Boxing’s next mega-fight set for November 14th; check out Pacquiao Cotto predictions here at ProBoxing-fans.com!
It’s finally been made official, the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto super fight is now signed and sealed. On November 14 th, 2009 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada, pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao will take on welterweight powerhouse Miguel Cotto.
The fight will be fought at a catch weight of 145 pounds. The weight was one of the biggest factors holding up the creation of this fight, as Pacquiao’s camp wanted Cotto to come down even farther. Finally the two sides agreed on 145, 2 pounds lighter than the welterweight limit.
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao
49 (37) – 3 – 2
Height: 5’6″ Reach: 67″
Current Pound for Pound Champion
Last 5 fights: 5-0 with 3 knockouts against Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Marco Antonio Barrera, spanning four weight classes from super featherweight to welterweight
Miguel Cotto
34 (27) – 1
Height: 5’7″ Reach: 67″
Current WBO Welterweight Champion
Last 5 fights: 4-1 with 2 knockouts against Joshua Clottey, Michael Jennings Alfonso Gomez and Shane Mosley with the defeat coming against Antonio Margarito
Pacquiao vs. Cotto Fight Preview
Manny Pacquiao’s opponent for his November fight was unknown for quite some time. Finally it appeared that Shane Mosley would be the man to step into the ring with him. However, Team Pacquiao and Team Cotto were able to finalize the deal, made all the easier since both men are promoted by Bob Arum and Top Rank Promotions.
Pacquiao will have the clear speed advantage in this bout. He showed the world what his speed could do even at the higher weight classes against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
Miguel Cotto on the other hand will come into the ring as the naturally larger man, having fought at junior welterweight and welterweight for his entire career. He also has superior boxing skills, while Pacquiao is the more dynamic offensive fighter. Team Pacquiao is also hoping that forcing Cotto to cut weight down to 145 pounds will leave him weaker, and Pacquiao more able to capitalize on that vulnerability.
Which man will have the edge come fight night? Some people wonder how much Miguel Cotto has left in the tank after his beat down from Margarito, however, he has rebounded and gutted out a tough win against Joshua Clottey. And isn’t there ever going to be a limit on Pacquiao, on the size and caliber of the fighters he can continue taking out so impressively?
We’ll have to wait for fight night to see the winner of this exciting match between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. The winner will have the world at his fingertips, and may end up facing Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez or Floyd Mayweather.
Pacquiao vs. Cotto Preview – 4 Questions to Ask
Pacquiao vs. Cotto Question 1: How will the catchweight affect the fight?
The fight is being contested at 145 lbs, which is two pounds lighter than the welterweight limit of 147 lbs. This should work in Pacquiao’s favor, as he is the naturally smaller man. Cotto was very vulnerable in his final fights at junior welterweight due to the strain of cutting weight.
Having to cut down lower than he has been accustomed to for the last three years could bring back some of those vulnerabilities, a possibility that team Pacquiao clearly had in mind when making the bout and demanding a catchweight. If you don’t think cutting weight can make you a weaker fighter, see De La Hoya’s performance against Pacquiao, where he cut down to 147 lbs for the first time in a decade.
Pacquiao vs. Cotto Question 2: Will Manny Pacquiao stand up to Miguel Cotto’s punches?
Considering the shell of Oscar De La Hoya that entered the ring to face Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto will be the hardest puncher that he has ever fought. He has broken down and brutalized fighters who have been far more accustomed to facing larger opponents than Manny Pacquiao currently is; fighters like Carlos Quintana, Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi. If Miguel Cotto catches Pacquiao with a flush shot, you can be sure that the effects will be felt by the Filipino sensation. Which brings us to Pacquiao vs. Cotto Question 3…
Pacquiao vs. Cotto Question 3: Will Miguel Cotto be able to catch up to Manny Pacquiao?
There are some things that you can’t truly prepare for with sparring. The frenetic style, blazing foot speed and hand speed, and pinpoint accuracy of Manny Pacquiao all fall into that category.
However, his speed can be neutralized with a combination of several different factors. First, you need to employ a quick jab to keep Pacquiao busy with your own offense and keep him at arm’s length as much as possible. Second, you need to have a sturdy enough chin to keep your offense intact even when you get caught. Third, you need to cut off the ring, and fire back when fired upon.
Pacquiao’s arch-nemesis, Juan Manuel Marquez, has employed that strategy to perfection, however his chin has come up just a bit short, costing him valuable points. Erik Morales, the lone man to officially beat Pacquiao in the last decade, employed a version of this plan in their first encounter when he came away with the win.
Miguel Cotto has an underrated jab, he can cut off the ring and he can fire back when fired upon. But that one remaining element, his chin, brings us to Pacquiao vs. Cotto question 4…
Pacquiao vs. Cotto Question 4: How will Miguel Cotto’s chin hold up?
Miguel Cotto was gaining a reputation as a very “chinny” fighter during the end of his 140 lb tenure. However, his move up to 147 lbs alleviated some of those concerns, as he was clearly stronger in the ring and held up much better, even against larger fighters. That was of course until the Margarito fight. Cotto withstood a great deal of pressure but eventually crumbled.
After a fighter has been knocked out once, his chin may end up “broken”, both mentally and physically, leaving him more prone to future slipups. Another concern is the catchweight, as discussed previously. If Cotto has to struggle to get down to 145 lbs, his chin could very well be a major concern when faced with Pacquiao’s lightning quick strikes.
Pacquiao vs. Cotto Prediction
The answers to the above four questions will ultimately determine how the Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight plays out. The sports books, and the legion of Filipino fans laying down money on the bout, clearly feel that those questions will be answered in Pacquiao’s favor. As of today he is a -260 favorite against Cotto, while Cotto is a +200 underdog.
Is this a case of severely underestimating Miguel Cotto, or conversely, a case of extremely overrating Manny Pacquiao? Absolutely, on both counts.
Miguel Cotto has faced diversity in the ring and has faced many top fighters, and he has emerged victorious all but once. That one exception, as brutal as it was, was against a fighter who may or may not have been cheating at the time; a fighter who also had the perfect style to match Cotto’s.
Meanwhile, as Pacquiao has bounced around the weight classes adding big names to his resume, he has yet to face a fighter as dangerous as Cotto is. De La Hoya was long since removed from his prime, and was clearly running on fumes during the contest. Hatton was coming off a previous knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather and had been continually exposed as being one dimensional and somewhat chinny himself.
With all of that said, am I bucking the trend and picking Cotto here in my Pacquiao vs. Cotto prediction? No. In honestly answering all four of the above questions I posed, I feel Pacquiao is going to win the day yet again.
I think the contracted weight of 145 lbs will be a detriment to Cotto and his strength (question 1). I think Pacquiao will hold up against Cotto’s punches (question 2), in large part because I think Cotto won’t be able to consistently catch up to him (question 3). Finally, I think that even though Pacquiao can’t one-punch KO Cotto ala the Ricky Hatton fight, his punches will be able to hurt him and slow him down after rounds of accumulation (question 4).
Four out of four isn’t bad. Pacquiao won’t decimate Cotto though. Expect a tough battle that goes the distance, with both fighters being cut and busted up, and both fighters surviving several tenuous moments. Ultimately, Pacquiao will win more rounds and inflict more damage, and he’ll take home the decision victory.
Pacquiao vs Cotto
Stay tuned for more coverage on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto super fight, and we hope you enjoyed our full Pacquiao vs. Cotto preview and detailed Pacquiao vs. Cotto predictions.
