the adjustments and agreed upon between Pacquiao and Arum although certainly it had to do something with the economics.

“But we don’t want to discuss that,” said Koncz who expects the fight contract to be sealed, signed and delivered soon.

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Miguel Cotto/Golden Boy Conspiracy Theories Begin

The big news in Puerto Rico has to do with a game of golf at the Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. No ordinary game of golf when Oscar De La Hoya and WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto are the two players.

A few months ago, Cotto said that he would explore his options when his contract ran out with Top Rank. According to Cotto, six months are remaining with his current promotional agreement. A few months back, Cotto was very upset with Top Rank for supporting Antonio Margarito after his license was revoked by the California State Athletic Commission in February. De La Hoya has said in the past that he would love to sign Cotto to Golden Boy Promotions.

The press in Puerto Rico is portraying the Cotto/De La Hoya golf game as a secret meeting. Cotto disputes the reports and says the game of golf was a chance meeting between the two of them and wasn’t previously planned. Cotto claims that nothing boxing related was discussed. Some press members in Puerto Rico don’t believe that.

“It was a normal meeting between the two of use where we only shared a game of golf. We did not talk about anything having to do with boxing,” Cotto told Primera Hora.

Cotto is close to a deal to face stablemate Manny Pacquiao on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

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