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Roundtable discussion: 12 boxing writers break down Pacquiao-Cotto
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Power of the pen: Twelve boxing writers weigh in on Pacquiao-Cotto
It’s hard to recall a fight in recent memory that has had more strong opinions that the upcoming November 14th clash between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Coming from different backgrounds and possessing different skills in the ring both men have their share of loyal supporters and so far the passion regarding the showdown has almost boiled over.
Wanting to get a sense for what my fellow boxing scribes are saying about the showdown, I reached out to 12 journalists whose opinions I respect for various reasons. From discussing the bout’s importance to analyzing the advantages that each man has, there was plenty of feedback to take in.
In their own words, these are the thoughts and opinions from 12 online boxing scribes in regards to Pacquiao vs. Cotto…
Brad Cooney, Owner/Editor of 8 Count News (www.8CountNews.com)
“The Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto card comes down once again to power vs. speed. Cotto being the natural welterweight will probably be a bit stronger, and Pacquiao will be faster. We have seen this scenario before with past Pacquiao opponents, and speed prevailed each time. I don't see this fight being any different for Pacquiao. He will be too fast for Miguel Cotto and more than likely win this fight rather easily. Cotto's only chance is to be effective attacking Pacquiao's body. I do not feel as if Pacquiao makes the mistake of standing in Cotto's wheelhouse as to where he would be vulnerable to a body attack. Pacquiao's speed and power in his own right should prove to be too much for Cotto to handle. Pacquiao late round TKO.”
Thomas Gerbasi, Boxing Scene (www.BoxingScene.com)
“I think Pacquiao-Cotto is a great fight for boxing and one of those 'can't-miss' events that we get all too rarely these days. My only problem with the fight is that it's not taking place at Madison Square Garden, but as a New Yorker I might be a little biased.
"I have to go with Pacquiao simply based on the fact that I think he's too fast for Cotto. Plus, Cotto will never be confused with Willie Pep defensively, so when you add the two together, it could be a rough night for him. I know he's bigger and could hurt Pacquiao if he tags him, but I just look back at the Cotto-Zab Judah fight and the trouble Cotto had until he got his range late in the fight. Against a puncher with a laser-like left like Pacquiao, by the time Cotto finds his range, it could be too late. Pacquiao TKO9.”
Ryan Bates, Correspondent 411 Mania (www.411Mania.com/Boxing)
“Some people think that Manny Pacquiao got the pound-for-pound title by default when Floyd Mayweather Jr. left the sport for professional wrestling and other wacky shenanigans. Some people think that Pacquiao earned that title by defeating the best at multiple weight classes. Despite how you think he got it, he now has it, and is in a position with the return of the Pretty Money Boy Child to have to prove that he deserves to keep it. And with Miguel Cotto as his opponent, he's going to have to do a lot of proving.
"So Miguel Cotto starts training camp several weeks early and has a relatively quiet camp (with the exception of the abrupt and unexplained dismissal of Francisco Figueroa). Meanwhile, Pacquiao was busy being a celebrity while Manny's trainer Freddie Roach and Michael Koncz fight about everything under the sun, until Roach finally said, "Start training!"
"It was a tough fight to begin with, but Koncz surely exacerbates things. If Manny can pull through all the camp drama, even then he'll have a handful with Miguel Cotto. That being said, unless Camp Cotto has realized that he has problems and fixed them, watch for Pacquiao to move Cotto onto the ropes, where he doesn't fight well, and throw uppercuts straight up to the jaw. Cotto leaves his alley wide open for the uppercut and that has often stood as a potential fatal flaw. Pacquiao by stoppage (not necessarily KO) in 9.”
Thomas Hauser, Seconds Out (www.SecondsOut.com)
“It’s a very good, competitive fight between two elite fighters. It’s everything boxing should be. Each guy could win this fight and it’s a chess match for each man. If we had more fights like this than boxing would be a much healthier sport. It’s not a manufactured event. It’s a legitimate great fight.
"My sense is that HBO and a lot of people would like to see Manny Pacquiao win the fight and have that lead to Pacquiao against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Most people feel that Mayweather-Pacquiao is the biggest event that boxing can put together for 2010.
"People are excited and looking forward to the fight. The general view is that the odds are a little too long on Cotto. While Pacquiao does have the edge in speed Cotto is the bigger, stronger man. The general consensus is that it’s a much closer fight that the odds show. The odds aren’t set by insider knowledge; the odds are set by how the public perceives the fight.”
Dennis ‘D Source’ Guillermo, Indianapolis Fight Sports Examiner (Click HERE to visit Dennis’ page)
"This fight needs little hype. What more can a boxing fan want in a match-up? Pacquiao versus Cotto. Two of the sports biggest names in the past 5 years and two willing bangers at that. This will be an action-packed fight for as long as it lasts. I don't see it going the distance either way unless Pacquiao chooses to play it smart and utilizes his feet and maximize the ring. Chances are however, this will turn into a gun fight and whoever packs the bigger guns wins.
"I see it as a toss-up. Either man can win, but I like Pacquiao's speed and experience. Pacquiao's been in more tougher fights and under more pressure situations. Cotto may be too slow but if he times Pacquiao properly and stay patient, he might just catch Pacquiao clean and Cotto definitely has the power to lay him out. Pacquiao is a more polished and mature boxer than he used to be so I don't expect him to make too many of his old mistakes. Cotto can definitely make him pay for his aggression if he gets reckless. What a tough fight to pick! Smart money would be on Pacquiao though, and if he shows up with his A-game, this might not even get past six rounds.”
Ryan Songalia, Boxing Scene (www.BoxingScene.com)
“I think this is a genuine super-fight, unlike the De la Hoya and Hatton mismatches. Cotto is a solid-one loss elite fighter with proven heart and durability. If not for the Margarito fight, people would be calling this fight a physical mismatch.
"Cotto is a terrific body puncher with a great left jab. Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez both showed that a strong left jab can break up Pacquiao's rhythm and open up combination opportunities.
"Pacquiao has improved a great deal since those days but he is going to be facing a much bigger, stronger fighter than himself. Pacquiao's greatest advantage lies in his speed so it's important that he doesn't make himself a stationary target for the bodywork of Cotto.
"I think that if Pacquiao can get in and out and establish his rhythm early like in the de la Hoya fight he can break down Cotto by the middle rounds for a later round stoppage. Cotto is a big puncher but through accumulation, not the one shot. For all of the talks of skills and attributes, the most important part of a fight is the training. Whoever has the better training camp will win the fight.”
Aladdin Freeman, Bragging Rights Corner (www.BraggingRightsCorner.com)
"I'd rather see Floyd Mayweather fight Pacquiao because that is the fight everyone wants to see. I think the luster with Cotto is gone after he got a gift decision vs. Shane Mosley then got battered from pillar to post by Margarito. Now true we don't know if Margarito was cheating or not during the fight and that may have impacted the fight so there is always that question. Overall I'm pretty disappointed with boxing because Mosley and Mayweather should have fought years ago and there is no reason that Floyd and Manny aren't fighting very soon. The UFC while total rubbish to me does have a good point that the fights the fans want to see don't happen for silly ass reason.
"As far as who wins the fight I think Cotto is skilled enough to box and slow down Pacquiao. I also think he's the bigger, strong fighter and will try his best to punish Manny's body to slow him down. I think Cotto has gotten some of his confidence back and because of this I like him to win a rugged fight. He's going to have to take some shots and deal with a very fast guy but he was able to hang in there with Mosley a couple years ago and I don't see why he can't do it again.”
David Avila, The Sweet Science (www.TheSweetScience.com)
“Without a doubt this is Manny Pacquiao's toughest fight. However, I still can't see anybody beating him. It should be a dog fight with Pacman coming out on top. He's the busier fighter."
Jake Donovan, Boxing Scene (www.BoxingScene.com)
“I can't think of a single self-respecting boxing fan who isn't looking forward to November 14. Even with the undercard being disappointingly thin, the night is still must-see TV.
"The beauty of the fight is that both winner and loser still have a world of options awaiting them, not to mention that their respective styles guarantee a great fight.
"Pacquiao has perhaps three divisions worth of options with a win, assuming he can still get down to lightweight (though he hasn't done so in more than a year). Pac-Mayweather is obviously THE fight of 2010 and despite suggested disinterest by Floyd and Arum, the money to be gained from such a fight should prove be enough to resolve all differences. Even with a loss, Pac-Marquez III will always look appetizing at any weight.
"Cotto is a bit more in need of a win, although a loss doesn't necessarily mark the end. A win obviously makes Cotto-Mayweather next year's priority. Should he lose in close fashion, he could always force a rematch, this time at the full welterweight limit. There's also the possibility of rematches with Mosley or even Margarito, who returns from suspension next year. Obviously Berto enters the mix if he upsets Shane, in a fight that would boast a bunch of alphabet titles on the line.
"Whatever the case, there will be plenty of options for winner, loser and everyone else in and around the welterweight division.
"I'm still undecided on picking the winner. I lean slightly towards Pac, only because the weight could affect Cotto, though more psychological than physical. Once you train to make weight rather than train "just" to fight, you're already fighting an uphill battle.
"There's a belief that the wild card is whether or not Pacquiao can take a true welterweight punch. I don't invest much stock into that factor determining the fight for a number of reasons - most notably that Cotto has never been a one-punch knockout artist.
"The real question is if Cotto can catch Pacquiao clean AND often enough, and how much pressure he's able to apply throughout the fight. Minimizing the amount of leverage Pacquiao is able to get on his punches will make all the difference in the world. If Cotto allows him any kind of room, Pacquiao will outbox him and pick him apart, without taking a heck of a lot in return.
"It's funny, a lot of people see a Pacquiao win as being best for the sport, mainly because it makes Pacquiao-Mayweather not only the biggest fight of 2010, but perhaps the most lucrative fight in the history of the sport.
"From where I sit, a Cotto win means more big fights to go around next year and beyond. But what's best for the sport has nothing to do with what will happen in the fight... and for the moment, I have Pacquiao taking it by decision, perhaps even by late knockout.”
Kevin Iole, Yahoo Sports (Sports.Yahoo.com/Box)
“This is a great fight fan's fight. They're two action fighters with styles that will mesh well in the ring. Each has the ability to hurt the other and each likes to fight an offensive fight. I like Pacquiao, though I don't discount Cotto at all. I'd actually pick Cotto if he hadn't fought Margarito. That fight seemed to take so much out of Miguel. In his two fights since, he's appeared to have slowed and has been hit more than I've ever seen him. I think Pacquiao's speed and quickness will make a big difference. If the old Cotto reappears, that could change things big-time, but I'll go with Manny by decision.”
Zachary Levin, Freelance Journalist (www.ZacharyLevin.com)
“I don't have a great feel for this fight except that it should be a great one. I definitely don't expect a blow out or any shocking surprises such as the way Pacquiao took care of Hatton and Oscar or even David Diaz. I expect a lot of back and forth and rocking moments for both. If I had a gun to my head, I would go with Pac because of his speed and seeming boundless energy and ever-improving boxing skills. That combined with the fact that Cotto's chin has always been susceptible to a speedy well placed shot. Zab Judah and Chop Chop, who had success against Cotto, are similar to Pac in this way. A lot of speed.”
Michael Marley, NY Boxing Examiner (Click HERE to visit Michael’s page)
“It's a frightening thought Manny Pacquiao is still going up the hill and not descending. Miguel Cotto, by contrast, is hardly washed up or what Sugar Ray Leonard liked to call "a punched ticket." I am not saying Cotto is like sour milk, that his expiration date has come and gone.
"What I am saying is Manny is still peaking and his special chemistry with Prof. Roach is a huge element of his steady improvement. It's not beating Oscar and Hatton, it's how he methodically demolished them both. This is not the same Manny Pacquiao I saw stumbling around a ring in San Antonio against Jorge Solis. That Pacquiao had potential but his footwork was terrible. His offense was
nowhere near as fine tuned as it is now.
"I see a mismatch here also. Not between Miguel and Manny. But this bout is a Super Bowl game in terms of magnitude. The veteran jockey is Roach, the novice rider is Jose Santiago. He may be good, bad or indifferent as Cotto's chief second. We don't know. But do we do know how Roach performs and gets his boxer to perform under such intense pressure. Welcome to the Big Dance, Mr. Santiago,
but I remind you that all contents are under pressure.
"Larry Holmes liked to say "you can't cook with cold grease." With that in mind, I'm sticking with Megamanny and Chef Freddie because they not only serve up a sizzling steak, they slather it with comeback sauce that leaves you wanting more.
Mixed metaphors aplenty, I realize. But I'm a mixed-up guy. Pacquiao by decision and there will no big drama when the scores are ready by Michael Buffer. Notice I said Buffer and not buffet, lol.”
Chris Robinson is a freelance journalist based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He tries to remain objective as possible in all of his articles, putting any personal agendas or bias off to the side. He can be reached at AceFreitas2001@yahoo.com and www.FaceBook.com/CRHarmony. More of his work can be found below...
- Behind Closed Doors: Unveiling the Manny Pacquiao Effect Within Top Rank
- Charting the Pacquiao-Cotto Timeline
- 10 Observations about Pacquiao/Cotto 24/7, Episode 3
- Pacquiao-Cotto: Recipe for Destruction
- Richard Steele Reflects on his friendship with Freddie Roach
- The Intertwining Lives of Pacquiao, Mayweather, and Cotto
- The Daily Grind: Pacquiao-Cotto Directory, Dawson-Johnson II, Judah's Return and more
- Harold Lederman remembers the electricity of Pacquiao-Hatton
- Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7, Episode 1 Highlights and Quotes
- Pacquiao-Cotto: Counting down the numbers
- The Daily Grind: Pacquiao-Cotto, Froch-Dirrell, Frias on ShoBox, and more...
- Harold Lederman Remembers the Atmosphere of Cotto-Judah
- Live From the Fight Factory: Trainer Pete Fernandez Picks Cotto to Stop Pacquiao in Nine
- All around Class: Boxing Manager Cameron Dunkin Speaks on the Amazing Stories of Pacquiao and Cotto
- No Hard Feelings: 'Gato' Figueroa speaks on his early dismissal from Camp Cotto
- Other Side of the Coin: HBO Judge Harold Lederman turns his attention to Miguel Cotto
- The Comprehensive Buzz on Pacquiao-Cotto
- What's next for Juan Manuel Marquez?
- Ringside Appreciation: HBO's Harold Lederman reflects on his time covering Manny Pacquiao
- In the Mix: Everything you need to know about former Champion Jose Luis Castillo
- Insight and Intellect: Esteemed Boxing Writer Thomas Hauser Weighs in on Pacquiao-Cotto
- Fighter Flashback: An American introduction from Manny Pacquiao
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