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Predictions: Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto
9:29 AM By Bobby Cassidy
Newsday staffers make their pick on the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto welterweight fight, Saturday night on HBO PPV.
Wallace Matthews: "This is a fight in which both fighters have benefited greatly by moving up in weight, although I can't remember a fighter in my lifetime, not even Roberto Duran, who has improved so much with each weight gain as Pacquiao has. More importantly, Pacquiao seems to be still improving while Cotto is deteriorating, maybe from the Margarito beating, maybe from years of killing himself to make 140. Whatever it is, he looks like a very old 29. Even recognizing that we might be overrating Pacquiao on the basis of beating a washed-up de la Hoya and a ridiculously overrated Ricky Hatton, he still looks like too much for Cotto to handle at this stage of both their careers. Pacquiao by TKO in 10, or convincing decision if Cotto toughs it out."
Greg Logan: "I believe in Manny. Cotto has the strength and toughness to go the distance, but Pacquiao will win a clear decision by outboxing him."
Mike Rose: "I think the fact that the fight is being fought at 145 pounds favors Manny Pacquiao's speed over Miguel Cotto's size and strength. Sure, Cotto is a hard puncher, probably the hardest puncher Pacquiao has faced, but the dip in weight will have an impact on just how hard those Cotto punches will be. It will be a true battle between two great fighters that will go the distance. I like Pacquiao in a decision."
Marcus Henry: "This is an intriguing matchup that features speed vs. power. Manny Pacquiao became an international star with easy wins over Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton. His quickness and defense made for easy wins. But this is his toughest fight to date. As well as he fought against de la Hoya and Hatton, he's taking on a fighter in Miguel Cotto who is in his prime, can hit and can take a hit. Cotto is not afraid to take some shots to get inside. Pacquiao is going to have to figure out a way to get inside and hurt Cotto early. Odds are he wont. Cotto is battle-tested in the welterweight division with wins over Carlos Quintana, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley and Joshua Clottey. Cotto will overpower Pacquiao and prevail in a 9th-round TKO."
Jose Moreno: "Speed versus power -- that's what the boxing experts are boiling Pacquiao and Cotto down to.But the final result of this fight will be determined by something much deeper, heart... As Pacquiao's fame has grown, his fighters edge has softened, his hunger is now being quenched with acting, singing, and politics. The celebrity is overtaking him, just like it did Tyson... Cotto on the other hand has hardened his already tough guy persona. He lasted 11 rounds with Margarito, one of the hardest punchers around who is under the su****ion to have used loaded gloves during the fight. He showed tremendous will to win in his last fight with Clottey, despite an early round accidental head-butt that left him nearly blind for nine rounds... There are two things that will seal Pacquio's defeat on Nov. 14th -- Cotto's determination, coupled with the Pac-Man's own lack of focus. Cotto by TKO, 9th round."
Mario Gonzalez: "I've been dead wrong the last two Pacquiao fights so I'm going with the sport's pound-for-pound king this time around. Although I think it will be a close fight, Pacquiao will use his speed and accuracy to his advantage against a bigger Cotto. I'm picking Pacquiao by unanimous decision."
Bobby Cassidy Jr.: "Pacquiao has proven his greatness. But even the great ones get beat and let's not forget, Pacquiao has been beaten before. On this night, I believe Pac Man will get beaten again. The reason is two-fold. The first part appears to be the chaos surrounding him. First there were the typhoons that ravaged his country and compromised his training camp. Add to that his movie career, his singing career and the petty in-fighting in his camp and one has to wonder how prepared Manny is for this fight. Now, for the second part, let's look across the ring in the other corner. Miguel Cotto is a strong and very tough world-class welterweight. He will not wither under Pac Man's attack but can Pac Man endure a very hard fight with a bona fide welterweight? Cotto is a lot closer to his prime than de la Hoya and Hatton were. I believe Cotto can handle Pacquiao's speed -- as he did when he beat Sugar Shane Mosley. I think Cotto will wear down Pacquiao over the course of a very good fight. Pacquiao won't be able to handle this welterweight's strength and power. Cotto wins by 11th-round TKO."
9:29 AM By Bobby Cassidy
Newsday staffers make their pick on the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto welterweight fight, Saturday night on HBO PPV.
Wallace Matthews: "This is a fight in which both fighters have benefited greatly by moving up in weight, although I can't remember a fighter in my lifetime, not even Roberto Duran, who has improved so much with each weight gain as Pacquiao has. More importantly, Pacquiao seems to be still improving while Cotto is deteriorating, maybe from the Margarito beating, maybe from years of killing himself to make 140. Whatever it is, he looks like a very old 29. Even recognizing that we might be overrating Pacquiao on the basis of beating a washed-up de la Hoya and a ridiculously overrated Ricky Hatton, he still looks like too much for Cotto to handle at this stage of both their careers. Pacquiao by TKO in 10, or convincing decision if Cotto toughs it out."
Greg Logan: "I believe in Manny. Cotto has the strength and toughness to go the distance, but Pacquiao will win a clear decision by outboxing him."
Mike Rose: "I think the fact that the fight is being fought at 145 pounds favors Manny Pacquiao's speed over Miguel Cotto's size and strength. Sure, Cotto is a hard puncher, probably the hardest puncher Pacquiao has faced, but the dip in weight will have an impact on just how hard those Cotto punches will be. It will be a true battle between two great fighters that will go the distance. I like Pacquiao in a decision."
Marcus Henry: "This is an intriguing matchup that features speed vs. power. Manny Pacquiao became an international star with easy wins over Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton. His quickness and defense made for easy wins. But this is his toughest fight to date. As well as he fought against de la Hoya and Hatton, he's taking on a fighter in Miguel Cotto who is in his prime, can hit and can take a hit. Cotto is not afraid to take some shots to get inside. Pacquiao is going to have to figure out a way to get inside and hurt Cotto early. Odds are he wont. Cotto is battle-tested in the welterweight division with wins over Carlos Quintana, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley and Joshua Clottey. Cotto will overpower Pacquiao and prevail in a 9th-round TKO."
Jose Moreno: "Speed versus power -- that's what the boxing experts are boiling Pacquiao and Cotto down to.But the final result of this fight will be determined by something much deeper, heart... As Pacquiao's fame has grown, his fighters edge has softened, his hunger is now being quenched with acting, singing, and politics. The celebrity is overtaking him, just like it did Tyson... Cotto on the other hand has hardened his already tough guy persona. He lasted 11 rounds with Margarito, one of the hardest punchers around who is under the su****ion to have used loaded gloves during the fight. He showed tremendous will to win in his last fight with Clottey, despite an early round accidental head-butt that left him nearly blind for nine rounds... There are two things that will seal Pacquio's defeat on Nov. 14th -- Cotto's determination, coupled with the Pac-Man's own lack of focus. Cotto by TKO, 9th round."
Mario Gonzalez: "I've been dead wrong the last two Pacquiao fights so I'm going with the sport's pound-for-pound king this time around. Although I think it will be a close fight, Pacquiao will use his speed and accuracy to his advantage against a bigger Cotto. I'm picking Pacquiao by unanimous decision."
Bobby Cassidy Jr.: "Pacquiao has proven his greatness. But even the great ones get beat and let's not forget, Pacquiao has been beaten before. On this night, I believe Pac Man will get beaten again. The reason is two-fold. The first part appears to be the chaos surrounding him. First there were the typhoons that ravaged his country and compromised his training camp. Add to that his movie career, his singing career and the petty in-fighting in his camp and one has to wonder how prepared Manny is for this fight. Now, for the second part, let's look across the ring in the other corner. Miguel Cotto is a strong and very tough world-class welterweight. He will not wither under Pac Man's attack but can Pac Man endure a very hard fight with a bona fide welterweight? Cotto is a lot closer to his prime than de la Hoya and Hatton were. I believe Cotto can handle Pacquiao's speed -- as he did when he beat Sugar Shane Mosley. I think Cotto will wear down Pacquiao over the course of a very good fight. Pacquiao won't be able to handle this welterweight's strength and power. Cotto wins by 11th-round TKO."