Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao Preview
Superfight To Take Place In The MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Oct 28, 2009
Manny Pacquiao is without a doubt one of the most incredible fighters to step into a ring in recent years. Despite the fact he suffered two knockout losses in his early days, he has risen up through the weights and conquered most that have stepped in front of him. However, Miguel Cotto represents a very stern test for the 'Pac Man'.
A natural welterweight, Cotto will be the strongest fighter that Pacquiao has fought so far. Yes, Pacquiao fought De La Hoya, but the 'Golden Boy' was so weight drained he couldn't get into the fight, while Cotto will be more natural at this weight, and theoretically, should be naturally bigger than his Filipino foe.
So What Will Pacquiao Have To Do To Beat Cotto?
The 'Pac Man' will have to do what he does best - fight with explosive bursts, and stay out of range of Cotto when he has no reason to be inside. This way, Cotto won't be able to tire him out by just brute strength, and he can dictate the pace of the bout.
Undeniably, speed will be crucial for Pacquiao. His blistering speed of both hand and foot would give anyone trouble regardless of weight, and his combinations are outstanding - one only needs to watch his performances against Marco Antonio Barrera and Oscar De La Hoya to confirm this. This will be made even more important because Cotto is used to fighting bigger guys, who would naturally be slower than Pacquiao. Therefore, if the Filipino can bamboozle him with his speed, Cotto has a smaller chance of victory.
Similarly, Pacquiao must always be on the move. If Cotto is given a split second, he will set his feet and unload. By keeping Cotto unsteady, the 'Pac Man' can avoid power shots, and create openings for himself. Pacquiao must beware though, Cotto is a lethal counter puncher, and has serious power in both hands. Taking too many of these on the chin could send Pacquiao back to the Phillipines with a concussion.
How Cotto Can Win And Retain His WBO Welterweight Title
Manny Pacquiao is on form right now, and seems hellbent on proving he is the best boxer around, but Cotto mustn't get deterred by the hype. The Puerto Rican has every chance of winning this, and some would argue that Cotto should still be undefeated after the Margarito handwraps controversy. He will hope that he can recapture the form that made him so dangerous just a year and a half ago.
He has recorded solid wins over Joshua Clottey and Michael Jennings since the Margarito loss, and as of now, it looks as if the Margarito fight left no mental scarring. Whether Pacquiao can uncover any on November 14th remains to be seen.
In the fight, Cotto needs to use his strength to bully Pacquiao, and right from the offset, he needs to let know Pacquiao he is for real, with hard punches that will stop the Filipino in his tracks. Breaking Pacquiao down is also vital, so body shots on the inside that will shake up the Freddie Roach trained man are also a neccessity.
Defence is crucial for Cotto too, and he needs to move his head in particular. A lack of head movement is not a good strategy against Pacquiao (just look at the Ricky Hatton fight), and Cotto needs to control his aggression. If he can keep all those things going and impose himself early, there is no reason why Cotto can't derail the Pacquiao Express.
Outside Influnces?
Miguel Cotto also has an advantage over Pacquiao in that Pacquiao does seem to be looking beyond boxing a tad, and rumours suggest his training camp isn't going too well. He isn't gelling with Freddie Roach (his trainer) in interviews like he did before, and his management team have had so many debates with his trainers, that Pacquiao's fitness coach Alex Ariza even had fisticuffs with one of the 'suits'. This isn't an environment to be preparing for the biggest fight of your life in.
Furthermore, Pacquiao seems intent on becoming the President of his beloved Phillipines in a few years, and this outside interest in particular seems to be draining his interest in boxing. Maybe being a national hero isn't conducive to training, and while Cotto gets the same attention in Puerto Rico, since the Margarito fight he knows he has to remain grounded; while Pacquiao has never had such a crushing defeat at the crest of a wave, possibly making him complacent.
So Who Will Win Pacquiao vs. Cotto?
This is a tough fight to call, but Cotto is a very tasty choice, despite Pacquiao's winning run. Cotto could very well knock the 'Pac Man' out early, and a bet on a Cotto win between rounds 1 and 6 may harbour good odds. If Pacquiao is going to win this though, it will very likely be on points, as Cotto should be a lot sturdier than Ricky Hatton in the chin and strength department. Whatever the outcome, this should be a great fight, and a fight between the winner of this and Floyd Mayweather Jr. could be a modern classic.
How To Watch Cotto vs. Pacquiao
In the UK, the fight can be watched on Sky Sports, while in the USA, the fight will be broadcast on HBO.
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