Firepower Pacquiao vs. Cotto Two Weeks Out
Published: Oct 29 2009 by: Jake Emen
What are the fans expecting from the Pacquiao – Cotto match?
The Pacquiao vs. Cotto mega-fight is just over two weeks away. The big night of course is Saturday, November 14, when both men will step into the ring in Las Vegas. The match has been eagerly anticipated for months and it has big implications for not just the welterweight division, but for the pound for pound rankings and the future competition for one Floyd Mayweather as well.
Leading up to the big Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto match fans have generally been lumped into just a few main groups. Here's a look at how some fans are feeling about Pacquiao vs. Cotto as the fight approaches.
The Pro-Pacquiao Fans
Manny Pacquiao has a diehard group of fans, not just from his home country of the Philippines, but from around the rest of the world as well. Generally speaking, these fans would support Pacquiao and pick him to win regardless of the match-up. This fight against Miguel Cotto is no different, and people in this camp are eagerly awaiting a dominating Pacquiao performance.
The Pro-Cotto Fans
Miguel Cotto has his own diehard following of course, most of which come from the island of Puerto Rico. What do they think about their hero's chances against the pound for pound king? His size advantage, experience against bigger men and all-around skill set will win him the day without too much of a problem.
The "Pacquiao is Overrated" Camp
People in this group point to a few key pieces of evidence for their stance on Cotto and Pacquiao. The first is that Oscar De La Hoya was past his prime and weight drained. The second is that Ricky Hatton was past his prime and was recently planted into the canvas by Floyd Mayweather. This group of fans feels that all of the Pacquiao - Cotto hype has forgotten these facts, and is anticipating a rude awakening come November 14th.
However, should Pacquiao win they are ready to discredit with their third piece of evidence , that Pacquiao has forced Cotto to weigh in at a catch weight instead of the welterweight limit. (See also: "Fans of Floyd Mayweather" camp)
The "Cotto is Shot" Camp
We all saw how Antonio Margarito brutalized Miguel Cotto, and this group of fans feels strongly that there is no returning from that kind of beating. The subsequent shaky victory over Josh Clottey has done little to change their minds, and memories of Cotto's scares at junior welterweight are all too prominent as well.
The Realists
Then we have a fifth and final group of fans, the realists. They can see everything from both sides, and ultimately want the best man to win so that the biggest fights can be made afterward. They recognize that Cotto has suffered a brutal loss, and has been less than his best since then. They also recognize that Pacquiao's weight class jumping and contract stipulations raise some question marks.
Ultimately though, they want a good fight that brings positive attention to the sport of boxing. These fans want the winner of this match to be promptly put into the ring with Floyd Mayweather in what would easily be the biggest fight of the generation. These fans may be rooting for one fighter over the other, but they'll be happy with any result that brings other fans out of their seats and sets up more exciting moments in the future. Count me a realist.
Image Credit: Image: Pro Boxing Fans; Photos: Mike Gonzalez (Pacquiao) & Wikimedia User Javabeans (Cotto); Creative Commons 3.0 License
Related Posts
Tags: fight preview, manny pacquiao, miguel cotto
Everything is so good until you put in the name of Mayweather. A realist for Mayweather is Calderon or Darchinyan.
John, until otherwise proven, Mayweather is a very, very smart choice against either Pacquiao or Cotto. And fighting the winner of this match is too big of an opportunity to pass on.
I’m a Pacquiao fan from the USA. I will pick Manny to win no matter who he fights, just like Jake said. Within reason of course. I don’t feel that Miguel is shot, I think he has overcome what Margarito has done to him. All this talk about people ( Oscar and Ricky) being weight drained and past their prime, I personally feel it is a truck load of Bull Crap. Catch weight, to me is worthless. They say Miguel will weigh in at 142 or 5 whatever, but by fight time he will be 160.
I disagree with all the catch weight stuff. Welterweight goes from I think 140 to 147, PEE on the catch, if the boxer weighs in between that, then let’s get it on. Just my opinion, addmittingly, I’ve never had a pair of boxing gloves on, so maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about.
I think I know what I’m talking about here though. Mayweather and Pacquiao will never fight. Mayweather thinks he deserves the big purse. I feel that when he took his brief retirement, he gave up the rights to the big purse, now he should make his money the old fashioned way EARN IT. If I’m wrong, and they do fight, I hope the bookies make Manny the underdog, cause I’ll bet everything down to the penny in my loafers on Manny to win.
Too many people make too many excuses.
Well if catch weight doesn’t matter why is Pacquiao’s team making Cotto come down to 145. Why don’t they just say Cotto come in at 147 and we’ll way what we way…and lets fight Pac will come in at 145 and so will Cotto…Cotto should only have to come down to 147.
Sounds like you’re both on the “Realist” and the “Pacquiao is Overrated” Camp.
I think you’re already setting up excuses by saying. “….Cotto has suffered a brutal loss, and has been less than his best since then. They also recognize that Pacquiao’s weight class jumping and contract stipulations raise some question marks.” What a bunch of bull!
Where’s the you can see “both ways” part ? It’s not Pac’s fault that Oscar and Cotto signed the contract and were confident going into the fight that they can beat Pac. Just read all the press release coming from the Cotto camp. And for that matter ODLH and Hatton. They say they will beat Manny! Even a lot of the press and critics said so.
After ODLH and Hatton get the beating, then they offer up all these over the hill nonsense.
Stop offering up this “…Cotto has been less than his best since then.” bullshit. Cotto is a true welter and Cotto’s camp say two pounds is not a problem. Even Freddie Roach doesn’t mind Cotto coming in at 147. He should just bring it.
These are grown men and warriors who know what they are getting into.
Don’t ride the fence and say you’re a “Realist” when you’re really leaning towards Cotto. No excuses!!!!
Mike in my prediction here on the site: http://www.proboxing-fans.com/pacquiao-cotto-preview-predictions/ I pick Pacquiao to win. So I’m not siding with Cotto. The both ways is that Cotto looking not his best = negative point on Cotto; Pacquiao’s wins having question marks = negative point on Pacquiao.
@MikeL – I think the two extra pounds do make a difference, for one thing it would not have been forced otherwise.
[...] … Pacquiao vs. Cotto: What Will Manny’s Excuse be When he Loses? BoxingNews24.com Firepower Pacquiao vs. Cotto Two Weeks Out Pro Boxing Fans (blog) Pacquiao vs. Cotto Preview Online Betting Alerts Freddie Roach [...]
Can anybody name at least 3 prime boxers being in hattons resume?he wasn’t weght drained,he justdoesnt belong in boxings elite welterweights.and odlh,need I say,he was so slow he made manny look faster than he really is.manny is not pound 4 pound king.this is going to be a tough fight for both manny and cotto and I think cotto has the means to neutralize pac.althought not easily,cotto will win
Manny knocking out hatton so nasty and so quick is what happens when a boxer is been oversold,just like hatton was.
If Manny loses…he will not have any excuses. He will admit that Cotto is better and he got beat up. That’s because that’s how humble Manny is.