WON’T BE A FIGHT FOR VERY LONG
Las Vegas, NV– Having went to the usual haunts to talk boxing this week, the Mexican taco joints, sports bars, the car wash, it seems people await Manny Pacquiao’s challenge of Miguel Cotto this Saturday with a high level of expectation that the fight will deliver.
SIZE KILLS AND SO DOES COTTO
There comes a time when even the great Roberto Duran, a champion at 135, 147, 154, & 160 lbs., he turned professional at 122 lbs., he got to a point where “size” was just too much. Now we take Miguel Cotto, a strong as a bull fighter with “wrecking ball” punching power, and put him in with a man that ascended 40 lbs. At some point and time a fighter bites off too much, and Cotto is all that and more!
COTTO WAS THE “FRANCHISE” FIGHTER
A seasoned pro after a successful amateur stint, Cotto, until Manny Pacquiao came along, was the Top Rank flagship. The heir apparent to the great success of countrymen like Wilfredo Gomez, Edwin Rosario, and Felix Trinidad, Cotto was the “franchise” and still may be for Top Rank. Having promotional ties to both fighters, promoter Bob Arum is in a “win-win” situation. But Cotto has a lot to prove here, while Pacman does not. Pac can lose and go out and still fight Floyd Mayweather, as Pac-Floyd isn’t even a contest, and neither is Cotto-Pac.
THE SIZE FACTOR IS NO JOKE!
The size differential here cannot be offset by nutrients or work ethic. Cotto, and this is where it scary for Pacman fans, Miguel Cotto will weigh over 155 lbs. come fight time. He has one of the best left hooks in the business, can crack with the right as well can Miguel. What he does for the most part is he beats you up in increments. And to quote San Francisco’s Larry “The Lip” Albert, “When Cotto hits you, it stays with you. Not too many people can punch hard like that.”
MISMATCH IN TRUE LIFE
In what may end being a mismatch of gigantic proportions, Manny Pacquiao, the man that turned professional 40 lbs. ago, is in the ring with a man that is physically stronger than him, and while Cotto is not afraid of Pacman per se, he will exercise good judgment as Cotto will stalk Pac from the start. When Pac stops and fires, doesn’t land with the money punch, the left cross, and being too far away to use the right hook as a weapon, Manny Pacquiao has reached the point of no return.
BASIC BOXING MOVES MAKE THIS COTTO’S FIGHT
When a fighter that is looking to assert size advantages can cut off the ring, as Cotto can, that makes the task of the Pacman more daunting. Unless he wants to get his head taken off, Manny will have to fight Cotto as some point and time. And whether he is ahead or behind, it doesn’t matter, because in this case, size kills and Manny is done!
PREDICTION & ODDS OUT FRIDAY AM
I will lay out the way I see things going, set the odds, and make a prediction. Until then, go to our main page Click to go to RingTalk.com main page. and use our Search engine or listen to “Ring talk Worldwide” radio.
Pedro Fernandez