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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