Roses are red. Violets are blue. Sugar is sweet. And so are you.: 2009-11-08

November 14, 2009

Manny Pacquiao hoping for Miguel Cotto Knock Out to carve a place in boxing history

Miguel Cotto is determined to halt Manny Pacquiao's march towards the history books at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas when he defends his WBO welterweight title against the world's top pound-for-pound fighter on Saturday night.

Manny Pacquiao hoping for Miguel Cotto KO to carve a place in boxing history

Fighting fit: Manny Pacquiao is ready to make history against Miguel Cotto in Vegas

Yet Pacquiao is the man with momentum and he could rewrite the history books by becoming the only prize fighter in history to claim seven world titles in seven weight divisions if he defeats Cotto.

Cotto, who has 34 wins (27 KOs) and just one defeat to his name, is beloved by the Puerto Rican nation and as much a symbol of machismo and humility as Pacquiao is in the Philippines.

He faces the man who is regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet in the wake of the Filipino's eight-round demolition of Oscar de la Hoya 11 months ago and the second-round flattening of Britain's Ricky Hatton in May.

Pacquiao, who has won 49 fights (37 KOs) and lost three, appears unstoppable. What has been startling is Pacquiao's ability to carry his power up the divisions. Both De La Hoya and Hatton were bigger men, yet De La Hoya at welterweight and Hatton at light-welterweight were dismantled by the speed of the tenacious southpaw.

Cotto is a slow starter, and if he cannot find a way to be the aggressor in a fight, he sits back and counter-punches. He also sets clever traps for opponents and although his handspeed and movement are slower than Pacquiao's, he will be dangerous in later rounds.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said: "Manny is moving up a weight class but I am very confident in my guy and we are 100 per cent ready for this fight. I feel that he is going to knock Cotto out."

Cotto is unperturbed. "What they say and what they do does not concern me," he said. "I'm going home with the belt."

Pacquiao said: "This is the most important fight of my career. If I win, it will be history for boxing and for the Philippines."

Source

November 13, 2009

Predictions on Manny Pacman Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Boxing Fight

Boxing experts are mixed on who will win the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto mega-fight saying the outcome will be decided not only by the fighters in the ring but the role both corners play.

Nazim Richardson, trainer for Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins, likes the way Pacquiao destroys bigger and stronger opponents and says the Filipino also knows how to impress the judges.

"I think Manny Pacquiao is going to steal the fight," Richardson said. "He is good at letting his size fool people and when they see him darting around the ring looking scrappy, boxing and moving it translates into a round for him.

"Calling Pacquiao little in his weight class is like calling Mike Tyson a little heavyweight. He knows how to make the round look like the little guy is dominating a big man."

Buddy McGirt, trainer for Antonio Tarver and Arturo Gatti, says Pacquiao has more experience in his corner with trainer Freddie Roach than Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago.

"Pacquiao might have the psychological edge as he totally trusts Freddie and is very comfortable with him," McGirt said. "It is a big stage for someone (Joe) who has never been there before."

Muhammud Ali's former trainer Angelo Dundee predicts Cotto's savage power will take the fight into the later rounds.

"I have seen Cotto train twice now and he's a stone-cold professional fighter," said Dundee, who also trained Sugar Ray Leonard and George Forman. "He was oblivious to the outside world when I saw him and he's very focused.

"You have a perfect blend of style in this fight. If I had a fighter fighting Pacquiao I would implement the things Cotto brings to the table. Certain ingredients that spell Cotto will give Pacquiao trouble.

"Cotto is a pressure fighter and he is going to be on Pacquiao from the get go."

Ronnie Shields, who trained Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, also likes Cotto's chances.

"Pacquiao has a lot of speed but I just feel Cotto is going to walk through him," Shields said.

"There is no way that Pacquiao is going to be albe to wear Cotto down. Cotto is going to get much stronger. Pacquiao cannot take Cotto's punches throughout the 12 rounds."

Source

November 12, 2009

Miguel Cotto out for Pound-for-Pound respect against Manny Pacquiao on HBO Pay Per View

The Fight Factory Gym is in a converted warehouse in a small industrial park in Tampa, Fla. The banners covering the walls trumpet the virtues of all things Miguel Cotto.

But the banner that catches the eye immediately upon entering the gym has Manny Pacquiao's face in the crosshairs of a rifle scope. Across the top of the banner are the words: "On Nov. 14 the world will see who is the real king of the ring."

Miguel Cotto, the WBO welterweight champion, has long ago been out of the conversation about Pound-for-Pound. He doesn't even argue that point anymore.

But welterweight? Come on!

After a two-hour workout at the gym last month, a confident Cotto talked about defeating Pacquiao, whose acclaim grew exponentially after he beat Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton - two larger men who were supposed to put the former 130-pound champion in his place.

His confidence is contagious. He left no doubt in my mind that he has everything he needs to beat Pacquiao. The only qualms I have are with his corner where the inexperienced Joe Santiago will have to match wits with Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's longtime trainer and chief strategist.

Thanks to Roach, Pacquiao showed the kind of power and resourcefulness that was necessary to deal with a bigger opponent. But this is the first time that he will fight a welterweight champion in his prime.

"I'm working for everything I think he's going to do, and I'm pretty sure that we're not going to have any problems the night of the fight," Cotto said.

After taking a beating from Antonio Margarito, who is suspected of using loaded gloves in the fight, and losing his title, many felt that Cotto was damaged goods. Even Cotto had his doubts when he made his comeback against Michael Jennings.

In his last fight, Cotto suffered severe cuts about his left eye before going on to win a 12-round decision over Joshua Clottey. Cotto learned something about himself and his new corner of Santiago and cutman Joe Chavez in that bout. He learned that he could deal with almost anything that was thrown at him in the ring.

"A lot of people wondered why I didn't allow the fight to be stopped, but I spent more than nine weeks preparing for the Clottey fight to make a great fight and a great show for the fans all over the world," said Cotto. "There was a lot of pride on the line with myself and my family. No matter what the situation, no matter what the vision in my eye was, I always told the referee, 'I'm good.' "

Source

November 09, 2009

Miss World Pageant 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa

Miss World 2009, the 59th Miss World pageant, will be held on December 12, 2009 at the Gallagher Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa and the pageant will begin from London, England, where the contestants are expected to arrive on November 7, 2009.

On November 10, 2009, the contestants will travel to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, when they will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa on November 15, 2009. Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia will crown her successor at the end of this event. About 120 contestants are expected to attend the event.

The 2009 Miss World Beauty Contest Events are:

1. Miss World Sports Final will be held on November 17, 2009.

2. Miss World Beach Beauty Final will be held on November 24, 2009 at Durban.

3. Miss World Top Model Final will be held on November 28, 2009.

4. Miss World Talent Final will be held on December 6, 2009.

‘The Miss World 2009 Contestants’