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Puerto Rican pride for Miguel Cotto: Camacho Jr., others make picks
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Top Rank Photo (Chris Farina)
EL PASO—Hey, I tried to fool Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr. I tried to get this SOL (Son Of Legend) to pick Pinoy Idol Manny Pacquiao over Miguel Cotto.
But it didn’t work. For Camacho, who has an important bout on the UTEP campus Friday night (check your PPV TV listings) against Mexican journeyman personified Luis “Yory Boy” Campas, it’s not his first rodeo.
He grew up around big fights and in boxing gyms. He knows where his ring loyalty must belong.
“It’s a good fight, man, a good fight,” Camacho said at the Camino Real Hotel. “But I got to pick Miguel Cotto because, if I don’t my Puerto Ricans won’t love me no more.
“I think Cotto will beat Manny. Manny won’t be in there with a weight drained Oscar or a defenseless Hatton. Cotto is coming not only to fight but to win the fight.
“Cotto will, I think, hit Manny and hurt Manny. I don’t know if he will KO Manny but he could. He is simply too strong for Manny.”
Newtimes.com
Camacho isn’t the only Boricua around these parts who is backing the boxer from Caguas.
Miguel Hernandez, 30 bout veteran middleweight out of Chicago, is a pal of Pacman foe David Diaz and a PPR (Proud Puerto Rican).
But he’s going against the grain and picking Pacman to prevail.
“I pick Pacquiao. You know, David gave Manny a better fight than the last two guys did. And that was when Manny was at a more natural weight, at 135 pounds,” Hernandez said.
Former fighter and now all-around boxing man and certifiable loony character Eric Bonilla votes the PR ticket like a good Boricua should.
“Pacquiao is getting hit and hit hard by Cotto,” the ex-California state welterweight champion said. “I like Cotto win on points after 12 rounds.”
Hernandez is handled by veteran Chitown trainer Sam Colonna. Colonna has trained the likes of action fighter and world champion Angel Manfredy and now retiring Polish heavyweight slugger Andrew Golota.
Colonna, who owns a gym in the Bridgeport section of Chicago, can’t see Pacman losing on Nov. 14.
“Something is not the same with Cotto after the loss to Margarito,” Colonna said. “It seems to have taken a lot out of Miguel. And, with (Joshua) Clottey, he was really only fighting in spurts. If he had fought more steadily, he would have beaten Cotto in the Garden that night.”
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
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