By Mark Vester
Oscar De La Hoya has changed his mind and switched positions on his prediction for next week's super fight between WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao. At first De La Hoya was picking Pacquiao to win but now he writes in his Ring Online blog that Cotto should win the fight.
“Now that the fight is getting closer, I’ve changed my mind about who I think will win. At first, I had Manny Pacquiao. I was a firm believer that Pacquiao’s speed was going to neutralize Miguel Cotto, especially after Cotto’s performance against Joshua Clottey in June,” De La Hoya said.
“Then, as the fight was getting closer and closer and I thought more about it, I’m now convinced Cotto will win. The reason is, first, nobody looks good against Clottey. He’s a difficult, strong, in-your-face type of fighter. And Cotto had that gash over his eye the whole fight. I thought he did an excellent job in light of that."
De La Hoya doesn't think Pacquiao hits hard enough to knock out any of the big names in the welterweight division. If Cotto can box smart for the first couple of rounds, De La Hoya expects him to stop Pacquiao in the later rounds.
“Cotto has a good chin and a big heart. He’s a natural welterweight who hits hard and is also smart and fast. Pacquiao doesn’t hit hard enough to knock anyone out in the welterweight division. I’m basing that on my fight against Pacquiao. I could’ve stood there and put my face in front of him and he couldn’t have hurt me,” De La Hoya said.
“I think Cotto is a smart fighter. I think he’ll get through those first few rounds and in a smart way he’ll walk down Pacquiao and possibly stop him in the later rounds."
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com
