This Saturday Manny Pacquiao will fight WBO Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto for a chance to win his seventh title in seven different weight divisions, something no boxer in history has ever done. In his most recent fights, Pacquiao dominated Oscar De La Hoya in a fight last December where De La Hoya didn't answer the bell in the ninth; and this past summer he destroyed former Welterweight and Light Welterweight Champion Ricky Hatton in two rounds. Cotto, a two time Welterweight Champion, picked up his second Welterweight belt defeating Michael Jennings for the vacant WBO title and successfully defended the belt in his first defense against Joshua Clottey this past summer. Immediately after that fight, plans were being made for the Pacquiao-Cotto fight which boxing fans will be treated to this Saturday night at the MGM Grand Hotel.
There's been a lot of talk around the catchweight of 145 pounds that has been agreed upon though imposed by Freddie Roach and the Pacquiao camp. Some are calling this a bit of a headgame but I wonder if making Cotto fight only a pound less than what he normally fights at may have actually benefited Cotto more. Though he has gotten into the gym earlier than he usually does for fights, the thoughts that he would overtrain (such as De La Hoya seemed to going down to 148) don't seem to be manifesting. In fact, the extra training has not only brought his team closer together but Cotto seems to be the best shape of his life and looks to be getting stronger as he nears Saturday's fight night and the 145-pound mark. The one thing that he hasn't been able to replicate in training with his sparring partners is the speed that he will have to contend with this Saturday.
On the other hand, Pacquiao's star seems to be shining more than ever and though he's always had other interests outside of the ring, this past year has kept Manny busier than ever. Pacquiao wanted to train for train for the fight back in the Philippines in the northern mountains of Baguio. Roach actually suggested the team train in Vancouver (would've been awesome) but thoughts of a rainy city pushed them to decide to head to the motherland. Ironically, the islands were pounded by a number of typhoons while the Pacquiao camp was set up in the PI and Manny himself looked to be affected wanting to help out wherever he could.
Pacquiao further saw himself seeming distracted when training in Manila as fans continually sought to get a glimpse of their hometown champion, while also finding time to do television appearances to talk about his career and upcoming fight. Add to this is Floyd Mayweather's schooling of Juan Marquez, who Pacquiao won twice and lost once against, in September setting up a possible next match against the Filipino Buzzsaw and it's easy for people to contend that Pacquiao may not be as focused as he could be for what should be his biggest fight of his career.
The questions now become, though he has always been a multi-tasker out of the ring, will these distractions finally catch up with Manny? Will Pacquiao find that focus he needs to win his seventh title in a seventh weight class? On the other hand, will the extra training for Cotto, which seemed to have made him as strong as ever, be enough to counter the speed of Pacquiao's fists which have been described in the past as blinding razors that come at all angles? If the winner was decided in training camp, as many in the industry allude to, then the edge may go to Cotto.
That's just a few of the many thoughts I have going into this fight this weekend. And at the end of the day, all it takes is one big punch in the right to turn a fight around or to end it completely. I asked our community on the forums what their predictions are for the fight. Personally, before the training began I thought Manny would defeat Cotto early, but after noting how each camp has prepared for the fight, it really looks like Cotto could put up a decent fight defending his title looking as good as he ever has. Regardless, I'm still picking Pacquiao FTW and see him being too much for Cotto to handle stopping him in the 8th.
Here are some of the community predictions:
"I pick Pacman in 11 rounds, or a decision, I can't really see him actually knocking down Cotto, but I can see him stopping Cotto on cuts." ~mi_hee-fan
"Manny Pacquiao by UD. The fact of the matter is Roach is not going to teach Pac to rush in there Bob Sapp style. Pac is going to pick Miguel off with hit and run tactics all night. And for those who are unsure of Pac's chin, he has been hit flush and has not been KO'D yet." ~j-bels08
"His chin ain't bad but it ain't good either. I don't say this because I hate him, he is one of my favourite fighters, but Cotto will KO him big time." ~I-The_G-Man-I
"I think Cotto by decision because the fights at 145 pounds i think Cotto will hurt him early then Pac-man's heart will keep him in the fight but Cotto will win on points." ~Evanz14
"I didn't believe Freddie when he said Manny would KO Hatton within 3 rounds or when he said KO De La Hoya in 8. He was shockingly right about both. Looking at where Pacquiao is right now, at his peak and prime, and how Freddie Roach is such an evil genius, I can't predict what round but its gonna be a KO win for Manny." ~pinoyboi516
"I think Manny wins this. I think he will knockout Cotto in less than 8. Speed is greater than power. Manny is faster and very strong. Cotto will go to the body but Manny will sidestep, make him miss, and make him pay with counters." ~reznick8
Look out for the official EA SPORTS Pacquiao-Cotto simulation by the game team to be released this week.