I got you, just wait til I get home from work, check this evening for the links.
merce77's Classic Boxing Thread, tape them hands up before you enter!!!!
- Thread starter merce77
- Start date
I got you, just wait til I get home from work, check this evening for the links.
Cotto-Pacquiao: As Good As "Super Fights" Get
The branding is thrown around somewhat in boxing circles. "Super fight," "mega fight," whatever you want to call it. We see one to three of them every year, the fights that carry the sport's business, give us ammunition for a couple of weeks to pretend that this is ever going to stop being a niche sport ever again, and then disappear.
Oscar de la Hoya had many of them this decade. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has had three, with Oscar, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Marquez. Manny Pacquiao has had two, with Oscar and Hatton.
And now we near November 14, when the third 2009 "super fight" comes to us from Vegas: Filipino phenom Pacquiao against Puerto Rican hero Miguel Cotto.
So what makes this any different? In recent years, these super fights come and then they go, and we all get the high and go, "Yeah, 'dead sport' my ass!" And no, it's not a dead sport, but boxing is a truly niche sport. Those surges of interest in the sweet science are fleeting; people go back to waiting for the next time their television tells them it's time to pay attention, and it's a huge minority of the million who watched Mayweather-Marquez that stuck around to watch something like the November 7 rematch between Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson.
But will they be there for Cotto-Pacquiao? Many of them likely will be. The world has been told of this "Pacquiao," and if you don't know him for more than the two biggest fights and some HBO highlights, can you imagine what a dynamo and a near-enigma he must seem to be? There has never been an Asian or Pacific Islander fighter that has taken the sport by storm in the way that Pacquiao has, certainly not in America. He's very "new" in that sense, something totally different for casual American boxing fans.
Then there's Cotto. Make no mistake, this should be the toughest fight of Pacquiao's career, and he's taken no shortage of top-ranked opponents and massive risks. Both of his last two fights were big risks. This one is the biggest of the three. Cotto's not aged and drained the way Oscar de la Hoya was, and he's just better than Ricky Hatton.
Unlike the other recent super fights, this should be a fantastic fight as well as a major event. That's the difference. That's why this one is so special. This is no Mayweather-Marquez mismatch. And yes, I thought the same about Hatton-Pacquiao, which turned out to be a one-sided demolition job by Pacquiao. But I don't see that happening this time around.
For boxing to sustain any growth, which I think is a real problem in marketing and promoting the sport, fights like this one have to be sold, and not just by the promoters. They have to be sold by the fans, who might be able to create new fans. My only challenge to anyone in recent years has been to actually watch some fights. If you don't like it then, hey, different strokes and all that. But if you've ever been a fight fan or if you're just a sports fan that loves drama, and excitement, and amazing acts from athletes, this type of fight is the fight you have to see.
Chances are after this fight happens, does good business, gets some buzz in the sports world, and then boxing loses a lot of that burst of interest yet again. It happens every other time. But this fight could be so good that long-term fans are made. It has that potential.
I can't wait.
The branding is thrown around somewhat in boxing circles. "Super fight," "mega fight," whatever you want to call it. We see one to three of them every year, the fights that carry the sport's business, give us ammunition for a couple of weeks to pretend that this is ever going to stop being a niche sport ever again, and then disappear.
Oscar de la Hoya had many of them this decade. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has had three, with Oscar, Ricky Hatton and Juan Manuel Marquez. Manny Pacquiao has had two, with Oscar and Hatton.
And now we near November 14, when the third 2009 "super fight" comes to us from Vegas: Filipino phenom Pacquiao against Puerto Rican hero Miguel Cotto.
So what makes this any different? In recent years, these super fights come and then they go, and we all get the high and go, "Yeah, 'dead sport' my ass!" And no, it's not a dead sport, but boxing is a truly niche sport. Those surges of interest in the sweet science are fleeting; people go back to waiting for the next time their television tells them it's time to pay attention, and it's a huge minority of the million who watched Mayweather-Marquez that stuck around to watch something like the November 7 rematch between Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson.
But will they be there for Cotto-Pacquiao? Many of them likely will be. The world has been told of this "Pacquiao," and if you don't know him for more than the two biggest fights and some HBO highlights, can you imagine what a dynamo and a near-enigma he must seem to be? There has never been an Asian or Pacific Islander fighter that has taken the sport by storm in the way that Pacquiao has, certainly not in America. He's very "new" in that sense, something totally different for casual American boxing fans.
Then there's Cotto. Make no mistake, this should be the toughest fight of Pacquiao's career, and he's taken no shortage of top-ranked opponents and massive risks. Both of his last two fights were big risks. This one is the biggest of the three. Cotto's not aged and drained the way Oscar de la Hoya was, and he's just better than Ricky Hatton.
Unlike the other recent super fights, this should be a fantastic fight as well as a major event. That's the difference. That's why this one is so special. This is no Mayweather-Marquez mismatch. And yes, I thought the same about Hatton-Pacquiao, which turned out to be a one-sided demolition job by Pacquiao. But I don't see that happening this time around.
For boxing to sustain any growth, which I think is a real problem in marketing and promoting the sport, fights like this one have to be sold, and not just by the promoters. They have to be sold by the fans, who might be able to create new fans. My only challenge to anyone in recent years has been to actually watch some fights. If you don't like it then, hey, different strokes and all that. But if you've ever been a fight fan or if you're just a sports fan that loves drama, and excitement, and amazing acts from athletes, this type of fight is the fight you have to see.
Chances are after this fight happens, does good business, gets some buzz in the sports world, and then boxing loses a lot of that burst of interest yet again. It happens every other time. But this fight could be so good that long-term fans are made. It has that potential.
I can't wait.
Last edited:
Shane Mosley v Vernon Forrest I 588mb Xvid
Unbeaten Shane Mosley defends his WBC wleterweight title against unbeaten US olympian and former IBF Welterweight champion Vernon Forrest.
Forrest had earlier defeated Mosley in the 92 Olympic trials.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NC7NLU30
R.I.P. Vernon.
Unbeaten Shane Mosley defends his WBC wleterweight title against unbeaten US olympian and former IBF Welterweight champion Vernon Forrest.
Forrest had earlier defeated Mosley in the 92 Olympic trials.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NC7NLU30
R.I.P. Vernon.
Shane Mosley vs Vernon Forrest II 770mb Xvid
Six months after losing his WBC Welterweight title to Vernon Forrest, Mosley tries to reclaim the belt against Forrest in the second fight together. At stake is also the ring magazine Welterweight title
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4NI16O8J
Six months after losing his WBC Welterweight title to Vernon Forrest, Mosley tries to reclaim the belt against Forrest in the second fight together. At stake is also the ring magazine Welterweight title
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4NI16O8J
Lookin for that Latimore/Spinks fight, hard to find I guess. Check back later though.
Welterweight world champion Andre Berto of the U.S. requested approval for a voluntary title defense on January 30 against WBA champion Shane Mosley of the U.S. The request was approved on the condition that Mosley publicly apologize to the WBC for abandoning the WBC title to challenge Antonio Margarito for the WBA title in January, 2009. No. 2 ranked Luis Collazo of the U.S. was ordered to fight No. 3 ranked WBC International champion Selcuk Aydin of Turkey for the interim world title, with the winner to be the mandatory challenger.
So let me get this straight...the WBC approves a fight that Berto requests if Shane apologizes to them? Why the fuck would he do that? He wasn't even the actual WBC champ then...He was the interim champ...
If this thing does go down on January 30th, then Berto is really going to be up for a rude awakening...after he gets off the mat
Welterweight world champion Andre Berto of the U.S. requested approval for a voluntary title defense on January 30 against WBA champion Shane Mosley of the U.S. The request was approved on the condition that Mosley publicly apologize to the WBC for abandoning the WBC title to challenge Antonio Margarito for the WBA title in January, 2009. No. 2 ranked Luis Collazo of the U.S. was ordered to fight No. 3 ranked WBC International champion Selcuk Aydin of Turkey for the interim world title, with the winner to be the mandatory challenger.
So let me get this straight...the WBC approves a fight that Berto requests if Shane apologizes to them? Why the fuck would he do that? He wasn't even the actual WBC champ then...He was the interim champ...
If this thing does go down on January 30th, then Berto is really going to be up for a rude awakening...after he gets off the mat
I hope Mosley beats the shit out of that kid. Nothing personal against Berto, I'm just really rooting for Shane. Berto had a hard time with Collazo, I can imagine how he's gonna feel after Shane taps that chin. They'll probably try to make Shane apologize for that too.
Malignaggi vs Diaz Rematch to be in Chicago:
At one stage it looked as though the Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi rematch might not go through however it has been reported that it will take place at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on December 12th.
Many thought that Malignaggi was hard done by in the first fight losing a unanimous decision even though unofficial HBO judge Harold Lederman scored it 115-113 for Malignaggi.
Malignaggi's rant after the fight as well as his verbal jabs at Diaz may have helped him secure the rematch. The venue is also located near Chicago's "Little Italy" which could make it a Malignaggi crowd.
Victor Ortiz will fight Antonio Diaz on the same card, both fights will be televised by HBO.
At one stage it looked as though the Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi rematch might not go through however it has been reported that it will take place at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on December 12th.
Many thought that Malignaggi was hard done by in the first fight losing a unanimous decision even though unofficial HBO judge Harold Lederman scored it 115-113 for Malignaggi.
Malignaggi's rant after the fight as well as his verbal jabs at Diaz may have helped him secure the rematch. The venue is also located near Chicago's "Little Italy" which could make it a Malignaggi crowd.
Victor Ortiz will fight Antonio Diaz on the same card, both fights will be televised by HBO.
So who you guys got? This rematch should have gone down 3 or 4 months after the first one....
I got Dawson....
I don't ask for too much around here, but I'd be much appreciated if anybody finds a gif of that SUPER SLO-MO knockout that Angullo scored tonight.
Man, I ain't NEVER seen shit like that before.
word that yorgey cat was put to SLEEP!!!!!..my girl who hates boxing was like this angulo hit that left hook-right hand combo on him ----->
I don't ask for too much around here, but I'd be much appreciated if anybody finds a gif of that SUPER SLO-MO knockout that Angullo scored tonight.
Man, I ain't NEVER seen shit like that before.
I got you Q, just me let me download the fight. Man, Dawson made that shit look easy, good performance.
^Knew you'd come through nicely with that! Props!
....Shit is still kinda scary to look at tho
No problem. It is kinda scary to watch, it almost reminded me of Trinidad's ko of Campas on the ropes, one more punch and homie woulda died on his feet.
B-Hop's facial expression
That Angullo KO didn't look as bad as y'all say it was, but what Tito did to Campas?
Maaaaan, Campas had a nice heapin helpin of a left cross sandwich with some right hook juice on the side...
Oh yeah, that fight is coming up this weekend, and there is supposed to be a big event that weekend around my area, also...I will let you know if I can make the event...
tito nearly took that campas's head off with those shots...shit was too classic
mugabi's ko of frank the animal fletcher is my favorite head snap on the ropes ko..the beast wasn't to be denied that day...destroyed that cat
B-Hop's facial expression
That Angullo KO didn't look as bad as y'all say it was, but what Tito did to Campas?
Maaaaan, Campas had a nice heapin helpin of a left cross sandwich with some right hook juice on the side...
Oh yeah, that fight is coming up this weekend, and there is supposed to be a big event that weekend around my area, also...I will let you know if I can make the event...
Right hook juice.... and B-Hops expression had me dyin when i posted that pic, forgot to mention itI don't think I saw that Mugabi fight, I'll have to check it out, the Beast vs the Animal? Sounds explosive.
Pacquiao weighs in at 144, Cotto at 145.
LAS VEGAS -- Manny Pacquiao spent long, hard weeks getting ready for one of the biggest nights of his life. Hundreds of hours sparring in sweltering gyms, nearly as many on morning runs through deserted streets.
Not to mention all those nights rehearsing with the band.
Many in boxing think Miguel Cotto will be Pacquiao's toughest challenge when they meet Saturday night in a highly anticipated 145-pound fight. But after trading punches he has to please another kind of crowd when he takes the stage to sing with his band later that night down the Las Vegas Strip.
His trainer would rather he concentrate on the immediate task at hand. But Freddie Roach understands by now that Pacquiao can't keep still in the ring or out.
"I'm against the concert, of course," Roach said. "But he does a lot of stuff. He's multitasking all the time."
The stuff includes everything from helping victims of the recent typhoon in his native Philippines to starring in an action movie called "Wapakman." The father of four -- who named one of his daughters Queen Elizabeth -- has so many things going on all the time that even his ever expanding entourage has trouble keeping track.
None of it matters, though, if he doesn't take care of business Saturday night when he again carries the weight of a nation on his shoulders in the latest in a string of fights that have made him wildly popular far beyond his home country.
Pacquiao expects it to be his first knockout performance of the night.
"For me boxing is a kind of entertainment," Pacquiao said. "You have to entertain people. You have to earn their trust."
Pacquiao has done just that in his last two fights, giving Oscar De La Hoya such a beating that he retired and dropping Ricky Hatton with one huge punch. He's gone from being a top-tier fighter to being widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and beating Cotto would give him an unprecedented seventh title in as many weight classes.
It also would set up a bout with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. in one of the biggest fights in boxing history. That's assuming, of course, that Pacquiao can focus on his most important duty of the night.
"I set aside everything that can distract my mind," Pacquiao said. "This is the important fight of my life. To win seven titles means 20 or 30 years ago you won't forget my name. Manny Pacquiao will still be there."
Though the fight will be for a piece of the welterweight title, it is being held at 145 pounds at the insistence of Pacquiao's camp because Cotto is a natural 147-pounder and Pacquiao has fought only once above 140 pounds. The scheduled 12-rounder at sold-out MGM Grand arena will be shown on pay-per-view.
Pacquiao weighed in at 144 pounds, his heaviest ever, while Cotto was 145 at a weigh-in Friday attended by some 7,000 fans.
The fight has the potential to be one of the most entertaining of recent big bouts, if only because Pacquiao fights in a frenetic style and Cotto loves nothing better than to move forward while throwing a relentless swarm of punches. But there are still questions about Pacquiao's chin against a bigger fighter as well as how much Cotto has recovered from the beating he took last year at the hands of Antonio Margarito.
Oddsmakers make Pacquiao a 2½-1 favorite partly because the betting public is going by his last two performances and partly because he seems to have accomplished the hardest task in boxing -- bringing both his speed punch with him as he moved up in weight in a pro career that began at 105 pounds.
"We believe we have an advantage in speed and in power, too," Pacquiao said. "My speed is still there and if you have speed you can create power."
Hatton found that out when he was on the receiving end of Pacquiao's left hook, his best punch. But Roach has helped Pacquiao develop a decent right hand in the last few years, too, so opponents can no longer look for just one punch.
The fight plan is simple for Pacquiao: Take command early and don't give Cotto a chance to build his confidence.
"If we let him win the first few rounds he'll begin to think he can fight with Manny," Roach said. "My job is not to let that happen."
Cotto's left hook is his best weapon, too, and until Margarito -- with the possible help of some suspect hand wraps -- stopped him in the 11th round last year, Cotto was a rising star himself. Cotto struggled in his last fight to win a bloody split decision over Joshua Clottey and Roach, for one, believes he has slowed and is no longer the same fighter he once was.
Cotto will make just half of Pacquiao's $13 million guarantee for this fight. He will also have to deal with having a new and untested trainer in his corner and the possibility that his cut against Clottey will be reopened in this fight. The crowd also figures to be against him.
"It's just a fight," Cotto said. "I'm not mad that people want me to win this fight or not. If he thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent. If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."
LAS VEGAS -- Manny Pacquiao spent long, hard weeks getting ready for one of the biggest nights of his life. Hundreds of hours sparring in sweltering gyms, nearly as many on morning runs through deserted streets.
Not to mention all those nights rehearsing with the band.
Many in boxing think Miguel Cotto will be Pacquiao's toughest challenge when they meet Saturday night in a highly anticipated 145-pound fight. But after trading punches he has to please another kind of crowd when he takes the stage to sing with his band later that night down the Las Vegas Strip.
His trainer would rather he concentrate on the immediate task at hand. But Freddie Roach understands by now that Pacquiao can't keep still in the ring or out.
"I'm against the concert, of course," Roach said. "But he does a lot of stuff. He's multitasking all the time."
The stuff includes everything from helping victims of the recent typhoon in his native Philippines to starring in an action movie called "Wapakman." The father of four -- who named one of his daughters Queen Elizabeth -- has so many things going on all the time that even his ever expanding entourage has trouble keeping track.
None of it matters, though, if he doesn't take care of business Saturday night when he again carries the weight of a nation on his shoulders in the latest in a string of fights that have made him wildly popular far beyond his home country.
Pacquiao expects it to be his first knockout performance of the night.
"For me boxing is a kind of entertainment," Pacquiao said. "You have to entertain people. You have to earn their trust."
Pacquiao has done just that in his last two fights, giving Oscar De La Hoya such a beating that he retired and dropping Ricky Hatton with one huge punch. He's gone from being a top-tier fighter to being widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and beating Cotto would give him an unprecedented seventh title in as many weight classes.
It also would set up a bout with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. in one of the biggest fights in boxing history. That's assuming, of course, that Pacquiao can focus on his most important duty of the night.
"I set aside everything that can distract my mind," Pacquiao said. "This is the important fight of my life. To win seven titles means 20 or 30 years ago you won't forget my name. Manny Pacquiao will still be there."
Though the fight will be for a piece of the welterweight title, it is being held at 145 pounds at the insistence of Pacquiao's camp because Cotto is a natural 147-pounder and Pacquiao has fought only once above 140 pounds. The scheduled 12-rounder at sold-out MGM Grand arena will be shown on pay-per-view.
Pacquiao weighed in at 144 pounds, his heaviest ever, while Cotto was 145 at a weigh-in Friday attended by some 7,000 fans.
The fight has the potential to be one of the most entertaining of recent big bouts, if only because Pacquiao fights in a frenetic style and Cotto loves nothing better than to move forward while throwing a relentless swarm of punches. But there are still questions about Pacquiao's chin against a bigger fighter as well as how much Cotto has recovered from the beating he took last year at the hands of Antonio Margarito.
Oddsmakers make Pacquiao a 2½-1 favorite partly because the betting public is going by his last two performances and partly because he seems to have accomplished the hardest task in boxing -- bringing both his speed punch with him as he moved up in weight in a pro career that began at 105 pounds.
"We believe we have an advantage in speed and in power, too," Pacquiao said. "My speed is still there and if you have speed you can create power."
Hatton found that out when he was on the receiving end of Pacquiao's left hook, his best punch. But Roach has helped Pacquiao develop a decent right hand in the last few years, too, so opponents can no longer look for just one punch.
The fight plan is simple for Pacquiao: Take command early and don't give Cotto a chance to build his confidence.
"If we let him win the first few rounds he'll begin to think he can fight with Manny," Roach said. "My job is not to let that happen."
Cotto's left hook is his best weapon, too, and until Margarito -- with the possible help of some suspect hand wraps -- stopped him in the 11th round last year, Cotto was a rising star himself. Cotto struggled in his last fight to win a bloody split decision over Joshua Clottey and Roach, for one, believes he has slowed and is no longer the same fighter he once was.
Cotto will make just half of Pacquiao's $13 million guarantee for this fight. He will also have to deal with having a new and untested trainer in his corner and the possibility that his cut against Clottey will be reopened in this fight. The crowd also figures to be against him.
"It's just a fight," Cotto said. "I'm not mad that people want me to win this fight or not. If he thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent. If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."
Prediction: Cotto vs Pacquiao
By Bryan Brennan - Ahhhh, the prediction, it is half the fun of a fight. It doesn't need to be a big fight, or even a hard one to predict, just as long as you can ponder, debate, and make the call. How many times have you sat down to Friday Night Fights and thought to yourself, "this is a recipe for an upset, I'm taking the little guy". When the fights get bigger it just means you have more research to do: who beat who, who looked good against what type of fighter, who's bigger, who's faster, which guy cuts, what shirt was I wearing last time he won? The prediction can lead to months of back and forth anguish, sleepless nights, and all sorts of mathematical equations. You read another person's prediction and think, "maybe they know something I don't".. You ignore house chores, and procrastinate when it comes to anything that might take away from fight study. In the end it's all about bragging rights...telling people you knew all along what was going to happen...you are the Nostradamus of fistic fury. On the flip side, once it's out there you can't take it back. All your ranting and raving, all the fights you watched, and all the hours you spent reading on the internet were for nothing. Now you have catch up on bills you ignored, the laundry that hasn't been touched in a month, and that damn shed that you never finished building. Remember though, if you get it right, you will lifted through the city on the shoulders of others, parades will be formed in your honor, and there is no doubt that streets will be named after you.
I think I am looking forward to this fight so much because it seems like it's been so long since a PPV fight came along that people were actually split on their predictions. In the Floyd Mayweather Jr.- Juan Manuel Marquez fight, was there any real question as to who would win? Even if you were a big time Marquez fan you had to know that it was a long shot. When Manny Pacquiao took on Ricky Hatton I thought that it would be a tougher fight, but I always thought it would finish with Hatton on the canvas. The last PPV fight that had such a split opinion might be Miguel Cotto - Shane Mosley. (I'm obviously not referring to the minor PPV cards like Latin Fury and such).
I separated this series into three parts for several reasons: I have major respect for both fighters, I have respect for the massive fan base of both fighters, and I am just plain excited about this match-up. Each guy has a legitimate chance to win this fight. They both have giant hearts, solid resumes, and great boxing skill.
Manny Pacquiao has looked like a world beater as of late, steam rolling through David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, and Ricky Hatton. Miguel Cotto looks as if he has seen better days, being stopped for the first time at the hands of Antonio Margarito, and pulling out the decision against Joshua Clottey by a thin margin. There are some questions left lingering with both of these fighters... Was Hatton made for Pacquiao? Was Joshua Clottey that good, or did Miguel Cotto lose a step? Does Pacman look better than he actually is? Did Cotto get a little fight taken out of him by Margarito? Can Pacquiao handle Cotto's body work? Can Cotto handle Pacquiao's speed?
PACQUIAO (49-3-2,37KO)
I firmly believe no matter what Jim Lampley and his cohorts wanted us to believe, Oscar De La Hoya didn't look good against Steve Forbes. I will fully admit going into his fight with Pacquiao all I paid attention to was the difference in size, not where the two were at in their respective careers, which as we all know turned out to be a mistake. With Ricky Hatton, I don't think he is as bad as people have made him out to be since his destruction at the hands of Pacman. He always had a habit of going in face first, he had done it his whole career. There were only a few guys who took full advantage of that: Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao, and Louis Collazo. Collazo was a slick boxer who caught Hatton late in his fight with Hatton, but didn't have the explosiveness that Pacquiao has to finish him off. I think that Manny Pacquiao deserves to be rated as the pound for pound best these days because he is doing something that not many people in the sport are, stepping up. I don't mean that to say that other fighters are chicken, but Manny can make money without Cotto or Hatton. He wants to be the best, and fights like this are what puts him there.
COTTO (34-1, 27KO)
Miguel Cotto on the other hand is coming off of a decision over Joshua Clottey, and didn't look his best. My question to you is, has anyone looked good against Clottey? Clottey to me is a Winky Wright type fighter... even if you beat him, you'll never look good against him. Clottey was beating Margarito until he claims he hurt his hands. Either way he stopped fighting the same way he did against Cotto. So maybe that fight looks the same no matter when it happened(before or after Margarito).
I always felt going into fights that Cotto had finally bit off more than he could chew. Against Judah I thought uppercuts and speed could be a major factor, but Cotto weathered the storm, went to work and broke Judah down. Against Malignaggi I thought Cotto would have issue with his boxing skill and movement, but Cotto stuck to his game-plan, cut off the ring, and punished Malignaggi. Shane Mosley was a big, strong, fast, and skilled welterweight; I was sure Cotto was over his head, but he boxed, moved, and showed some skills I didn't know he had (keep in mind I never doubted Cotto, just questioned him).
I have always thought that Miguel Cotto's weakness was fast handed slick boxers like Paulie Malignaggi , Zab Judah, or Shane Mosley. Cotto disposed of three of those fighters, he cut off the ring, boxed beautifully, and broke each guy down as if he were chopping down a tree. (Mosley wasn't chopped down, but he did lose the fight).
In the end the two fighters that gave Cotto the most trouble were straight ahead rough and tumble boxers, Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey. Two sturdy guys who come to fight, don't back up, and have granite chins.
BREAKING IT DOWN:
For some reason the fight that I think about most when trying to make a prediction is the Zab Judah vs. Miguel Cotto fight. A small, fast, hard hitting, skilled Junior Welterweight taking on Miguel Cotto. Cotto had some rough moments early on and eventually his size and strength was imposed on the smaller fighter. The major difference is that Pacquiao is a much smarter fighter than Zab Judah, and can punch from all angles. I also have zero questions about Pacman's heart, corner, or his ability to change game-plans in the middle of a fight.
I do think that Manny Pacquiao is explosive enough to hurt and perhaps even KO Miguel Cotto if he's not careful. I think back to Allen Green on Friday Night Fights talking about different kinds of knockout power, some have brute strength, and some speed from out of nowhere; Pacquiao seems to have the later. The early parts of this fight are very dangerous for Miguel Cotto.
I can see this fight going somewhat similar to the Zab Judah fight. Pacquiao will be very dangerous early with his hand-speed and what I consider explosive power, but I think Cotto will weather the Pacman tornado and take over in the later rounds. I feel that Cotto will take some punishment from Pacquiao's early movement and fast combinations, but will be doing what Teddy Atlas refers to as "putting money in the bank", as he works Pacquiao anyway he can to slow him down in the second half of the fight. Hatton said after his fight with Collazo that he he could feel the force of the punches more at 147 pounds than he could at 140. I don't think Pacquiao has fully experienced that yet. He is not only facing a harder puncher than Collazo, but he will also be facing a guy who will be able to hit him, unlike his last couple fights.
My official prediction is that the first half of the fight is all Pacquiao with Cotto's methodical style and bodywork taking it's toll late. I think Pacquiao's streak stops here.
PREDICTION: COTTO TKO 10
By Bryan Brennan - Ahhhh, the prediction, it is half the fun of a fight. It doesn't need to be a big fight, or even a hard one to predict, just as long as you can ponder, debate, and make the call. How many times have you sat down to Friday Night Fights and thought to yourself, "this is a recipe for an upset, I'm taking the little guy". When the fights get bigger it just means you have more research to do: who beat who, who looked good against what type of fighter, who's bigger, who's faster, which guy cuts, what shirt was I wearing last time he won? The prediction can lead to months of back and forth anguish, sleepless nights, and all sorts of mathematical equations. You read another person's prediction and think, "maybe they know something I don't".. You ignore house chores, and procrastinate when it comes to anything that might take away from fight study. In the end it's all about bragging rights...telling people you knew all along what was going to happen...you are the Nostradamus of fistic fury. On the flip side, once it's out there you can't take it back. All your ranting and raving, all the fights you watched, and all the hours you spent reading on the internet were for nothing. Now you have catch up on bills you ignored, the laundry that hasn't been touched in a month, and that damn shed that you never finished building. Remember though, if you get it right, you will lifted through the city on the shoulders of others, parades will be formed in your honor, and there is no doubt that streets will be named after you.
I think I am looking forward to this fight so much because it seems like it's been so long since a PPV fight came along that people were actually split on their predictions. In the Floyd Mayweather Jr.- Juan Manuel Marquez fight, was there any real question as to who would win? Even if you were a big time Marquez fan you had to know that it was a long shot. When Manny Pacquiao took on Ricky Hatton I thought that it would be a tougher fight, but I always thought it would finish with Hatton on the canvas. The last PPV fight that had such a split opinion might be Miguel Cotto - Shane Mosley. (I'm obviously not referring to the minor PPV cards like Latin Fury and such).
I separated this series into three parts for several reasons: I have major respect for both fighters, I have respect for the massive fan base of both fighters, and I am just plain excited about this match-up. Each guy has a legitimate chance to win this fight. They both have giant hearts, solid resumes, and great boxing skill.
Manny Pacquiao has looked like a world beater as of late, steam rolling through David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, and Ricky Hatton. Miguel Cotto looks as if he has seen better days, being stopped for the first time at the hands of Antonio Margarito, and pulling out the decision against Joshua Clottey by a thin margin. There are some questions left lingering with both of these fighters... Was Hatton made for Pacquiao? Was Joshua Clottey that good, or did Miguel Cotto lose a step? Does Pacman look better than he actually is? Did Cotto get a little fight taken out of him by Margarito? Can Pacquiao handle Cotto's body work? Can Cotto handle Pacquiao's speed?
PACQUIAO (49-3-2,37KO)
I firmly believe no matter what Jim Lampley and his cohorts wanted us to believe, Oscar De La Hoya didn't look good against Steve Forbes. I will fully admit going into his fight with Pacquiao all I paid attention to was the difference in size, not where the two were at in their respective careers, which as we all know turned out to be a mistake. With Ricky Hatton, I don't think he is as bad as people have made him out to be since his destruction at the hands of Pacman. He always had a habit of going in face first, he had done it his whole career. There were only a few guys who took full advantage of that: Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao, and Louis Collazo. Collazo was a slick boxer who caught Hatton late in his fight with Hatton, but didn't have the explosiveness that Pacquiao has to finish him off. I think that Manny Pacquiao deserves to be rated as the pound for pound best these days because he is doing something that not many people in the sport are, stepping up. I don't mean that to say that other fighters are chicken, but Manny can make money without Cotto or Hatton. He wants to be the best, and fights like this are what puts him there.
COTTO (34-1, 27KO)
Miguel Cotto on the other hand is coming off of a decision over Joshua Clottey, and didn't look his best. My question to you is, has anyone looked good against Clottey? Clottey to me is a Winky Wright type fighter... even if you beat him, you'll never look good against him. Clottey was beating Margarito until he claims he hurt his hands. Either way he stopped fighting the same way he did against Cotto. So maybe that fight looks the same no matter when it happened(before or after Margarito).
I always felt going into fights that Cotto had finally bit off more than he could chew. Against Judah I thought uppercuts and speed could be a major factor, but Cotto weathered the storm, went to work and broke Judah down. Against Malignaggi I thought Cotto would have issue with his boxing skill and movement, but Cotto stuck to his game-plan, cut off the ring, and punished Malignaggi. Shane Mosley was a big, strong, fast, and skilled welterweight; I was sure Cotto was over his head, but he boxed, moved, and showed some skills I didn't know he had (keep in mind I never doubted Cotto, just questioned him).
I have always thought that Miguel Cotto's weakness was fast handed slick boxers like Paulie Malignaggi , Zab Judah, or Shane Mosley. Cotto disposed of three of those fighters, he cut off the ring, boxed beautifully, and broke each guy down as if he were chopping down a tree. (Mosley wasn't chopped down, but he did lose the fight).
In the end the two fighters that gave Cotto the most trouble were straight ahead rough and tumble boxers, Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey. Two sturdy guys who come to fight, don't back up, and have granite chins.
BREAKING IT DOWN:
For some reason the fight that I think about most when trying to make a prediction is the Zab Judah vs. Miguel Cotto fight. A small, fast, hard hitting, skilled Junior Welterweight taking on Miguel Cotto. Cotto had some rough moments early on and eventually his size and strength was imposed on the smaller fighter. The major difference is that Pacquiao is a much smarter fighter than Zab Judah, and can punch from all angles. I also have zero questions about Pacman's heart, corner, or his ability to change game-plans in the middle of a fight.
I do think that Manny Pacquiao is explosive enough to hurt and perhaps even KO Miguel Cotto if he's not careful. I think back to Allen Green on Friday Night Fights talking about different kinds of knockout power, some have brute strength, and some speed from out of nowhere; Pacquiao seems to have the later. The early parts of this fight are very dangerous for Miguel Cotto.
I can see this fight going somewhat similar to the Zab Judah fight. Pacquiao will be very dangerous early with his hand-speed and what I consider explosive power, but I think Cotto will weather the Pacman tornado and take over in the later rounds. I feel that Cotto will take some punishment from Pacquiao's early movement and fast combinations, but will be doing what Teddy Atlas refers to as "putting money in the bank", as he works Pacquiao anyway he can to slow him down in the second half of the fight. Hatton said after his fight with Collazo that he he could feel the force of the punches more at 147 pounds than he could at 140. I don't think Pacquiao has fully experienced that yet. He is not only facing a harder puncher than Collazo, but he will also be facing a guy who will be able to hit him, unlike his last couple fights.
My official prediction is that the first half of the fight is all Pacquiao with Cotto's methodical style and bodywork taking it's toll late. I think Pacquiao's streak stops here.
PREDICTION: COTTO TKO 10
Hit up the main board, we've been going back and forth about Floyd/Pac for about 2 days. The betting in Vegas has already begun and floyd is an 8to5 underdog.
Hit up the main board, we've been going back and forth about Floyd/Pac for about 2 days. The betting in Vegas has already begun and floyd is an 8to5 underdog.
Yeah, I don't see it either, but I also have seen too much of Pac to sleep on him. Floyd should win, maybe even easily, but I won't ever count Pac out, I can see Floyd getting hit mor than he's ever been even if he wins. And even if he wins he'd still have to fight Shane Mosley and beat him to cement any kind of worthy legacy. His resume isn't exactly filled with Hall of Famers.
IMHO...
Floyd is no Cotto...Cotto was great at the start but fell into Manny's trap and fought Manny's fight....
he just stop being agressive.....
Floyd is too fast and smart to stand there and get tagged up like Cotto did...Cotto was trying to show his heart and tried to bang with a faster heavy combination Pacman....
I agree with you...it will be a tough fight for Floyd...I can see him finally getting bruised up...but I see him pulling out a win with his style...
next Manny defensivly has never impressed me.....Floyd like always will make his punches count....
what a fight it will be....
Hit up the main board, we've been going back and forth about Floyd/Pac for about 2 days. The betting in Vegas has already begun and floyd is an 8to5 underdog.
I can't post on the main board...besides, there are only a few folks on there worthy of discussing boxing with...
Now on to the Pac/Cotto fight...I want to start off by what "Vegas" has on after it ended...an 8 to 5 favorite against Mayweather?
Where is that "C'mon, son!" gif at again?
Whoever came up with that is absolutely dumb. I'm sorry, but I have seen absolutely NOTHING impressive about Pac's wins against De La Hoya, Hatton, and Cotto...why? because in ALL of those fights, he faced an opponent with little to no head movement...so unless the punches were being blocked by gloves, all of them were takin knuckle sandwiches...In addition (and this has been mentioned before), Pac takes too many shots himself to even warrant being competitive against PBF. Marquez made dude eat shots big time because he got to Pac before Pac could get to him. Imagine what Floyd could do with his speed...and with that, add on that Floyd is a great counterpuncher, and with Pac getting wild on his shots on many occasions, he could get caught big time...worse than what Floyd did to Hatton.
All that the Cotto fight did was prove two things - 1. Cotto is not an endurance/defensive fighter and 2. Pac "roided" up to 144, did all he could, and he still couldn't lay Cotto out.
I agree with most of the things you said....
but IMO Cotto was going to be KOed sooner or later....I think manny held up on some of those shots towards the end....
Hey look, I agree with everything you guys are saying, except Manny taking roids, this kid weighed 106 as a 16 year old kid who was malnourished in his youth. He's a grown ass man now and living in anything but poverty. I agree with you guys about Cotto and what Floyd would probably do to Manny, and I still won't sleep on Pac.
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