Miguel Cotto is Too Strong For Pacquiao, Says Chavez

[NachoMan]

Once again, the 3 fighters are true welterweights and 2 of them can fight as middleweights. Pacquiao is not a true welterweight and how many TRUE, good welterweights has pacquiao fought? Marquez? Diaz? morales? barerra? I'm not saying pacquiao cannot beat Cotto, just saying it's a very dangerous fight for pacquiao. He will feel the power and speed of cotto. Cotto has more power than hatton, marquez, morales, barerra AND the power is TRUE WW power. Also, cotto,, no matter how he lost to margarito is in his prime and younger.

I totally agree that, on paper, Cotto represents Pacquiao's toughest challenge. Pretty much everybody acknowledges this. What I don't get is how Pacquiao detractors continue to insist that Pac's wins over ODLH and Hatton were overrated. Both fights were considered extremely dangerous on fight night, yet people dismiss these opponents today as overrated deadwood. As you say, Pacquiao is not a true welterweight. He wasn't a true lightweight when he destroyed Diaz, or a true Junior Middle when he fought ODLH, or a true Jr. Welter (he sure looked like one to me though) when he destroyed Hatton. At this stage in his career, I have no clue what is Manny Pacquiao's true best weight, but I have no doubts that he is the real deal. On Nov 14, Cotto and friends will know it too.

[iloveboxing2]

My Fellow Cotto Fans Doesn't Make Sense....

..at all. Pac did beat Dinamita both fights. Pac is a MMA type of a fighter that uses his brains when fighting, he know when to strike. Stronger in boxing doesn't mean you are better, tough guys usually gets beaten because they always under estimate their opponent..

[rob6465]

Pacquiao knocked out Hatton in 2 rounds, and badly beat up DLH, his punches would indeed have an effect on Cotto.

I'm not saying pacquiao's punches will not have an effect. I agree pacquiao is faster than cotto, not 5 or 10 times faster as some fans say, but faster. Pacquiao's fast punches will have an effect on cotto, same as cotto's punches will have an effect on pacquiao. What i dissagree is everyone putting too much on the hatton and oscar fight. We need to look at pacquiao's fights with marquez and that is a good barometer for this fight. Marquez connected on cotto but did not take advantage when he hurt pacquiao, cotto will. Also, cotto's chin is very, very good. He gets hit but hard to knockout.

People say that Cotto cannot catch pacquiao. HUH??? Marquez, barerra, morales, etc all caught pacquiao. Cotto can catch pacquiao, he just needs to catch him and follow up. Cotto won't be afraid, he has fought bigger, stronger fighters. All i'm saying is it will be a great fight and if pacquiao wins, more power to him. I'll say positive things. I'm not like some fans here who knock fighters. The winner deserves the praise as well as the one who does not win.

agree??

[rob6465]

I totally agree that, on paper, Cotto represents Pacquiao's toughest challenge. Pretty much everybody acknowledges this. What I don't get is how Pacquiao detractors continue to insist that Pac's wins over ODLH and Hatton were overrated. Both fights were considered extremely dangerous on fight night, yet people dismiss these opponents today as overrated deadwood. As you say, Pacquiao is not a true welterweight. He wasn't a true lightweight when he destroyed Diaz, or a true Junior Middle when he fought ODLH, or a true Jr. Welter (he sure looked like one to me though) when he destroyed Hatton. At this stage in his career, I have no clue what is Manny Pacquiao's true best weight, but I have no doubts that he is the real deal. On Nov 14, Cotto and friends will know it too.

lol, i guess we'll agree to dissagree. That is the beauty of debating things without getting nasty. I wish both fighters the best and hope it's a good fight. I'll probably make my prediction(unlike Roach) on 11/13. I like that cotto looks the best/biggest/focused he has ever looked and pacquiao looks good too.

[iloveboxing2]

Pac Just didn't Beat RH And ODLH........

...Both fightere were obviously bigger and stronger and at their weight class same with Marquez and Diaz and most of these guys kissed the canvas and GB quit to save face! Am I missing something or am I dreaming?

[rob6465]

...I hope MC wins but how is he going to neutralize Pac's speed? MC's too slow so how can he use his power? Come fight night, he will be dehydrated to make wt. and will quickly run out of gas chasing Pac.

Remember cotto was slower than judah, malinaggi and mosley. Trust me, Cotto is not slow. : )

[rob6465]

...Both fightere were obviously bigger and stronger and at their weight class same with Marquez and Diaz and most of these guys kissed the canvas and GB quit to save face! Am I missing something or am I dreaming?

Missing something....you'll find it on 11/14 as so many people will also find it. Just hope the winner gets credit. I know i'll give much props to cotto and pacquiao.

[iloveboxing2]

If Oscar Comes Back To Fight Cotto...I Hate To Say This..

..but GB will KO Cotto. Why? he is too slow, hat was the reason why he got hit with so many punches by Margarito. Againts Clottey, same thing. Watch MC's fights on tape and pay attention on his foot works.

[mono92]

Chavez is absolutely right with his analysis but I just want to remind him that that this is not a wrestling match.

Chaves sees himself Pacman and Cotto's capabilities thats why he concluded that the only way for Cottos to win is by using dirty tactics (clinch & low blow).

Do you think Cotto will win in this fight by size alone?

Do you think Cotto will win if he fight Pacman fair and square?

You dont need the answer this question Mr Chavez because you answer it already, remember "clinch".

[boricuarn]

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto: The Next Super-Fight

By Bryan Brennan - On November 14th two of the biggest stars in boxing will face-off for a PPV super-fight. These fights are something special for boxing; they are the types of fights that get the general public to pay attention to our wonderful sport of boxing. I go through a few different phases for a super-fight, here's a look at what life is like for The Bryguy:

PHASE 1: Going into a big fight like this I always envision an epic battle between two gladiators, blood and guts warriors, grit, sweat, anger, and other adjectives that sound tough and manly! I blog about what an amazing ballsy, kick-butt fight it will be. I talk to whoever will listen to my expectations, scientific analysis, and true gut feelings. This is a great phase to be in.

PHASE 2: Honey roasted Peanuts are set out, Bud Lights are cold, my scorecards are ready, and my girlfriend is patiently waiting until fight night is over(because she's been listening to me for a month, she knows THIS one is important). I then proceed to suffer through two or three horrid under-card fights, that if I'm lucky are complete mismatches and will at the very least end quickly. If I'm not lucky it's a Zab Judah mismatch that should have ended early, but he once again doesn't live up to expectation and drags me through the miserable fight for ten or twelve rounds. This is phase filled with anxiousness and a little aggravation..

PHASE 2.1: The under-cards were terrible, but that's OK, the main event will be so amazing it will make up for everything! I refill my peanut jar, double check the fridge to make sure I have enough BL’s (because the main event will have me on the edge of my seat for at least ten rounds). I answer a few text messages driving home my prediction, letting everyone on the planet know what an amazing boxing mind I have. THE FIGHT: The main event ends as soon as it starts or is a patty cake match for twelve rounds, where on top of everything the decision is a debacle!(obviously there is the diamond in the rough, but so many do end in disappointment).

PHASE 3: Then comes the moping, tears, sadness, and complaining about forking over $50 bucks, "FOR THAT!” After that I swear off the sport forever because it's corrupt, doesn't treat its loyal fans with respect, and bleeds me dry every time I am forced to spend my hard earned cash! My girlfriend cues up Dancing with the Stars on DVR, and just yeses me to death until I finally stop my babbling and go to sleep in a Bud Light induced coma (She's very patient with me).

PHASE 4: The following day I read on ********boxing.com how the winner will square off against another huge name in the sport for what will inevitably be the fight of the year! Now THAT fight is going to be the best fight ever! I can't wait to blog about it, talk about, and pay money for it! I guess that means it's back to phase one.

Well folks, I am here to tell you that I am knee deep in Phase one right now! Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are two guys who haven't ducked anyone, fight with true heart, and put on fights for the fans. There is no way this one can let us down. I am so deep into phase one that one blog won't cover this showdown. If I am going to do it justice I must break it into three parts:

PART 1: Why I Love Miguel Cotto

Miguel Cotto has been one of the most consistent fighters in the world of boxing over the past few years. There hasn't been another guy in boxing who has constantly stepped up competition, fought entertaining fights, and tested his own abilities quite like Miguel Cotto, except maybe Manny Pacquiao.

The reason Miguel Cotto is so fun to watch is that he IS beatable. I suppose that shouldn't be a reason why you love a fighter so much, but I think that was why Arturo Gatti was so popular. That's why every Diego Corrales fight was a must see, and it's probably why Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn't been able to find the fan-base he thinks he deserves. It's not that you root against a fighter; it's that you never really know how he will pull off the victory.

There is a crazy nervous feeling I get when Cotto steps into the ring with his opponent, because a lot of the times I've thought the other guy has the tools to beat him. Somehow Cotto has figured out a way to overcome that adversity, and that is what fans want in their fighters. That ability to dig deep and muster some energy, or skill that maybe even the fighter didn't know he had, it is what makes elite athletes so special.

Miguel Cotto for the most part looks like a machine when he enters the ring, chin down, gloves high, and his eyes glaring between his fists like a sniper peering through his scope. He is also very militaristic in the way he can systematically break an opponent down, as he did with Carlos Quintana, Paulie Malignaggi, Randall Bailey, Kelson Pinto, Lovemore N'dou, and many others. He'll chop you down whatever way he can, not shying away from bodywork, or with Branco, just ****ing away at the arms!

There have been many fights though where he wins using other tools in his arsenal, in 2005 Cotto faced off against Ricardo Torres and won that fight with his heart. The two traded bombs in the center off the ring for several rounds; until Cotto was the last man standing (The picture of Cotto at the end of that fight will always be a lasting memory for me).

In 2007 Miguel proved to the world that he was an upper echelon fighter when he disposed of two fast capable fighters in Zab Judah, and Shane Mosley. Against Judah he was taking on a fast, heavy handed fighter, who when his mind is in the game can beat just about anyone (of course his mind is never really in the game). Cotto overcame a vicious uppercut early in the fight, and fought through a severely damaged lip to impose his will, stopping Zab in the eleventh. Fighting Mosley later that year Cotto was beating the faster guy to punch and showed off some magnificent boxing skill that many didn't believe he possessed. He out boxed Mosley in an extremely entertaining fight, in which I think Miguel showed the ability to not only break opponents down, but also game plan and execute against another elite fighter.

In the lead up to the showdown against Manny Pacquiao all the talk has been about what the Pac-man is going to bring to the table, and rightfully so, he has had a run unlike anything I have seen in a long time. I feel however it's because of Cotto's only loss (Antonio Margarito) and his last fight (Joshua Clottey) that people are forgetting what a solid fighter Miguel Cotto is. In 2008 he took on the self-proclaimed "most avoided man in boxing" Antonio Margarito. The first half of the fight Cotto fought like he did against Shane Mosley, dancing around the ring, and putting on splendid display of his boxing skills (I still wish he had focused on the body instead of the head though). Then as the sixth round came and went, Cotto began to slow down and Margarito's punches started to take their toll, forcing Cotto to take a knee in the eleventh. Margarito was found with loaded hand-wraps in his next fight against Cotto victim Shane Mosley, begging the question of whether he had loaded wraps against Cotto as well.

In his last fight Cotto took on the very tough, and I feel much underrated Joshua Clottey. Cotto suffered a cut in the third round, and Clottey put on heavy pressure making it a close fight. Cotto had to dig deep in the championship rounds to pull off the split decision. The fight could have gone either way, but it seemed like Clottey just stopped fighting in those last rounds, and Cotto was able to walk away with the razor thin decision.

Is Cotto still haunted by the loss, and beating to Margarito? Maybe, I know I would not be able to overcome something like that. Did that affect him in the Clottey fight? I don't think so; I think Clottey is an underrated fighter, who will only be beat by the best fighters in the world. Let's not forget that Clottey’s only other loss is to Antonio Margarito, in which Clottey was making Margarito look very human for the first half of the fight, before he stopped boxing in the second half. Which brings up a few questions; were Clottey’s hands hurt as he claims? If so, he is quite a tough rugged fighter, were Margarito's hands loaded then as well? Where Clottey's hands fine, and he just has a habit of slowing down and not fighting towards the end of fights, as he did with Cotto? Either way Clottey is no pushover and can beat any fighter on any given night.

I love Cotto for many reasons, but one above all the others, he comes to fight (I also like some of his new tattoos, but mostly because he come to fight). Whether he's the wrecking ball that ran through Quintana, Branco, and Malignaggi, the Rocky Balboa who survived Ricardo Torres, or the finesse boxer who outpointed Shane Mosley; Cotto shows up and entertains on fight night. I have yet to watch Miguel Cotto step in the ring and not be entertained, and I don't see him letting me down on November 14th.