Miguel Cotto calls Manny Pacquiao proven "as one of the greatest boxers."
THE BRONX--Sugar Shane Mosley, motivated purely by self interest, sings the praises of Manny Pacquiao.
Mosley is lobbying hard to be the Pinoy Idol’s next foe, possibly on Oct. 17.
He’s not the only welterweight champion in the “Hallelujah Pacman” chorus.
Miguel Cotto, WBO champ at 147 pounds, was calm and serene as he showed his physical form to thousands of appreciative fans, nearly all of them his fellow Puerto Ricans, Saturday afternoon in rough and tumble Mott Haven section of the South Bronx.
In a key marketing move, promoter Top Rank teamed up with AT&T to put on a Cotto public workout at the corner of East 152 Street and Wales Avenue. There were about 5,000 in attendance at the two block long Puerto Rican Festival street fair. At one of the fair a salsa band was playing and about in the middle, a ring was set up for Cotto.
Cotto’s title defense against Bronxite Joshua Clottey is Saturday night at Madison Square Garden and the 33-1, 27 KOs Cotto seems to be primed for a great performance against a physically strong and durable challenger.
Cotto, whose only loss was to now suspended Antonio Margarito, admitted to being quite surprised at how easily Pacman trampled Ricky Hatton. And he also admitted to hearing all the speculation about who will be next on Manny’s dance card.
Cotto shook his head slightly as he referred to the two round Hatton blitz.
“This was a huge surprise, I think, for everyone out there,” Cotto said “He is one of the greatest boxers.”
Is there any chance Cotto will lose his Clottey focus and trip himself up by looking ahead to a Pacman bout and jackpot?
This question may have added importance given the fact that Cotto recently had a fistfight with his uncle-trainer Evangelista Cotto and then switched trainers. He also put in eight week of training in Orlando rather than training near home in Caguas, P.R.
“I had a good eight weeks (training),” Cotto said. “I wanted to get away from all distractions and I did that. I had a group which was focused and kept me focused.
“I hear all the talk (on Pacquiao),” Cotto said. “But I keep my focus on this fight, on Joshua Clottey."
Cotto, who speaks freely in English to reporters these days, was extremely tranquil even when talking about Margarito who he feels may have loaded his handwraps before their fight, won by Margarito on an 11th round stoppage.
“I didn’t want to protest (that loss),” Cotto said. “No one from my team went to his dressing room to watch and check his hands. I felt that, if we made that kind of mistake, then we just have to deal with it and move on.
“If it comes up, I would fight him again. It would be a revenge fight for me.”
That loss, the removal of his trainer, seem to be on Cotto’s mind but not in a disturbing way. He seems to have accepted both events.
“This fight…I am having a new beginning. We’ll see what kind of skill Joshua Clottey can bring to the ring. I know he has skills but I know and he knows that Miguel is better than him.”
Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, said formatting a big Garden bout with the weeklong Puerto Rican celebration in New York works like a charm.
“We’ve been doing this five years now,” duBoef said, “and putting the fight on the night before the big parade. The Puerto Rican people have come to expect it. Fighting is part of their culture and the enthusiasm is great.”
Some area residents in tenement buildings literally watched Cotto’s workout out of their living room windows.
One man peddled large PR flags and asked a price of $10. The peddler, wearing a Yankees cap, said, “I am from Ecuador but, hey, I need a job.”
Hovering around the ring was British visitor and ex-pro boxer Abdul Mannan, 37.
Now what is a Mancunian doing at a Cotto workout in the bowels of the South Bronx?
“I’m on holiday so I rode an hour on the subway,” Mannan said. “Manny Pacquiao will beat all these guys except for Mayweather. It will take a Ray Leonard type boxer like Mayweather to beat Manny because Manny is like Roberto Duran.”
One of the most popular teeshirts for sale paid tribute to the late, great Boricua baseball superstar Roberto Clemente.
Michael is a former sports columnist at the New York Post. He was a criminal defense attorney and worked for sports legends Howard Cosell and Don King. Marley also operates Boxingconfidential.com. Email him your thoughts. He makes it a practice to always recommend Pacland, Philboxing and feisty upstart Pacfanscorner.
Comments
At least Cotto gives due respect to the achievement of the Pacman. Unlike the notorious trashtalker spoiled brat Mayweather.
Cotto threatened to leave Top Rank promotions because of Bob Arum's denial over the Margarito illegal hand wrap. Bob convinced Cotto to stay with Top Rank by promising him a huge payday--a fight against the Pacman. If Cotto gets pass Clottey, expect to see a Pacquiao-Cotto fight in October.
please do not buy ppv of gayweather vs marquez
Bob Bunny dangling the Pacquiao carrot: Valero dumped Golden Boy over Top Rank - Why was Valero invited to Manny's b-day bash in the Philippines? Yup, you guessed it right. To showcase him to Philippine media/fight fans. My prediction, Valero will be Pacquiao's farewell fight (most likely will take place in Manila).
yes its a good match up for pacquiao and cotto...i think top rank will make this happen...
Cotto is respectful.
Meanwhile, do not buy PPV of Mayweather-Marquez fight. Number one vs. Numero uno is fake!
I think it's gonna be Manny-Cotto in October followed by Manny-Mayweather in March 2010 in time for Manny's seeking a Congressional seat in the Philippines in May 2010. It would be an easy win for Manny against Mayweather boosting the former's election to Congress.
I already told Eric Gomez of GBP why Number one vs. Numero uno is fake.
i agree with cotto, he has to fucos and finish his jod on clottey before thinking of pacquiao showdown! cotto is a nice guy, he is humble i guess. not like m0sley and other who fought manny lots of talking than action in the ring...
Just for fun: Pacman's last 4 fights before retirement:
2009:
(1) Cotto vs. Pacquiao (Manny by UD)
2010:
(2) Mayweather vs. Pacquiao ($$$ too great not to happen; however it will be boring, tactical fight, rematch ain't gonna happen, Manny by split decision).
(3) Cotto vs. Pacquiao rematch (Manny in decline, Cotto by TKO and becomes the new face of boxing)
(4) Valero vs. Pacquiao (farewell fight in Manila, Luneta Park with over one million in attendance, Manny by TKO)
*** No Marquez 3rd fight, he's damaged commodity after Mayweather fight.
*** No Shane Mosley either. It's high risk, low reward for the Pacman. Shane is a serious threat; he's a bigger version of Eric Morales. And if Manny wins, you'll hear critics including MARLEY saying Shane is too old and weight drained, not the same fighter.
Cotto should easily trample Clottey then look forward to a fight with Pacquiao then Pacfans at www.pacfans-corner.com will be happy that Manny once again have another belt this time from Cotto.
www.pacfans-corner.com
www.pacfans-corner.com
www.pacfans-corner.com
Got it?
GAYWEATHER MARQUEZ is a waste of time and money! Just KILL GAYWEATHER, he's a disgrace in boxing!
Cotto is great guy like the Pacman. Has talent but his ego is knee high, i like to see them both fight this Oct. Arum is right, Mosley does not bring a lot of money to Pacman although it surely would an exciting fight. Damn with Mayweather, let him fight Darchinyan and Chris John, that where he good at,fighting smaller guys so the risk factor is very low.
hindot ka mang resty, tangina ka, wala kang ginawa kung nde i promote ang bobo mong site, !!!!
I am a Fil-Am and share the pride of Pacman. I like Cotto. He is a true sportsman. He has neither been defeated or fought Pacquiao but he is gracious in acknowledging Pacquaio's accomplishment/s. He is not a "Me Me Me, Meeooowwwwww" fighter like most out there. If this were Marquez who lost with an issue due to a plaster on his opponent's handwraps, imagine how much more bitterness and unscaleable mountain of hoolabaloo he would be spitting? Well, Cotto can be even greater, much much greater than where he is right now. I feel he has a complete ammunition depot to shoot down the best out there perhaps with laser guided effectiveness. The Lord bless him. You have to be humble to become great. God hates a person with a froward mouth.
Cotto is a very skilled and powerful fighter and should have learned and improved himself a great deal with that lone loss to Margarito.
Put TANG in a MOO resty!!
Site mo laman puro basura!!!!
a lil off topic... bout pacquiao's greatness and legacy... id love to see pac give mayweather some as whoopin but when it comes to pacmans legacy, the guy doesnt even need to fight mayweather. just defeat cotto and mosley(guys mayweather duckd) and hell be considered 1 of the all time greats if he aint already is... and yeah valero for a farewell fight in the philippines sounds like a great idea... that'll be a knockout. and last but not least im not buying the ppv for that circus show mayweather vs marquez(NUMBER ONE)... WHAT A JOKE!
I have a doubt wether Miguel cotto is ready or focus in his fight with Clottey.His pictures tells a different story.He looks a dehydrated ODLH(some claimed that way)and can't pull the trigger(made famous by Freddie Roach)but don't
judge my brother(made famous by Melanie)for he is not a book .But of course Lets get ready to rumble....
IM NOT BUYING THAT MAYWEATHER-MARQUEZ PPV EITHER. IM NOT PUTTING MONEY ON MAYWEATHERS BROKE BANK ACCOUNT!
i agree that it shud be cotto and mayweather not unless mosley will go down to 142lbs. pacman must win his next fight to become the fighter of the decade since mayweather can't win the way pacman won over hatton on his nxt fight. mayweather runs his mouth in order to make himself marketable as a boxer. i pitty ppl who spend money to watch mayweather dance rather box in the ring.
only a fool would buy the PPV for that mayweather vs marquez fight. if you saw the mayweather vs delahoya fight... youll know what im talking about... that fight almost put me to sleep. what more with this 2 counterpunchers.
cotto is a good humble guy like pacman thats why most fight fans look up to them idolize them. i dont know why the likes of spoiled brat mayweather and jmm are idolize too much talking not even in the level of pacman
the mayweather vs delahoya clinchfest put me to sleep on my couch... the pacquiao vs hatton fight knockd me off my couch.
the Pacman is not like a Roberto Duran, he's more of a Marvin Hagler type of boxer for me.
www.youporn.com
visit it also
writing this column shows that ur not only favoring pacman.shoe=wing ur not a bias.good job.the albert einstein of boxing news.
pacman's fight is filipinos super bowl to watch.but how about when he retires, can u give us an idea who we filipino are goin 2 watch?
if jmm thinks that there will be a 3rd fight w/ manny,he's dreaming i think and just can't swallow his latino pride and can't accept defeat.be a gentleman jmm,don't be a cry baby.manny vs. Cotto-next.it would just be a boring fight fighting gayweather
kaya nga si mang resty na naman! wag ka dito mag advertise ng kagaguhan!
boycot gayweather vs marquez
i hope manny will go for his 7th world title. It will be an extremely difficult feat to accomplish considering the type of opposition that are being lined up for him (cotto, PBF, mosley). it's no easy task for pacman, but he has showed thru his last fights that nothing is impossible. to beat pacman, a boxer has to have the defense of a mayweather, the speed , punching combinations of a sugar ray leonard, the strength of a mosley or cotto, the fierceness of roberto duran, the never say die attitude of a JMM. it seems impossible to have all those traits embodied in one boxer. BHOP said that the only fighter who can beat MAnny... is Manny himself. youtube.com/watch?v=HpjAkwBLj6c
BHOP on manny pac. much respect to bhop! the last honest man in boxing. youtube.com/watch?v=lpDjz2Bkl1c
ROACH WILL KNOCK OUT FLOYD MAY WEATHER JR IN ROUND 1 ONLY.... GAYWEATHER OUT
waaaahhhhhhhhh mag si tahimik nga kayoooooo!!!
yun lang salamat, npadaan lng me....^^,
odlh says that pacman is his idol now after their fight.now he is singing diff tune.always sour graping.want pacman to be crushed everytime pacman fights. its shows their latino blood (mexican) along w/jmm and nacho burito.jealous n envious.boycott pfm vs jmm.she is too nvious.about odlh, HER predictions r all wrong.SHE should should shut HER mouth .jmm SHE SHOULD shut her mouth too. they dont learned.
MANG RESTY YOUR THE BEST NO MATTER WHAT PACMAN FANS SAY.
if i were the promoter of pbf&jmm fight i will make thier figth as one of the supporting bout and put a good fighter in main event to fight like mosley vs willams for that event to generates more ppv buys......
Hey marley i used to love you man but the way you prostituting your article tsk tsk tsk...
I know "our" Pacman is the best thing that ever happen to boxing but don't usad him to pedal or up your readership man. Your good don't think I'm not aware of what your doing. Don't prostitute your self.
If you want to write about Cotto...
Thanks Marley. By the way guys pls visit pacfan.corner the best site for pacfans way better than pacland.
@MANG RESTY
FU man. How dare you compare your stupid site to Pacland. Have you got no shame? Promoting your effin' site on every single Marley post. Paclanders won't go down to that level of yours!
Mayweather is no sugar ray leonard. Leonard fought the greatest fighters in his era. Who has mayweather fought that is considered great... No one, because he has duckd them all.
i dont think comparing the great ray leonard to mayweather is not acceptable...
ray leonard is a great boxer...
great counter puncher and he also box...
but PBF always protect his self and not prefer to box....
i respect the skill of PBF but his to much boring...
and his afraid to lose ego make him coward...
avoiding fighters who can possibly beat him...
that aint the character i know when ur a black american...
I don't like Pacland too! This Cebuanos became Millionaires by using Manny Pacquiao's Popularity. Plus do you know who El Critico is? He is the owner of Pacland! He made that character for the site to be interesting. He's making a fool of Pacman Fans. There are only two kinds of people on earth. Well you know what I mean.
VISIT www.mannypacquiao.ph/
Tigas ng Mukha mo MANG RESTY!! ULOL
mang resty, pornhub is better than youporn.i guaranty you.
False!
link pls queeny... LOLz
this is pacfans.corner.com
where banned members of pacland congregate.. lol!
MANG RESTY YOU ARE DIRTY THAN TAONG GRASA!!! IF YOU WANT TO PROMOTE SOMETHING DO IT WITHOUT INSULTING OTHERS I AM AN AVID FAN OF PACLAND AND SATISFIED TO ITS SERVICE I DONT CARE WHO'S THE OWNER OF THAT SITE I ONLY CARE FOR MANNY AND FOR THE NEWS THAT IHAVE READ ON THAT SITE.. I'LL ASURE YOU I'LL NEVER VISIT THE SITE THAT YOU ARE PROMOTING FOR YOU ARE AN OLD STUPID PERSON....
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