LAS VEGAS— The tickets have been snapped up the moment they hit the selling booths and everyone is expecting crazy figures from pay-per-view revenues.
All because the world wants to see how a once skinny, scrawny kid who used to sleep on cardboard boxes in the street can fight his way to the ranks of the big boys, winning not only fame and riches along the way but also boxing’s most revered mythical title: Pound-for-pound king.
“We are watching a phenomenon unfold before our eyes,” Top Rank chief Bob Arum said of the one-time flyweight king who is now on the threshold of becoming the first boxer to win world titles in seven different weight categories.
“I have not, in my 45 or 46 years in boxing, seen anything like this,” Arum said. “This should have never happened.”
Arum is referring to the fact that the devastating combination of speed and power hasn’t deserted Pacquiao despite the Filipino superstar’s ascension into the heavier ranks. Pacquiao faces Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14, where he will be gunning for the Puerto Rican’s WBO welterweight crown at a catch weight of 145 pounds.
“Manny seems to be punching harder now,” Arum said. “People have been asking if he’ll lose his speed as he goes heavier, but Manny seems to be faster now.”
Arum added that while credit goes to trainer Freddie Roach, who has shaped Pacquiao to be a complete and relentless mix of ring power, the boxer should get a lot of pats in the back too.
“Manny is one of the hardest workers in boxing. I’ve never seen any athlete who trains as hard as Manny does,” said Arum.
Arum said, however, that it would be wrong to take Cotto lightly and that the Puerto Rican’s presence on the corner opposite Pacquiao on fight night is actually what makes the highlight match of the card billed as “Firepower” one of the greatest the sport has ever seen.
“It will be a great matchup not only of the year, of the decade but also in history,” Arum said. “On one hand, here’s Pacquiao, who’s going up in weight and here’s Cotto, the toughest welterweight in the world who punches hard and can take a good punch.
While Arum still gets floored with the way Pacquiao has dominated legitimate welterweights, he believes that once Cotto rocks the Filipino, the latter will be in for a jolting surprise.
Because he promotes both fighters, Arum refused to make predictions about the fight. He did, though, tell audiences what to look for the moment the bell rings and the referee unleashes both warriors in the ring.
“I think the major factor will be if Cotto will be able to reach Manny with those devastating left hooks,” Arum said. “I guarantee you if Manny gets hit, it will be the hardest he will ever have felt in his career. It will be interesting to see how Manny will handle the punch if he does get hit.”
Source: inquirer.net
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
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Thanks Bob! We will see.
ReplyDeleteEasy fight for Pacman. He can connect at Cotto at will
ReplyDeleteTalking w/ Cotto's punching speed:
Cotto is too SLOOOW for Pacman. I expected that Cotto will be slow
but when i watch the fight. Cotto is much MORE SLOW than i expected.
Cotto's had come against speedy opponents before and beat them.
But Pacman is different.
Pacman has the speed and ACCURACY w/ his punches. not just punches but LOTS of punches.
If Pacman had the speed and accuracy then he can deliver effectively his firepower.
Or trade punches.
"you give me 1 power punch then i trade with 3 power punches"
then whose the winner?
it may not be a knockdown but still earning points.
Win by knockdown or by decision is just the same. Its still a win!
As everyone says,
Cotto throws his knockout punch this Sunday
This punch will expected to land on Tuesday.
That too slow!
Coz compare to Pacman, he throws his knockout punch today and it will expected to land on the same day.
One point in a fight about mid and late rounds Pacman urges Cotto to trade punches.
Like "Common bring it on" Common lets trade punches!
as Cotto start moving away from Pacman around the ring. (back bicycle)
I can read Cotto's face saying:
No NO NO, Im losing the trade of punches! I can't take it any more! I need to survive till 12 rounds"
Talking w/ Cotto's power:
I notice Pacman at one point of a time just dare to take punches from Cotto,
Pacman is not insane!
because he knows that he can take those or trade to Cotto's punches.
Talking about Cotto's chin:
BEFORE the fight i predict this fight will be winning by decision. No knockdowns.
As both sides can take strong punches and a had a thin chance of a knockdown.
DURING the fight I never Expect this and i hate to say, but Cotto's has been knocked down by Manny!
A legitimate knockdown (not a slip!) that make Cotto's hit his gloves in the canvass.
Where's the durable chin now?
During Cotto's knockdown:
I can see at Cotto's face saying,
"this is not a joke! He's got the EFFECTIVE combination and SPEEED to deliver his firepower,
Manny is too slippery for me. I CAN't hit him with better shots. How can i deliver my own firepower?"
The last question is the Big question fo Cotto!
Talking w/ Cotto's jabs:
I found Cotto's jabs more strong, efficient and stingy. but it's not that effective against a moving
target like Pacman. It would hit Manny, and yes it stunned Pacman, several times during the fight.
but jabs cannot knockdown a boxer like Pacman. Be REAL!
Cotto's needs not just jabs and combinations to deliver his power
but jab and GOOD EFFECTIVE combination.
This is a trainers job..
Cotto's Trainer:
Manny has a good trainer than Cotto.
Roach has more experience in teaching Manny what is the most EFFECTIVE combination.
Like selecting the right weapon in the fight. Cotto's trainer doesnt have.
Somebody still dont know that boxing is also a mind game and teamwork.
Chances of winning starts at the training camp and finishes in the ring! its a team effort.
Manny training camp has the right people to unleash his strenght against his opponents.
Cotto had two trainers. you may 2, 5, 10 trainers. but are they the right ones?
Experience had serve at it's BEST!
PACMAN has:
SPEED - Before The fight Cotto still underestimate this advantages of Pacman.
Cotto believes that he beat speedy opponents before.
But he forget to consider that together with speed theres something else after the word:
SPEED w/ ACCURACY
SPEED w/ STAMINA to SUSTAIN
SPEED w/ ADJUSTMENT (type of opponent)
SPEED w/ POWER
and it KILLS!
you may had the firepower but sluggishnes and imprecise where to hit your target is not effective boxing.
you can take and TOLERATE those accurate and power punches
You can stand on power punches.
you have a durable chin for power punches.
but this is not the way of winning a round in boxing.
Others may say that its also effective in tiring your opponents.
BUT PACMAN is a promising 12 rounder boxer!
its more recognizable in past fights that he can go 12 rounds.
Everyone always questioning the punching power of Pacman compared to Cotto.
ReplyDeleteBut as the fight ends you can see it on Cotto's bloody face.
more convincing when he knock the big COTTO.
much embarrassing for COTTO's fans
Cotto's had the power.
yes he had it.
But he doesn't know how to land it on Pacmans face!
This was speed all about.
Another example of
SPEED KILLS