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.

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."

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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."



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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.' "


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Boxer Manny Pacquiao and Trainer Freddie Roach are 'Inseparable'

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach seem inseparable after almost a decade of enduring professional relationship. Pacquiao will see action on November 14 against Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight crown
'Inseparable, that's how he'll always be Inseparable, just you and me its so wonderful To know you'll always be around me'.

So goes the lyrics in a song title Inseparable made popular by song artist Natalie Cole. The song best describes the trainer-boxer professional relationship of Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao.

The father and son relationship between the two popular sports figures dates back eight years ago when Manny Pacquiao barged into Wild Card Gym to train for his fight with African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba as a last minute substitute opponent. The Filipino boxer won after brief coaching by Freddie Roach.

The first win of Pacquiao under Roach guidance marked the beginning of a long business and professional relationship. After the convincing win by Pacquiao against Ledwaba, Roach started to concentrate on the Filipino boxer's weak points while continuing to develop the areas where the fighter excelled. Roach knew that Pacquiao's left hand is exceptionally strong. He wasted no time in enhancing Pacquiao's formidable left hand by developing techniques that would complement its strength and power.

Roach biggest achievement in guiding Pacquiao's career is his skillful transformation of Pacquiao's right hand from a weakling to a powerful working tool that complemented Pacquiao's formidable left hand. Boxing critics say that Roach was particularly successful in this transformation after long years of constant practice.
A few years after Roach able stewardship, Pacquiao conquered the boxing world with his victories over the world's greatest boxers including Erick Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Oscar de la Hoya, Barrera and Ricky Hatton, among others.
These victories have made this 'father and son' team multi millionaires and recipient of top sports awards from prestigious award-giving bodies.

On many occasions, their 'father and son' relationship had been subjected to a series of tests and each time, the tandem would stand united and become even more stronger.

New York Times reports:

Pacquiao, 30, viewed his trainer as a second father, even with the boundaries. Where he playfully spat water on other members of his team, or slapped them from behind, he never ventured there with Roach. Whenever Alex Ariza, his conditioning coach, tried to put new methods in place, Pacquiao always asked, “What does Freddie think?”

Critics say that the secret to their 'blooming relationship' is the respect that each one of them show as boxer and trainer. People around them and even the intrusive press have tried to test their relationship by sowing intrigues and malice in their enduring partnership but each time, they will emerge stronger and more closer to each other like father and son.

Geg Bishop of New York Times says: ”Inside the ring, they remain inseparable, but less father and son, more peers bonded by mutual respect. Outside, they must confront endless politics, the complex web of advisers and employees required for Pacquiao to make movies, records and boxing history.

“It’s magic,” said the promoter Bob Arum, the chairman of Top Rank Boxing. “Made in heaven. They’re so in tune with each other, it’s like watching a ballet.”, Bishop added.

Inseparable? They look like they are...for now.

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will face his opponent Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico on November 14 at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao is aiming for his seventh win in seven different weight classes to become the first boxer in history to attain such world record.

Also at stake is Miguel Cotto's WBO welterweight crown.
The fight will be televised worldwide and is available on pay-per-view.

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Miguel Cotto Interview on knocking out Manny Pacquiao on the ring!

Do you see yourself knocking him out or claiming a decision?

Cotto's answer: " I never come in to knock any guy out. I just try to do my work in the ring. If I hit the guy with a good punch or a combination, I will go for it. Or if I can get a decision. I go to do my work
and if I hit him with a good punch, I am going for it."

What do you think Manny’s best attributes are?

Cotto's Answer - "I don’t pay attention to his details but there are some things in particular that we worked on in training camp. I try to put myself in the best condition I can and I will try to capitalize on any kind of mistake my opponent will make. If Manny makes any kind of mistake I am going to capitalize on that."

Do you think the two pounds will have any affect on you?

Cotto's Answer - "When we took this fight we decided that we were fine with 145. We knew we could do it and we knew we would be at our best the next night. We would not have taken this fight if we didn’t think I was going to be at my best the next night after the weigh-in."

All Quotes from Miguel Cotto.

This Saturday (Nov 14) Pacquiao vs. Cotto pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. The TV event has a suggested retail price of $54.95 and the telecast will be available in HD-TV. Check your local cable or satellite dish reciever for much more details.

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