Watch out for Cotto’s power

The fight between Miguel Angel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas highlights two traits needed by world-class boxers—power and speed.

Cotto is regarded as a power puncher while Pacquiao, although he packs power in his mitts, is better known for his speed. These two qualities would play a huge role come fight night.

Power

THE power of a punch in general is defined by two things: by the weight thrown behind the punch and by the speed by which the punch is thrown.

The reason Cotto is an interesting fighter to watch is because he throws all his punches with a lot of power. He puts his body behind every punch. His conditioning level is so high he can sustain this work rate all throughout a fight.

This same power was evident in his fights against quick fighters—Shane Mosley and Zab Judah, two (stylist) boxers who rely on speed for their victories but have been beaten by Cotto.

Cotto is a natural welterweight. He should have a heavier punch that, if it cleanly connects, may hurt Pacquiao. The Filipino, although expected to be in tip-top shape, could still get hurt.

On the other hand, Pacquiao brings in something alien to Cotto. Pacquiao’s power is generated not only by his weight but also by his speed. A lot of his sparring partners swear he has the power of a middleweight (160 lb) and, if both fighters weigh the same on fight day, Pacquiao will readily multiply his power through the speed he inherently possesses.

There is no doubt about the Filipino’s power in the 140-lb category. He demonstrated he can drop “naturally bigger men” against Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton—the latter with a very quick win.

Speed

Cotto may be fast versus other welterweights, but Pacquiao is clearly faster.

Cotto looked perplexed in his last fight against Joshua Clottey (although it can be argued that a cut above the eye that caused blood to cover his eye may have slowed him down). Clottey, evidently more agile, was picking his punches; connecting when he wanted with jabs and straights and left Cotto flat-footed at times, revealing a weakness in the latter’s defense.

Cotto needs speed to get away and react to Pacquiao’s punches and to be able to tag “The Pacman” with his left hooks.

Ability to position for the punch (agility and leg power)

Over the last couple of fights, Pacquiao has proven to have honed the ability to move well and find the openings to throw from various angles. Leg movement and positioning honed by rigorous drills at the gym molded Pacquiao into a well-oiled machine.

Cotto lately has been a stand-up fighter relying on torso movement rather than leg movement to find openings. He relies heavily on his power punches to the body that he does not seem to give emphasis on moving away from his opponent.

If Cotto can find a way to cut the ring and box-in Pacquiao, then throw well-timed body shots, he may be able to slow down the Filipino.

With calculated movements Cotto can conserve enough energy for the long haul and steal the win in the later rounds.

Although the speed factor gives Pacquiao a huge edge, as they say, a power puncher will always have an advantage. A power puncher will always have chance to win a fight even if he is way down on points. Cotto’s power will be something to watch out for.

Source: businessmirror.com.ph

Cotto hits back at Roach; Pacquiao flies to LA tonight

MANILA, Philippines - Freddie Roach will do anything for his fighter, and that includes throwing the opponent off.

Miguel Cotto, however, isn’t buying any of his statements.

“I have never seen a fighter win with the talking of his trainer,” Cotto, who’s just 20 days away from a fight with Manny Pacquiao, told Puerto Rican paper El Nuevo Dia yesterday.

“So, I want to tell Freddie Roach, Miguel Cotto and his team do not care. The important thing here is that I’m not going to see Freddie Roach’s face in the ring. I will be there with Manny Pacquiao,” Cotto added.

Roach is playing mind games with Cotto the way he’d played them with Pacquiao’s most recent opponents.


He did it with Juan Manuel Marquez by trading harsh words with his counterpart, Nacho Beristain, with Oscar dela Hoya through his famous “can’t-pull-the-trigger” battlecry, and with Ricky Hatton when he told Pacquiao he’d be “disappointed if the fight lasts more than three rounds.”

“I’d do anything to try and throw them off,” said Roach, who created a stir just days before the Dela Hoya fight when he started questioning the Golden Boy’s hand wraps.

This time, so close to the fight, Roach is saying Pacquiao is capable of “knocking out Cotto in the first round.”

“He can say anything, try anything to draw the attention and try to be the hero of the whole promotion. But on Nov. 14, we will see who talks in the end, the ones who did all the talking or the ones who stayed silent,” said Cotto.

The WBO welterweight champion from Puerto Rico is the silent one.

He opened camp a couple of weeks ahead of Pacquiao, and stayed in there the whole time, eating, breathing and thinking of nothing but Pacquiao. Chances of watching Cotto as he trains in the gym are slim and none.

In contrast, Pacquiao is always there to see, except for sparring days when Roach would rather close the doors. But otherwise, on the road, in the gym and inside his suite, he’s always in the company of friends, of fans.

Roach said Pacquiao is down to 156.5 lb, which is just a little over the catchweight of 150, and is now 90 percent fit and ready to fight.

Pacquiao was to spar 10 rounds yesterday at the Gerry Peñalosa Gym in Mandaluyong City, was scheduled to host dinner with close friends and team members, and at 10 p.m. should board the PAL plane to Los Angeles.

In the long flight to LA, one that may take 12 hours and a little over 7,000 miles, Roach can always think of something new to say.

Because Cotto, still, isn’t buying.

Source: philstar.com

Cotto Looks 'Strong' in Sparring Sessions

TAMPA, Fla. -- A banner high on a distant wall of The Fight Factory Gym depicts Miguel Cotto throwing a jab just above the head of Manny Pacquiao, a bull's-eye over his face.

"On Nov. 14, the world will witness who will be the new king of the ring," read the words on the large poster, beneath which the live version of Cotto is involved in a spirited sparring session with talented southpaw Fred Tukes of Atlanta, with trainer Joe Santiago also in the ring.

"We're a team and we're behind Miguel every single minute, thinking about the fight in Tampa. We have no distractions. Our focus is Manny Pacquiao and that's our target," Santiago said Wednesday.

Santiago said that the 28-year-old Cotto (34-1, 27 knockouts) has been "tirelessly" toiling in Florida for Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), against whom he'll defend his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We did four weeks in [Cotto's native] Puerto Rico, and we'll accomplish eight weeks outside of Puerto Rico -- six in Tampa and two more in Las Vegas, starting on Nov. 1," said Santiago. "We wake up early in the morning to train in the morning workout, and we go to the gym because Manny Pacquiao is our No. 1 target."

In the ring, Cotto's eyes were fixed firmly upon Tukes, whom he pursued from behind a rapier-like jab during the first of three, three-minute rounds with 30 seconds rest in-between.

"I'm working on everything -- my distance, how to take the control of every round," said Cotto, whose full video interview can be seen by clicking here. "I have a plan A, plan B, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to have any problems the night of the fight."

Wearing blue head gear and white gloves, in contrast to Tukes' red head gear and red gloves, Cotto pursued his rival like an animal tracking prey.

"[Santiago] said that he needed for me to give Miguel a lot of movement, try to make him miss and to throw straight left hands at him. I was trying to emulate Pacquiao as much as possible. I think I did a pretty good job ," said Tukes, a muscular, 35-year-old southpaw with a professional record of 8-1-1 that includes five knockouts.

At one point, Cotto trapped Tukes in a neutral corner and fired away. Tukes acknowledged that he "felt every punch."

"If Miguel gets Pacquiao on the ropes, I think that Miguel's body shots are going to be significant," said Tukes. "That overhand left and his straight right hand and his hook that he throws off of the jab -- he's a lot faster than people think that he is."

His rotation complete, Tukes was replaced by a fresher, more youthful Kenny Abril, a gifted 25-year-old brawler-boxer from Rochester, N.Y.

"We both give different looks: Kenny has a lot of head movement, throws good combinations and has pretty fast hands," said Tukes. "And Kenny's a bit more in-your-face, straight up, one-two, spin around, that sort of thing."

As Abril came forward, Cotto again used his jab, only this time to blast his opponent from a distance. Cotto often sent volleys as he circled to the left or to the right.

"Cotto can be a boxer-puncher and switch up virtually at will. Shane Mosley, for example, when he trained for Cotto, he trained for a brawler moreso than a boxer," said Tukes, referring to Cotto's November, 2007, decision over the former world champion from Los Angeles.

"But when Miguel switched it up on him in the later rounds and went into boxing mode," said Tukes, "Shane was like, 'Oh, damn, I didn't train for this.' "

When his three-round session had run its course, Abril offered a similar impression, calling Cotto "just too strong."

"Today, Miguel caught me with a body shot and just recently, the other day, with a nice hook to the head when I went to spin off," said Abril. "Every time I move, his punches are right on point. I move to the left or move to the right, he's always there timing me beautifully."

"I have a plan A, plan B, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to have any problems the night of the fight."
- Miguel Cotto

Abril wore a white head gear and black gloves.

"But Pacquiao won't be wearing protective head gear, so if Miguel catches him like he did me on those days, he's a goner. Pacquiao will be going home early -- straight back to the Philippines. I mean, he'll be out of it," said Abril. "Miguel's really sharp and strong with the body shots -- an amazing fighter."

Abril was similarly effusive concerning Cotto's roadwork.

"He's an amazing runner, which I know because we wake up every morning with him and run with him," said Abril. "He's nonstop. I'm always gasping for air trying to keep up."

When he wasn't sparring, Cotto was being followed around by his promoter, Bob Arum, legendary trainer, Angelo Dundee, or the cameras of HBO's 24/7 series.

Also Watching the sparring from ringside was Miguel Sr., who is among his son's most ardent critics. Yet even the father had to give Miguel Jr. his props.

"I've been telling Miguel what kind of punches he needed to throw, what kind of movement we needed to do, and I was very happy with his progress today -- much better than the last session," said Miguel Sr., a short man with peppered hair.

"Mentally, Miguel's very strong. He's always been there. But that's why he's successful. But on Nov. 14, he'll be much more mentally strong than Pacquiao, and that will be the ultimate in giving my son the advantage."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Miguel Cotto: I fight for the glory of my country

TAMPA, FLORIDA - The countdown began. Now just a month before the biggest fight of his career and Miguel Cotto said that while his body is feeling the rigors of hard work, can not get better training.

"We are very good, very happy, very pleased with the camp. It is the best preparation we have done. Also a little sore from the intensity of work in the afternoons here in the gym in the mornings at the track, but we know that these pains go away and that our 'performance' will greatly improve, "said Cotto to the New Day yesterday after completing a training session in Tampa Fight Factory Gym in which more than two hours did floor work (cardio, jump rope and gauntlet).

Cotto said he was not worried that feels physical discomfort at this time, since "they are normal when you do this type of preparation. It's typical, shoulders ache a little wrists and hands. I have a think about the camps. At the camp for the fight against Kelson Pinto, in 2004 when he became a champion for the first time I had a hemorrhage in the brachial plexus, three weeks before the fight. There was no camp that my shoulders hurt and I've always said that a camp is not camp without pains. "

But beyond the physical discomfort, Cotto said that the mental and spiritual aspect feels better than ever, is the second time that makes all the hard preparation outside Puerto Rico.


"I feel very relaxed, I have no anxiety. Unlike many previous camps, this time we are enjoying the day to day, sharing with colleagues in camp, both at the track and in the gym. It remains to continue doing the job for a month, the days go by and wait for the November 14, where we hope to have an excellent result, "said the WBO welterweight champion, who followed a second fight has done his training at the Tampa Fight Factory Gym.

With presence Cotto

And indeed, their presence has been felt here. Within the large gym, owned by Pete Fernandez and Cuban coach that is also used for lifting weights, practicing mixed martial arts and kickboxing, seven Banners with a photo of Cotto, the logo of its founding and a message .

In the biggest sign there is a large photo of Cotto launching a coup to Pacquiao. Below is a message that says 'on 14 November, the world will know who will be the new king of the ring'. In another, a Puerto Rican flag background, says "I fight for the pride of Puerto Rico and honor my flag 'and Pacquiao is one in which Cotto quote saying' find your weaknesses and conquer '.

"Those are words I said in a joking or serious. The treatment here in the gym has been excellent, we have provided the area to do the job well and we have made approaches to use the track at the University of Tampa to run. Whenever I train whenever I offer my maximum. The only difference is that Puerto Rico still far from any distractions can come in here and we can train and dedicate more and focus on what is our camp. " said Cotto, who yesterday received a visit from Bob Arum and Top Rank officials.

LE RIPOSTO A ROACH

On the other hand, Cotto met him in the expressions of Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, who accused the Puerto Rican to be a dirty fighter, which uses low blows when in distress. The same charge was made when he fought Shane Mosley Cotto in 2007.

But Roach went further to state that require the first blow, Cotto is penalized. These statements can be taken as a strategy for Cotto Roach think twice before using one of your best resources, the attack on the body. However, the Puerto Rican boxer said he will not change its style for the November 14 bout will be at a maximum weight of 145 pounds and the WBO welterweight championship.

"Freddie Roach has to understand that is just Manny Pacquiao's trainer, you can train as best you can, but nothing that will change the outcome of the fight. On November 14, Miguel Cotto will make its work as usual, come prepared Manny Pacquiao, Freddie Roach and learn to take its rightful role and belongs, which is coaching. No matter what he tries to put pressure, no matter the comments, what he tries to do, we'll keep working and doing our usual pattern of fighting, "said welterweight champion, who is marking 34 (27) -1 (1 ).

For Cotto, it seems that he does not care if the great interests of the boxing industry, including television, they prefer that Pacquiao beat him so that the stage is set for a battle between the Filipino and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

"In reality it does not interest me and does not affect me at all. I'm so focused on what this fight. If after I beat Manny Pacquiao, wants to see the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, I have no problem, you can do it. Boxing is great, Miguel Cotto does not depend on any fighter for his race is still on the rise, to continue his career, so the group Mayweather, Pacquiao's group, professional boxing world in general, can make whatever they want. "
Source: elnuevodia.com

Cotto trainer says sparring key to beat The Pacman

WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is pushing himself to the limit as he trains at the Fight Factory in Tampa, Florida to prepare for his monumental showdown against boxing icon Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14.

Trainer Joe Santiago, in an interview with boxingscene, reveals that training camp has been going well without any problem, in stark contrast to the in-fighting among some of Pacquiao's trusted people, as well as the recent landslide that killed people near Baguio City, venue of Pacquiao's training.

“It has all gone very well here. Thank God everything has gone smoothly. Miguel is very good, happy and in good spirits, which is important,” Santiago said.

“Everything is running more or less the same [as the Joshua Clottey camp]. The only thing different is the strategic plan we are working on now. We are dealing with a southpaw boxer, with great hand speed, and for that we are preparing.”

To prepare for Pacquiao, Cotto does the traditional morning runs and fitness, along with technical work in the evenings. Sparring takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while floor exercises on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and using Sunday as a day off.

While Pacquiao's sparring partners are all over the news and his every move chronicled, Santiago refused to divulge the names of Cotto's sparring partners although it has been rumored Frankie Figueroa has worked with Cotto in camp. Santiago says getting the right kind of sparring is key to victory.

“That's the key, the sparring. That's as close as you can get to the fight. That's where you can develop the strategy for fighting,” Santiago said. /Correspondent Salven Lagumbay

Source: inquirer.net

Cotto is the one who needs to beware

It's been reported all over the place how Miguel Cotto is bigger and stronger, and has had a monster camp thus far. It has been reported numerous times that Miguel Cotto will knock Manny Pacquiao out. Some of the sports best fighters are leaning toward a Cotto victory due to size and strength.

How many times does Manny Pacquiao need to prove to the world that he is not in the same league as everyone else? This guy cannot be looked at the same way as other fighters are looked at. Boxing scribes were laughing at the notion of a Manny Pacquiao vs Oscar De La Hoya fight. They were laughing at the notion of anyone talking about Pacquiao actually winning that fight. Well they weren't laughing the day after that fight, that's for sure.

Diaz was bigger, look what happened to that poor guy. Hatton was bigger, looked what happened to that poor guy. After the Hatton fight there were thousands of Brits staggering around with empty beer cups looking as if the British just lost the revolutionary war all over again. What else does Manny Pacquiao need to do in order for people to see that he's not to be looked at in the same category as other fighters? Pacquiao has his own level, and it's at the top.

Miguel Cotto is certainly a resilient fighter. He's a fighter that has some power and he is fast, but he is not as fast as Manny Pacquiao. Cotto will have his hands full in this fight. He will have to deal with a guy that fights like he has two chainsaws attached to the end of each arm. Roach will provide the game-plan, and Manny will execute it. This writer has interviewed many fighters, trainers, and promoters, and more and more of them are leaning Cotto. Time will tell of course what the outcome of this fight will be, but in the meantime, my advice to Cotto is.....you better be on your A game.

Source: examiner.com

Miguel Cotto gets redheaded stepchild treatment from Arum

Megamanny and not Miguel I’m No Angel Cotto who is Teacher Arum’s pet.

But I’m beginning to wonder if the Boricua Banger, who is running silent but running deep as he trains like a madman at the Fight Factory Gym in Tampa, believes the Top Honcho of Top Rank considers him the red-headed stepchild.

It’s bad enough that there is no such thing as a Cotto Bobblehead Doll although Antonio Margarito tried to create one.

But how come Arum rushes off to the Strawberry Fields Forever camp of Pacman in Baguio but has yet to visit Tampa to look in on the Pride of Puerto Rico?

Maybe this psychological food for thought as it wasn’t long ago when Prevaricating Bob was doing his best Pinocchio imitation and shouting from the rooftops that Margocheato doesn’t cheat with loaded handwraps.

California lab reports evidencing Plaster of Paris became the smoking gun, so to speak, and Arum switched to radio silence on the topic of the Tijuana Tornado.

Cotto was so miffed at Arum’s rush to judgement and advocacy for Margarito that he had one step out the TR promotional door with a contract which expired at the end of this year.

But old shrewdie Arum went into his parsimonious pocket, from which he tosses nickels as though they were manhole covers, and enticed the Caguas Clouter into signing the Pacman bout contract and an extension of the old deal or a new promotional pact.

Then and only then did Arum put himself back in the catbird’s seat, having both Manny and Miguel on legal paper and assuring himself no complete disaster on Nov. 14.

But Cotto and his crew know there’s no level playing field with Arum, that he’s looking for a smashing Pacman victory to set the table for a Mayweather mega bout in 2010.

Still, as he toils in Tampa, Cotto must be playing “Only The Lonely” as his music to hit the pads by.

Where’s the love for his Other Son?

I don’t think Cotto is feeling any.

You feel me?

Source: examiner.com

Cotto Incognito: Evaluating Cotto's training camp

While the media swirls around Manny Pacquiao's training camp, Miguel Cotto has almost vanished as if he has gone incognito with his own preparations.

Cotto is currently in Tampa, Florida fine tuning his strategy against Pacquiao after working on his conditioning in Puerto Rico for the past several weeks.

Word from inside sources from Cotto's camp have all been positive. Cotto is in shape and is said to be looking sharper than ever for the biggest fight of his life.

For the record, I like how Cotto has gone about his business with his training. He is leaving nothing to chance and taking his destiny in his hands by pulling no stops in his training camp. He started his camp early giving him more time to study and work on his strategy and technique against Pacquiao and enabling him to have more time to get acclimated with the lighter weight he needs to make which is 145 pounds which is the catch-weight for this bout.

The one thing I question with what I've seen with Cotto is his speed. He is looking awfully slow ala Ricky Hatton and if he does not address that by fight night, Pacquiao will definitely run circles around him and counter him all night. What Cotto has though that Hatton didn't is his crafty combinations. Cotto is definitely bigger and stronger than Pacquiao and will look to avoid coming in drained the way Oscar Dela Hoya did. It will be interesting to see how Pacquiao will handle the power of a true welterweight.

Cotto's team has been studying a lot of Pacquiao's old fights and have taken a closer look at his past losses. I don't know how much those tapes will help Cotto though because Pacquiao is a totally different fighter now compared to what he was just a couple of years ago. One of the best trainers in the business Nacho Beristain alluded to this fact and praised Pacquiao's trainer for his development. In an interview published by Philboxing.com from Beristain's interview with ESPN's Spanish TV program "Golpe Y Golpe", Beristain said,

"I think Pacquiao is lucky to have him in his corner, Freddie Roach is one of the best trainers in the world and he has a lot of knowledge and he has made Pacquiao a better fighter who used to have a lot of flaws in his style. Pacquiao used to jump when throwing punches and now he is doing great from a technical point of view and that is Freddie's work."

Also, Cotto yields a significant mismatch in the corner as his head trainer will be Joe James, who will work his second bout as head coach after replacing Miguel's uncle Evangelista Cotto after an ugly falling out while Pacquiao will have Roach who is a Hall of Fame trainer and has been working with him for almost a decade now.

At the end of the day however, fighters fight inside the ring and with the caliber of Pacquiao and Cotto, anything can happen.

Source: examiner.com

Cotto a smart boxer – Roach

Freddie Roach admits Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto has lots in common with Briton Ricky Hatton.

Roach said both boasts of jaw-breaking left hooks, both are big and strong, ultra-aggressive and love to go to the body to soften up their foes.

There is one huge difference, though, Roach believes and this one makes Cotto a far more dangerous rival than Hatton for the 30-year-old Filipino fireball.

“Miguel Cotto is a lot smarter than Ricky Hatton,” said Roach, the celebrated trainer who arrived in the country on Tuesday to supervise Pacquiao’s training camp in preparation for the November 14 showdown with Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Cotto’s got this great left hook and he’s smart,” noted Roach.

Hatton had been fancied as a true test for Pacquiao but the Filipino hardly broke out a sweat as he demolished the rugged Manchester native in less than two rounds, flattening him with a left to the jaw that remains a strong candidate for knockout of the year for 2009.

Roach said if Pacquiao thinks he is in for another easy stint, he could be terribly mistaken.

“It’ll be a tough fight for us,” said Roach, who will be here for a minimum of four weeks or a maximum of six depending on Pacquiao’s progress in training and promotional schedule.

During Roach’s first session with Pacquiao at the Shape Up Boxing Gym inside the Cooyeesan Hotel, the residence of Team Pacquiao for the entire duration of training camp, the 49-year-old Boston-born cornerman immediately fell in love over the amenities available at the gym as well as its overall appearance.

“Whoever built this gym did a great job,” said Roach, who owns and operates the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, best-known as the home of boxing’s best pound-for-pound.

Meanwhile, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is arriving on October 1 to check on the progress of Pacquiao’s preparation for Cotto, whose World Boxing Organization welterweight crown will be on the line in the bout aptly dubbed Firepower.

Source: mb.com.ph

Sparring partners ready for Pacman's fury

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners, American Shawn Porter and Mexican Urbano Antillon, did not waste time priming themselves up for the beating up ahead.

They flew in from Los Angeles last Sunday but because of the poor weather were forced to spend the day in Manila. They were brought up to Baguio City yesterday.

Barely rested, Porter and Antillon joined Pacquiao at the gym, doing their own thing as the Filipino pound-for-pound champion worked out under Freddie Roach.

“Naghanda na din para hindi masaktan sa bugbugan bukas (They’re getting ready for tomorrow’s beating),” said Team Pacquiao’s Roger Fernandez of the sparring partners.

“Alam nilang mapapalaban sila, eh (They know they’ll be in for some roughing up),” added Fernandez of Porter, undefeated in 10 fights, and Antillon, a veteran of 27 fights.

Pacquiao was getting ready himself for the tougher days ahead, and instead of the normal two hours, he stayed at the gym for close to three hours.

“Ayaw tumigil. Alam mo naman si Manny (He wouldn’t stop. You know Manny),” said Fernandez, adding that Pacquiao worked out so hard as if he did not run in the morning.

Nonoy Neri, the assistant trainer, said Pacquiao is getting along so well, and barely a week up in Baguio has flashed the form you’d normally see him a month into training.

“Lumalabas na ang bilis. Ang power naman nandiyan na (His speed is starting to show and his power has always been there),” said Neri, who also dabbles as Pacquiao’s chef.

“Grabe ang ensayo kanina (It was a tough workout earlier),” added Neri. He said Pacquiao should kick off his sparring sessions with four rounds – two each with Porter and Antillon.

Porter, according to Freddie Roach, will try to imitate Miguel Cotto with his heavy left hooks to the body. Porter, a light-middleweight, can knock out a foe with a single shot to the body.

“I really like him in this camp,” said Roach of the 1997 National Golden Gloves champion in the US. He needed only 18 rounds to win his first 10 fights, with six knockouts coming in the first round.

Antillon is not new to the Pacquiao camp, having been there before. He’s a lightweight with a ring record of 26-1-0 with 19 knockouts, including one over Bobby Pacquiao.

Antillon knocked out the younger Pacquiao with a single body shot in the first round of their scheduled 10-rounder in March last year at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. – Abac Cordero

Source: philstar.com

Pacquiao sparmates in Manila

Unbeaten super-welterweight Shawn Porter of Ohio and lightweight hotshot Urbano Antillon of California arrived in the Philippines early Sunday morning after a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles. Porter and Antillon were selected by Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach to work with Manny Pacquiao, who is revving up for a Nov. 14 bout with Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Roach, who is camping out with Pacquiao in Baguio, said sparring could start as early as Tuesday afternoon. “We’re ready to go (sparring),” said Antillon, who is of Mexican lineage. Porter and Antillon are scheduled to travel to Baguio by land on Monday morning. They’ll be joined in the five-to-six hour journey by Shawn’s dad Ken. Porter, the 2007 US National Golden Gloves middleweight champion, is said to be a clone of Cotto. The Porters and Antillon were fetched at the airport by movie bad guy Cris Aguilar, who, in reality is a nice fellow. Aguilar used to be one of Pacquiao’s bodyguards. “Just give my regards to Manny,” said the hefty Aguilar. Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. is staging the Pacquiao-Cotto slugfest dubbed “Firepower.”

A Pacquiao Win Over Cotto Places Him Above Mayweather All-Time Pound for Pound

By Giancarlo Malinconico: If you review the careers of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, you will notice many championships in many different weight classes. Pacquiao started his career at 106 pounds and moved as far up as welterweight, defeating the “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya. Mayweather started at 131 pounds and eventually went as high as 154 pounds, also defeating De La Hoya. Both fighters fought many good and great boxers at almost every division they ascended through respectively throughout their careers.

Mayweather, however, did not face the best in the Welterweight division and faced (at the time) the best 140 pound fighter in Hatton, but made him come up to welterweight to make the fight happen. Pacquiao may have skipped over some of the better fighters in the lower divisions, including lightweight, but he holds a win against Juan Manuel Marquez who is currently the top rated lightweight. What sets Pacquiao apart from Mayweather is that Pacman is attempting to fight the best fighters in the higher divisions. I don’t feel Pamcan should be criticized for skipping over the top lightweight fighters since he moved up to battle the best fighter in the division above lightweight in facing Hatton. Furthermore, Pacquiao is challenging Miguel Cotto. Although he is not the Ring Magazine Welterweight Champion, Cotto is clearly the first or second best welterweight in the world. And if you believe “Sugar” Shane Mosley is the number one welterweight on the planet, he has a loss on his record to Cotto. Besides, Cotto’s loss to Margarito (by using inductive reasoning) is tainted, for it is hard to believe Margarito would just begin loading his gloves against Mosley after he just beat Cotto who beat Mosley.

The reason that the Pacman’s career will surpass Mayweather’s if he is successful against Cotto is– he would have defeated two of the best fighters in their respective weight classes (Hatton at 140 and Cotto at 147 pounds). Cotto, moreover, would be a bigger win than anyone Floyd has on his record. Cotto has a win over the great Shane Mosley apart from beating solid opponents throughout his career. Mayweather’s biggest wins are against Diego Corrales at 130 pounds, Jose Luis Castillo at 135 pounds, Arturo Gatti (the recently deceased blood and guts warrior) at 140 pounds, Ricky Hatton at a 147 pounds and De La Hoya at 154. Pacman has wins over Hall of Famers– Barrera, Morales and JM Marquez between 126 and 130 pounds. And he has a win over the former-140 pound kingpin, Hatton.

Many will say Pacquiao has been beaten before, and has looked less than spectacular in past performances. Therefore, how can you place him ahead of an undefeated, multi-division champion like Mayweather? Here are a few of my responses to the question. First, being undefeated does not equate to greatness (see: Sven Ottke). I understand Mayweather has fought much better opposition than say, an Ottke, but being undefeated cannot be the end of the discussion. Secondly, I believe (like many pundits) that Jose Luis Castillo clearly beat Mayweather in their first encounter. I understand Mayweather hurt his hand, complained of an arm injury and sickness, but he lost the fight. Pacman has a few losses throughout his career, one to Morales, and he looked bad against Nedal Hussein, a journeyman. But he got off the canvas to beat Hussein and avenged his loss to Morales with two knockouts, which was far more impressive than what Mayweather did in the Castillo rematch. Thirdly, Pacman, including the Cotto fight, will have faced the better opposition at the higher weights. As I mentioned Cotto will be the best opponent either man faced, unless you want to count a De La Hoya who I believe was passed his prime in both fights. Besides, Cotto beat Mosley who beat De La Hoya. In addition, Pacman destroyed Hatton and De La Hoya more convincingly than Mayweather, who actually only got a split-decision against De La Hoya and lost rounds against Hatton. The bottom line, although both fighters climbed through the higher weight divisions to win championships, Pacman challenges a top (if not the top) boxer at welterweight in Cotto, while Mayweather fought Carlos Baldomir.

Although Marquez is no pushover, Mayweather is yet to challenge a top, legitimate welterweight. And I am now hearing Mayweather is asking for more than a 50/50 split against Pacman if a match is to emerge between the two next year. It is probably another excuse for Mayweather to duck the dangerous fight with Pacman in favor of facing a lesser fighter, whom he can push around in the negotiations over the purse split and other match arraignments.

Source: boxingnews24.com